Ah, Spring is Here! I’m so Excited I Wet My Plants
Ramadan ends this Thursday this is a celebration of when the first verses of the Quran were revealed to Muhammad 14,000 years ago. It is widely practiced by the people of the Muslim faith and during this time fasting is required from dusk til dawn. They also do not smoke or drink during this time. Al Qud is usually held on the last day of Ramadan but was held with a huge rally last week in Toronto and although there was great fear of violence only two people out of many thousand were arrested. This was great to hear as fear and anger can cause inappropriate reactions in people and there are may people who have fear and anger regarding this issue. It is a world wide rally to show solidarity with the Palestinians and to protest Israel and Zionism. Solidarity is good Violence is not.
True Spring arrives this Friday equal 12hour days and nights! The snow is rapidly disappearing and many of the perennials are showing signs of survival. Crocuses are In full bloom and Daffodil are well advanced along the side of the house, so much promise of beauty to come. If you are intending to plant Lily’s or other summer blooming bulbs you should start looking for the colours and variety that you want as they can go quickly. If the soil is workable they can be planted. Don’t forget to give them a small handful of bone meal. I just received my spring bulb catalogues and am of course drooling over the variety and colours available.
When selecting your bulbs buy only plump, healthy looking bulbs. Lilies should be firm and the scales closely packed and dense root systems. Although Lilies are best planted in fall, plant early enough to develop a root system, Spring planting is very much an option. Be sure to read the planting guide as depth of bulb is important. Lilies should be planted 3 times as deep as the bulb is tall.
Several types of roots are also available for planting at this time of year like Astilbe. Blue Bells, Acanthus, Dahlia and Clematis to mention a few. And they should all come back year after year. Clematis is a wonderful vine type plant which must be planted so that the feet (roots) are in shade and the head in the sun. Easily accomplished with some nice loose mulch around the base or pieces of slate piled around the base. Make your hole twice as big as the root ball and put blood or bone meal in with some nicely rotted compost. There are so many types and colours of Clematis and when you are selecting yours be sure that it has two or more healthy stems soak the root ball real well before planting and put lots of water in the planting hole.
Irises too can now be planted ensure that the rhizomes are above the ground and exposed or they will not bloom. Irises love the moisture of spring and then dryer soil during the summer. Be sure to fertilize well during the growing season as they are heavy feeders.As there is still so much time till the real planting has started now is the time to go over and ensure that your gardening tools are sharp, clean and in good repair. For those who like to start their bedding plants indoor it is a good time now to start the rest of your herbs, onions, annual flowers and of course tomatoes. By the end of the month you can also start cauliflower and broccoli. It is much too early for any squash or cucumber as they grow so rapidly.
Happy Gardening!
Samantha Nason
BS Ranch & Greenhouses
250 547 6567
sam1nason@gmail.com
