The Rural Voice, 2019-04, Page 41June and get crops into the ground as
soon as possible.
With that in mind consider some
of these cool and cold weather crops:
beets, broad beans, carrots, collards,
garlic, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, Asian
greens which include mibuna,
mizuna, tatsoi and pak choi, peas,
radishes, rutabaga, spinach, swiss
chard, and the ever-loved family of
brassicas which include broccoli,
cauliflower, and kale. Once the cool
lovers are in the ground you can look
to planting seeds that like a little heat
to germinate. You can get a head
start by planting these seeds indoors
or simply waiting until the soil
warms up. A thermometer certainly
helps here, 20-26 degrees celsius is
what you want to look for.
The veggies include beans,
cabbage, corn, melons, okra, peppers,
pole beans, pumpkin, squash both
summer and winter, sweet potato,
tomato, watermelon and of course the
prolific zucchini.
If vegetables are not in your
garden plan, as markets are so
popular in the rural areas, you may
be simply anxious to get into your
garden and start poking around.
Lots to keep you busy here.
Sometimes it is good to take a step
back and review spaces and size of
plants before the garden takes off. I
know I have several hostas that have
dead centres, a good indicator that
they need to be dug up and cut into
smaller pieces, and the soil
replenished with compost. I try to
replant a couple of pieces back into
the same spot and the others I
relocate around my garden or donate
to the local Horticultural Society
plant sale in May.
Early spring is always a good time
to share perennials that have taken
over. I know sharing aggressive
plants can be impolite but if the
recipient is aware, the plant could fill
a need to cover a spot quickly and
thoroughly. There are some plants
considered vigorous spreaders like
gooseneck loosestrife but that is
under ideal conditions. In our garden
it stays put, happy that it has a spot!
Lots to do in the garden in the
springtime. The only caution I have
is to take your time, stretch often,
and remember to try out the summer
furniture.◊
Gardening
April 2019 37
Lisa Thompson
MPP Huron-Bruce
CONSTITUENCY OFFICES
Website: www.lisathompsonmpp.ca Email: lisa.thompsonco@pc.ola.org
Blyth Office:
408 Queen Street, PO Box 426
Blyth, ON N0M 1H0
Phone: 519-523-4251
Toll Free: 1-800-668-9320
Kincardine Office:
807 Queen Street, Unit 3
Kincardine, ON N2Z 2Y2
Phone: 519-396-3007
Toll Free: 1-866-396-3007
Huron-Bruce Matters