April is National Lawn and Garden month! I think it’s safe to say that winter is over and now is the time to get in the gardening state of mind. Not sure where to start? Here’s a checklist to get you going this month:
- If you haven’t already, start seeds indoors for warm-season vegetables.
- Plant perennial vegetables like asparagus, rhubarb, horseradish, etc.
- Plant peas, carrots, beets, spinach, cauliflower, cabbage, etc. As your direct-seeded crops sprout, be sure to keep them thinned out to avoid crowding and encourage growth.
- Root crops like potatoes, radishes, parsnips and onions can be planted at anytime.
- Late this month you can plant beans and corn. Warmer weather crops like tomatoes; squash, cucumbers and peppers should not be planted until next month.
- Sow seeds and begin transplanting warm-season seedlings outdoors at the end of April when the soil has warmed and night temperatures stay above 50o F. But, be prepared for cold snaps at night. Use row covers, newspapers or sheets to protect seedlings.
- Use plant markers to mark each row or plant so you’ll remember what you put where.
- Control weeds and aerate the soil by cultivating between the rows of plants.
- April is a great time to select and plant fruit trees and berry plants. Fruits and berries do best when planted in full sun.
- Cut out all the dead canes from your raspberry patch. The new canes that will bear this year’s fruit should have new, swollen buds along the edges. Thin these to five canes per foot of row to allow good air circulation and prevent overcrowding.
- When danger of frost has passed, uncover strawberry beds and keep them well watered.
