The Good Life – March-April 2024

need to make sure my pantry has plenty of quart jars
of pickled okra for winter!
Some gardeners can start peppers and tomatoes
at home, under grow lights. Unfortunately, I am not
one of those. My plants always turn out spindly and
anemic, no matter how much I try. Because of that,
I always plan to purchase started plants from local
greenhouses. That way I know I’m getting a healthy
plant.
Garden size is extremely important when planning
for the season. Plants that vine like pumpkins, winter
squash, watermelon and cucumbers require plenty
of space, making them difficult to raise if the garden
is small. It’s easy to over plant in the spring,
resulting in a mess come summer.
Garden size is extremely
important when planning
for the season.
Gardening Extras
Before the hustle and bustle of spring arrives, try to
think back to what caused any struggle the previous
year. I always have a hard time seeding small seeds like
carrots and parsnips, so this year I plan on ordering
seed tape. It should be easier than spilling most of the
seeds on the ground!
Kneeling pads are also something that I began
purchasing last year. Spending a couple of hours with
a cushion between me and the ground makes life
much easier, to say the least.
Garden Prep
The first few days of warm sunshine in the early spring
almost makes it worth the entire winter. The snow
starts to melt, the twinkle of water in the rain gutters
is heard, and my girls start tossing the softball
around the back yard.
Once the snow is gone, it’s easy to jump
the gun. The best advice is to WAIT! Let
the ground warm up, as seeds planted
in cold soil do nothing but rot. Many
gardeners will start to clean up the detritus
8 | THE GOOD LIFE