Getting a jump on early season vegetables

If you haven’t started early season vegetables yet, don’t be afraid to do so now. The peas, spinach and beets (for early salad mixes) I planted two weeks ago are already up. They have been outside but in the greenhouse, a small portable type, with no additional bottom heat.

Peas usually only take a week to sprout, so not having auxiliary heat has made that much of a difference. Still, they are doing well and it’s nice to see them growing.

Other plants over-wintered in the greenhouse seem to be doing well, also, except for the loss of one or two. I keep the trays of the newly started plants elevated on upper shelves to prevent rodents from enjoying the new succulent growth.

Pulling back the layer of leaf mulch that was applied to the top of the garlic beds last fall revealed the garlic is also up, most about one to two inches. The buds on the blueberry plants are swelling, so it’s nice to know they made it through the winter as well. We are leaving the mulch on. It is only about two inches deep. If you have deeper mulch, and some of it is straw, make sure you pull the mulch away from the base of any trees and shrubs it’s around, otherwise the mice burrowing in the straw may girdle your plants.

If you saved seed last year to use this season, don’t forget that seed should not be saved from plants that are hybrids. A hybrid is a cross of two different parents, this means if you sow hybrid seed you may or may not get what you had intended. Just remember to start each season with non-hybrid (also called open-pollinated) stock if you intend to save the seeds. Seed catalogs and seed packet displays in stores should designate what seeds are hybrid.

Although our area is well represented with both local and chain-store nurseries, at times we may find ourselves tempted to send off for plants through the mail. Having been personally disappointed with many mail order companies (but not all), several years ago I happened upon a website sponsored by Dave’s Garden called the “Garden Watchdog”. This site lists over 7,000 mail order companies and offers readers up-to-date information regarding price, quality and service. Ratings are provided by other shoppers, with links to company websites. To see how a company is rated, visit www.gardenwatchdog.com. If you have a comment to share, once you are registered you can add your feedback; positive, negative, or neutral, regarding any of the companies listed.

Although it’s too early to plant seed potatoes, keep in mind that when using whole potatoes and cutting them for “seed,” you need to make certain each piece has at least one “eye,” which is a cluster of buds. Ideally potato seeds should be at least as large as a golf ball. I prefer to dip each piece in rooting hormone and let them dry prior to planting. Using this method, I can sometimes get away using slightly smaller, and thereby more, pieces. Rooting hormone is readily available at all local garden centers.

Thanks to all the readers for the positive feedback I received for the last column on Horticultural Therapy. It’s very evident that readers, and fellow gardeners, value the benefits of growing things, even in challenging situations.

Also by popular request, the next Garden Guide will contain tips and strategies for out-smarting garden pests in our area. Until next time, have fun playing in the dirt!

Jennie Hagen is a Grande Ronde Valley gardener.