The Southern way of gardening says, "don't put your seedlings and young plants out until Good Friday." I put out a few plants mid-March because the weather turned warm.
It's chilly here at 42 degrees this morning.
The azaleas are finished blooming although I have a few still showing flower. The Bradford pear bloomed several weeks ago. The magnolia trees are full and ready to bloom, but not yet.
In my courtyard, the wisteria from the grounds of the College of Preachers at the National Cathedral survived the winter and is leafing out mightily. Mr.C. can't stand wisteria because of the invasive tendencies but enjoys I brought home as seed Summer before last and planted it in a large clay pot.
My hydrangea are coming out with leaves. Gerberra daisies bloomed through the Winter with 7 blooming right now. The purple mandivilla survived Winter with some freeze damage and is blooming again. The bridal wreath is going strong, too.
A pot of tiny purple flowers with yellow centers emerged from Winter sleep.
My soil is improving with added topsoil and fertilizer making a great day for all the weeds. My weeds changed with the new topsoil and the blow around of Katrina. I wish I knew all of their names! One weed looks like a giant heather with a pod crown and must be part of the Scottish heather family. My version isgrand but it's a weed.
I'll try to wait until Friday to put out the seedlings and small plants but Holy Week isn't a great time for gardeners who are preachers.
How's it growing at your home?
St.Casserole, delighted with dirt
15 comments:
Where I grew up the only thing they put in the ground on Good Friday is the taters. The April snow won't kill the taters.
Where we live, we don't DARE put out anything tender until the 24th of May...altho' some brave alert folks do get peas and sweet peas, seeds, into the ground as soon as it's soft.
I did see seed taters in the stores this week though...tempting!
Up here, we can't put anything out really until after May 20th. I always lose 1 Basil plant every year because I'm so anxious to get the herbs going. So far, the garlic is growing and are the chives. The chamomile leaves are wee. And the Hyssop has been growing. The crocuses have done bloomed, the periwinkle anenomes were blooming and now snow covered. The daffodils (except mine0 are blooming as is the forsythia. More to follow...
Well, I was just going to put out my lone container tomato (I have sunlight issues as in, I have none!) because the pecan trees had budded. According to my mamma, that is a sure sign the frost is done gone.
Then last night it froze. So go figure.
Ditto what Crimson Rambler said. No way is anyone brave enough to plant before the May long weekend (to celebrate Queen Victoria's birthday). Actually, my grandmother used to wait until the first full moon AFTER the Queen's birthday.
It's not growing so well here, as we had 12" of snow Friday-Saturday. But the tulips in the church's prayer garden (which my office window blessedly looks out upon) are starting to push their green tips through the soil.
The first two agapanthus buds have appeared! A little earlier than last year, I think. The azaleas are all gone except for one lone bud that has yet to open. The cyclamen and the hardy old pansies are STILL putting out new blooms, so it's not quite caladium time yet. The bottle brush tree finally made five little "brushes" but doesn't seem inclined to do much else at the moment.
I usually think we are safe after Valentine's Day, or certainly after the pecan trees bud, but a few hours north of here, poor Mary Beth has found that's not always so.
Memorial Day is the rule of thumb around here. Green thumb, that is. :-)
But despite that, the crocuses are up, and they are pretty.
April 20 is supposed to the the last hard frost date in St. Louis... we will probably put tomato plants out around the 25th and plant green beans and zucchini in a new community garden that has started up, as we have too much shade in the yard anymore. We have lettuce and mesclun growing in pots by the back door; the sage and chives are up; daffodils are about 2/3 through blooming and tulips coming into their own. Bradfords are done; redbuds and crabapples at their peak this week for Holy Week. Dogwoods have big buds but won't bloom until third week of April. At the orchard, the peach buds are showing color but not yet out. Grass needs mowing. Purple coneflower, black eyed susan, day lilies, all are emerging, as are the hostas. Wild violets everywhere in bloom. It must be nice to be a southern gardener and get such an early start on things! Hooray for gardens--they can keep us sane.
This makes my heart hungry for spring. it is ocming slowly here. Mother's day is the general rule of thumb. Some years you can sneak in early, but I don't think it will happen this year. I'll just reread your post and drink it in from here.
Here in Northwest Florida, the dogwoods and azaleas are blooming. I've already got my tomato, green peppers, cucumbers, zucchini, yellow squash out, BUT, had to cover them because it is suppose to get really cold tonight. Been harvesting broccoli for some time now, and expecting cabbage heading soon. Potato is up and green on all six rows. Gardening is definitely therapy for my soul!
We had snow flurries yesterday even though the azaleas have budded, tulips are in bloom, and the flower of my state is blooming on the fence.
The Good Friday rule is a good one! It is April 7 and we had snow yesterday. The Admin Asst and I are freezing today.
But, then again, Good Friday is sometimes in March, so not sure if it would work, as we had big snow on 1st Day of Spring one year.
Maybe tax day might be a good rule of thumb to follow in these parts.
I'm not a gardner, but inherited hearty rose bushes from previous home owner. I have roses - about 8 and about 15 more buds ready to pop open. It was low 30's yesterday morning, will be 80ish this afternoon. Go figure.
it's been winter here sooo bleepin' long... may 15. you don't plant a thing until after may 15. aughr...
not that it would matter since i'm not a gardner meself... but i enjoy lookies at other's efforts!
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