By Tammy Thornton
Birds are singing their sweet songs, the grass is getting greener, and the sun is shining on our vitamin D-craving faces. Yes, the long-awaited spring has finally arrived. Daffodils, the harbingers of spring, have been announcing its coming for weeks, and now their bugle blooms shout it out. Tulips are also pushing their way through the earth, fashionably late, knowing their vibrant colors will turn heads when they make their grand entrance to the party. Gardeners are excited because, at last, they can dig in the dirt and begin planting seeds and plants directly in the ground, beautifying their gardens and nourishing their souls. Though the estimated last frost dates are still a few weeks away, plenty of cool-season edibles and flowers thrive in the conditions of spring and can handle a light frost.
Your local nursery should serve as a guide for which plants can handle cold temperatures. My first flower purchase of the season is always ranunculus. Despite the strange name, I’m always smitten with this cold-loving beauty that resembles a double rose. Pansies, primroses, and hyacinths will also add a colorful start to your spring garden. Just be sure to buy plants that have been outside in the evenings. Those tough guys and gals will be “hardened off” to the cold as opposed to coddled plants you might find in the flower section of the grocery store. Most likely, plants sold indoors have been grown in the pampered protection of a greenhouse and aren’t ready to face the cold nights that spring can bring.
Victory gardens made a comeback last year, thanks, in part, to the strange uncertainty of the times. If growing your own food is your goal, now is the time to safely plant the seeds of cool-season vegetables and herbs. Peas, carrots, kale, spinach, beets, radishes, Swiss chard, lettuces, chives, dill, and parsley will all thrive in the longer days and cool nights of early spring. Resist the urge to plant warm-season plants such as tender annuals, basil, tomatoes, zucchini, and corn. Anyone that has lived in South Jersey long enough knows that early spring can be deceiving with bathing suit temperatures one weekend, and freezing weather the next. Though our last frost date is predicted to be April 23-30 (depending on how close you are to the coast), Mother’s Day is considered the “safe date” to plant all vulnerable plants. You can find a very helpful guide by going to: www.almanac.com/gardening/planting-calendar. Once there, you can enter your zip code for a specific guideline for your location.
Shore Local News would love to hear from our readers. Please send your gardening questions, comments, and pictures to: shorelocalgardener@gmail.com.
Tammy Thornton is a mom of four, a substitute teacher, and a Sunday school teacher. She is passionate about gardening and cooking, and loves the beach.
