Friday, March 20, 2009

Gettin' busy, gettin' gardening

After the harvest
...and an official welcome to Spring! Are you growing seeds? Are you building a new gardening bed? Expanding your garden? Starting a brand new garden for the first time? I know many of you are. And if you're growing veggies for the first time, my column out today provides tips and tricks for first time veggie growers in the Portland area. When, what and where. And a reference to a mullet. Yes. That's why it's called Sassy Gardener.

In our own garden? So much to do, so much to do. With the harsh winter, many "opportunities" have opened up in the garden, and most perennials died back to the ground. Now is a great time to be adding some amendments to our soil, and most of the major pruning has been done. But I really want to stay on top of the early weeds this year, and work to extend our edibles, both in the breadth of what we grow, and throughout the season. And then there's the new clematis I've got my eye on (deep blue purple with nodding heads), and adding floaty fillers and small detailed corners and focal points. Oh and then there's the new back patio, arbor construction, removal of the remaining invasive weeds, and grape arbor. Just a few things, you know.

Other good news on the gardening front? I'm halfway through my OSU Extension Master Gardener training. Up next are my 66 hours of education and outreach, like answering your questions at farmer's markets, and answering the Master Gardener Hotline. Master Gardener Hotline? Yes! You can call your local county extension and get advice from a real live person. And who knows. Maybe it will even be me on the other end of that phone. Beginning March 30th, the Multnomah County hotlines to a Master Gardener will be open Monday through Friday, 10am-2pm. The number to call is 503-445-4608. Go here for more information and numbers for Washington and Clackamas Counties.

I'm so happy Spring is here, aren't you? Gettin' busy!

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yes, Spring is arriving- time to get out there, as I think the freezing weather is finally (!) over in Kansas, though you never know. I´m currently in Argentina, however, so I´m sweating daily and will be glad to get back to a little cooler weather. However, the flowers! The fruit! The end of summer bounty! (Well at least in the Southern Hemisphere!)

A Lewis said...

It's that time of year......isn't it? Things are shaping up, ever so slightly, after a snowy winter.

Rozanne said...

Yeah, there is a lot of work to be done. I have to keep reminding myself that I don't have to do it all this year.

P.S. I'm thinking of replacing Nancy R. with a blueberry bush or maybe an evergreen huckleberry. Do you approve?

Heather said...

We planted a few weeks ago and I'm loving it! (In So. Cal.) I should do an update. My lettuce is coming up so nicely!