Spring in your Organic Garden

Springtime comes at different times in different climates, so instead of naming the months, in this organic garden spring checklist we will just look at the tasks that you can do in your organic garden in spring - whenever spring may come to your garden!

Preparation for sowing

Digging: beds and borders should be dug and composted at least 3 weeks before you plan to use them. Start digging as soon as you can, don't wait until planting time!

Mulching can begin as soon as the soil is in good condition. Mulching will tend to prolong the current condition of the soil so if your garden is still very wet or cold, it is better to wait.

Cover the soil with cloches or plastic to protect it before and during sowing and planting out.

Sowing

Once the main threat of hard frosts is over and spring is on the way, you can begin sowing outdoors.

Most root vegetables including beetroots, turnips, carrots and parsnips can go in, plus garlic.

Early potatoes can go in now, and your main crop about 6 weeks later.

Onions, early lettuces, leeks, cabbage, cauliflowers spinach and celery can be sown outdoors as soon as the soil is dry enough.

Gladioli, lilies and other summer flowering bulbs should be treated like onions and go into the beds now provided the soil is not too wet.

Most flowers will also be planted out during the spring. Check the seed packets for directions on how to start them and when to plant out.

Seedlings that have been raised indoors can be hardened to the outdoor weather gradually, in pots. Watch the forecast for frost and protect them when necessary.

Other tasks

Don't forget to protect new plants and seedlings from pests. Lay your slug traps and barriers as soon as you plant, and keep a close eye on plants in the garden and greenhouse for eggs and other signs of insect pests. Stock up ahead of time with any biological pest control agents that you know you are likely to need as the weather gets warmer.

Divide perennials that have become congested (except for spring flowering perennials, which of course should be left undisturbed until the fall).

Prune roses (except rambling roses). Early spring is also the time for pruning many other shrubs - check details for individual species. If you want to move any trees or shrubs, spring is the time for that too.

Don't put off the weeding! Even if you can hardly see the weeds right now, it's best to get back into your routine of regular hand weeding and hoeing before the weeds get a hold this year.

If you are someone who likes to weed the whole garden at once and see it all looking perfect at the end, set aside one 'shift' in the garden per week for weeding. If you prefer little and often, then schedule one area every 2 days, or whatever works for your size of garden. Sometimes rain or other events will stop you, so it's better to plan to weed more often than necessary.

Spring is a wonderful time to work in the garden because everything that you do is so visible. Later in the year it may seem that you spend hours out there and everything looks just the same, but not in spring! The results of your efforts now are very clear. So remember to spend time enjoying the pleasures of your organic garden spring budding and burgeoning!

Editor
Peter Charalambos

Author: Peter Charalambos

Granted Expert Author Status