Spring Planting Tips

Once winter rolls into spring, it’s time to think about planning your garden and growing herbs, vegetables and annuals. Get spring planting tips in this P. Allen Smith video:

Herbs

Herbs are among the easiest plants to grow and are “gateway” plants for people who are learning how to garden. They are not only delicious but also beautiful. Try oregano (a staple of Italian cooking), purple sage, rosemary, garlic, thyme, basil and lavender (which has an amazing aroma even when it has no flowers). Grow lavender in a raised bed; put a little sand in the soil for drainage and a little hydrated lime to sweeten the soil.

Containers are perfect for growing herbs (the larger the container, the better), but they can also be planted in beds along with vegetables and flowers. Some herbs are perennials, while others are woody shrub-like plants like rosemary and sage or annuals that will only grow during the warm growing season such as basil and stevia (a natural sweetener). Give them average garden soil and make sure you don’t over-fertilize them so they don’t grow too rapidly. Because many herbs are Mediterranean in origin, raised beds with a little bit of lime often helps.

Vegetables

It’s surprising how many pounds of vegetables you can grow in a garden. You can use all the seasons and max it out. Possibilities include collard greens, carrots (come in different colors), radishes, turnips, mustard greens, lettuce). Leave some space open for warm season vegetables like squash, okra, tomatoes and peppers.

The easiest way to plant tomatoes is by picking them up from your garden center. Bury 80% of the stem when planting them (pinch or clip off the stems and leaves, then break the roots apart). This will yield stronger plants.

Sunpatiens

Sunpatiens come in a variety of colors in subtle variations, grow in full sun or partial shade and are great for containers. Put 3 or 4 of them in a 26-inch container, and they will create a giant cupcake-like impression. They will grow through the summer and up to the first frost. The blooms can be floated in water along with lighted votives to create beautiful tablescapes.

Colorful Annuals

Annuals are beautiful ways to “paint with plants”. Angelonia, pentas, lantanas, and calibrachoa are packed with color and are full-sun bloomers.