This is finally the time of year when we can dig out the lawn and garden implements and beat the ground into submission to make room for all the delicious edibles which will become the fruits of our labors. There is nothing better than a homegrown tomato or any other crop one tends over the summer.
I have been an avid gardener since I could pick up a spade and hoe and know what to do with them. My grandparents always had a two acre garden where any vegetable which could be grown in Michigan lived. My mother always had a good sized garden in the back yard and I had about an acre of various crops including popcorn when I lived in the country and had a small hobby farm.
Michigan has been known to have frost even through early May, however many root veggies like potatoes, carrots and onions can be planted early if kept covered in straw; this also allows for multiple harvests during the summer and fall. Other plants have faster maturity times and multiple plantings can be made.
I also have a perennial herb garden and my wife tends to multiple flower beds – these along with tending to the lawn keeps us busy during the summer and early fall.
You don’t need a lot of land to grow your own veggies, many grow well in pots which can be kept out on your deck or yard. Growing and canning ones own food isn’t as popular as it was 50 years ago with the availability of produce in stores readily available, however the taste of homegrown produce is far superior to that of what one would find in the store.
Well today I saw my first crocus bloom. There are more to come. All the tulips are up. We have always had a large garden too but when we moved into our condo we now grow our tomatoes in containers. Even green peppers. Our tomatoes are the sme time we used to plant in our large garden and they do beautiful!! I have lots of perennials that come up every year along with my butterfly bush and rose bush. My husband has learned to winter some of our annual plants like our geraniums and they will do awesome. Happy gardening.… Read more »
Rocky after he empties his freezer and coolers next Friday, so he can golf this weekend and snowshoe next weekend!
Highs in the mid to upper 40’s are always great for generating snowstorms of 8+ inches like Rocky is predicting too!
https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=42.9664&lon=-85.6719#.XKf5MaROmEc
I really think that Rocky should go out and do some free shoveling service for Slim and Michael, once we get that 8+ inches of snow by the end of the week that his RDB model is predicting!! He loves the snow so much, what better way to enjoy it than helping out other blog members by clearing their driveways manually?? I’m sure INDY would go for that too! Now, I’ve got another margarita to enjoy on the beach down here, later!
83° at sundown here in Florida. Sitting on the patio enjoying a nice wine. Had a soaker of a thunderstorm early this morning. Other than that, we’ve had very little precipitation this week. We’ll be home late Sunday. I wish we could extend our vacation.
For model lookers possible big snow maker Thursday into Friday next week it’s a ways way and things can change but we need to keep track of this one! Short term spring has Sprung out at thee YARDofBRICKS perfect weekend starting now INDY!
Here is the latest GFSsnow map! Could it be? Is it possible?
https://www.instantweathermaps.com/GFS-php/conussfc.php?run=2019040518&time=PER&var=ASNOWI&hour=240
Why post it?? If you’re not going to stand by it?? If you know it’s BS like the rest of us do and you’re simply using it for trolling purposes, then that’s pretty lame!!
I would love to see a snowstorm in mid April, then again I would love to see a snowstorm any time baby!!!
Please come back next week when your guaranteed 8 inches of snow on your trusted instantweather map does not materialize!! So hilarious to see the zero inches of snow that we will really get!
You are delusional! Indy and I are not predicting 8 inches of snow! Give me a break and give it up!
Then why post it, if it means nothing?? I could have my cat throw cat litter on a map and say that’s where we’re going to get 12” of snow on June 6th and it’s as accurate as that instant weather model you constantly post!
No but the GFS model shows 13 inches of snow this Thursday lol…INDY!
That’s some comedy gold INDY!!
Thumbs up Have a fun but safe time on Sprites Break!! ANDY!! INDY!
Thanks INDY!! Gotta love Florida this time of year!
I love mid-70’s in the first week of April down here on Spring Break!! Winter and snow is the worst torture ever!!
Can you say BINGO for a snowstorm next week? It looks like golfing tomorrow and then snowshoeing next weekend! Absolutely INCREDIBLE!
https://www.instantweathermaps.com/GFS-php/conussfc.php?run=2019040512&time=PER&var=ASNOWI&hour=240
I need to move some strawberries to a new spot. Hoping we have success with that. We always plant beans at about 3 different times to get the most out of them. We have a few other items we grow, last year we belonged to a CSA, that was fun to get different stuff every week. This year they are suspending it, so we are bummed about that. We will grow what we usually do including raspberries that love where they are at and spread!!! We will enjoy many of the farmers fruits of their labor and really enjoy picking… Read more »
Never planted “edibles”…spent a lifetime working with perennials througout the landscape. It takes a long time to get the proper number of plants in the ground, to match the scale of the property. If you’re willing to put in the effort, the result will take your breath away.
Any advice on why hydrangeas won’t bloom? They are beautiful green, but I have only had them bloom a few times.
I don’t know if this will help but here is some info on them
https://gilmour.com/hydrangea-care
Slim
Thanks Slim….
Hope Rocky enjoys his 3 days of “cold” next week! Nothing but 50’s and 60’s all around that! I’ll just keep enjoying my 70’s and 80’s down south here during my Spring Break!!
https://weather.com/weather/tenday/l/USMI0344:1:US
Here is some information on the average and range of the last 32° days around the area. Over the years the average last 32° day at Grand Rapid airport is May 1st but has ranged from April 6th in 1925 all the way to June 4th in 1945. In the last 10 years the average has been April 30 and has ranged from April 13th in 2016 to May 16th in 2014. In Muskegon the average last 32° day is May 4th and has ranged from April 9th 1987 to June 22nd 1992. At Lansing the average last 32 day… Read more »
I grow a small garden every year and have already turned over that area for this year. I plant now plant mostly tomatoes in the past I had a much larger garden. I also plant flowers but it will be a while before any outside planting takes place mid-May is the time to think about that.
Slim
As you may have noticed I am still making changes to the site – it is hard to have a happy medium between all the devices used to view this site and still keep the site visually pleasing.
Thanks for all you do.
Enjoy the above normal temps this weekend because they won’t last long! Cold is com8mg!
I love when “cold” means at least in the 40’s! I can handle that after several days in the upper 50’s and 60’s. You also said yesterday was “cold” and yet it was almost average. Hmmm…
keep in mind the discussion today is gardening 🙂
Here comes some more springtime warmth! Looks like 4 or 5 days well above average. I love it!