Spring has sprung and there’s plenty grounds into 5 gallons of water and let of work to be done. So with an unusual amount of time at home, let’s get down and dirty. Below is a list of ideas of what to plant this season, how to plant it, and making do with what you have.
SEASONAL PLANTS, VEGGIES, AND FRUITS:
Food shortages are beginning to sprout across the country as large food processing factories are being shut down. Why not plant some food of your own this spring? Some of the best vegetables to plant in spring are tomatoes, spinach, swiss chard, carrots, strawberries, and herbs such as cilantro, rosemary, and thyme.
Plant flowers in May to spruce up your yard and bring those busy pollinators to your produce: Tall, sturdy snapdragons; bright, perky marigolds; and purple, fragrant sweet alyssum are three great options. Marigolds are known for blooming all season. Sweet alyssum are notorious for attracting pollinators and do well in hanging baskets or pots.
SOIL AND COMPOSTING:
You’ll likely be able to find bags of soil to refresh your beds, but if you’re having trouble finding fertilizer during these precarious times, try compost- ing. A great way to add nutrients to your soil is to mix in your used coffee grounds. Stir two cups of used coffee it steep overnight. Pour the mixture onto your plant beds the next morning to give them a burst of nitrogen.
Compostable egg cartons are another great option for planting herbs. Just sprinkle three seeds in gently packed soil in each egg compartment, then lightly cover them with soil. Place the cartons on a sunny spot on your deck or kitchen window sill, water a little each day, and before you know it, 2-inch sprouts of basil or rosemary will start to bud.
EARTH TUBS:
Maybe you’ve had a chance to get some spring cleaning done in between converting your kitchen table into an office space and worrying about the future. If you have any empty tubs laying around the garage, drill holes through the bottom of the plastic to drain. Next, take some old plastic water bottles or pipes and drill holes all around the circumferences. Fill the tub with water bottles in the corners and the rest with soil, leaving the tops of the water bottles exposed. After planting, water the soil thoroughly then add water to the bottles. The holes you’ve poked up and down the bottle will seep water into the soil at different heights, rather than just the top.
Let your imagination run wild with containers and materials to use, but the concept always remains the same.
MAKING IT WORK:
When a coronavirus-sized wrench is thrown into your foreseeable plans, it can be a great opportunity to break from your status quo and exercise your green thumb. So grab some seeds, tools, and soil, and get dirty.
NURSERIES TO VISIT (WHILE MASKED, GLOVED):
High Sierra Gardens — Incline Village; (775) 831-7575; hsgardens.com
Perennial Landscape & Nursery — Tahoe Vista; (530) 546-7383; perenniallandscapeandnursery.com
Rock & Rose Inc. — Truckee; (530) 550-7744; rocknrose.com
Tahoe Tree Company/McBride’s Nursery — Tahoe City; (530) 583-3911
Villager Nursery — Truckee; (530) 587-0771; villagernursery.com
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