March in the Garden 2008
We are ahead of the season for our rainfall. And in many
locations we are ahead of the average for the whole season. This
would make a drought an issue of more people that want to use water than
one of insufficient rainfall. A solution, plant a garden with plants
that are appropriate to our climate. Reduce or eliminate areas of
lawn.
Our last nominal frost date is March 15th. While we are not
secure in being frost free it seems like it is usually a pretty good date.
The latest that we have seen frost in our inland valley location is the
first week in April.
I have started planting in gardens near the coast. Our recent
warm weather has the soil in frost free locations warming quite nicely.
There is still time to move some things about. Transplanting is best
done in the Fall but not all things can be accomplished during their best
time. Chances are reasonable for perennials that have just started
pushing new growth.
As always it is a great time to put down some more mulch. The new
weed seedlings will be buried and many will not have the energy to stretch
to the surface.
The aphids are here. Fungus diseases don't seem too bad so far
this year. Those warm sunny days do a lot to keep that problem at
bay.
It is time to start snow peas, beets, chard, spinach and onions.
