Getting ready to plant the garden

By the time you read this it will just about be time to plant the garden. A week of rain and frosty nights should give way to moderate temperatures. Just planted potatoes and onion sets. A couple of volunteer potatoes had emerged in planting beds but had collapsed after the cold. There is undoubtedly a potato at their bases which should be lifted and moved to the potato area. Since none of my three plantings of onion seeds have germinated, onion sets (small bulbs) were planted between the rows marked for seeds (hope springs eternal in the human heart). Asparagus responded to each rain, but now just pencil thin stalks are emerging so it is time to let them go and recharge their underground parts. Spinach is growing and strawberries are flowering though early flowers will probably not set fruit since the cold got to them (the centers are black instead of green). The freeze also affected the fruit trees, there will probably be no pears, peaches, or plums although all flowered this spring. Apples flowered later so there may be apples if we do not have a drought. It has been such an odd spring, some of my trees have leafed out, others are practically still bare. While mowing, the trees can be assessed for dead branches, deer damage, and low branches that try to knock me off the mower. Some judicious pruning is in order. The wild plums were foolish enough to bloom vigorously this spring alerting me to their number, one or two are tolerated but small ones are mowed and larger ones cut down. Invasive woody honeysuckles and garlic mustard are also blooming and are easy to spot this time of year. The next week or so will be warm enough to plant seeds and transplant nursery plants. Summer and winter squash, beans, corn, tomatoes, peppers, etc., can be put into the ground. Transplants should get a good drink of fertilizer water (follow directions) and seeds can be planted before a predicted rain. Flowers, both from seed and plants, can be planted where you would like color. My garden has gladiolas that overwinter, poppies that self seed, and zinnias will be planted from seed. This year will be a year for herbs. Herbs are always grown and used, but when my friend Bonnie Boroff died her husband donated her library, and many great books joined my library. A fabulous book on herbal vinegars inspired me to make four: rosemary basil, pepper and horseradish, mixed herb, and a floral vinegar. Another book on herbal dream pillows inspired me to make one since there are always all sorts of dried herbs around my house. This year more rosemary and thyme will be planted as well as tarragon, marjoram, and lemon verbena, and more mint, sweet woodruff, lemon balm, hops and rose petals dried. This is fun. May also try infusing oils, why not use an oil that already tastes of onion and garlic, or lavender? Enjoy the longer days and fresh air. Susan Carty is professor emerita at Heidelberg University.