by Sheryl Normandeau, Community Garden Director
Happy spring from the Somerset Bridlewood Community Garden!
We’re looking forward to finally getting some seeds into our community garden beds this month! Cool season crops such as cabbage, broccoli, kale, radishes, and spinach can all be planted when the soil is workable (some of you at home may have already planted!) And those of us who planted garlic last fall will be seeing some green shoots pop up in our gardens this month as well – always a treat!
I usually wait to transplant my tomatoes until early June, but it will depend on the weather this year – it may be possible to do the job earlier. I start my tomatoes indoors under grow lights. This year, I am growing a lovely determinate tomato called ‘Manitoba’. This is an heirloom plant and a wonderful producer for the prairies. The really great thing about ‘Manitoba’ is that the plants are nice and short, only about two feet tall, so I don’t have to worry about sprawling plants taking up a huge amount of space in my garden bed.
If you are transplanting seedlings you’ve grown indoors, they will need a hardening off period. They will go straight into shock if you plant them outdoors without going through this process. To harden off your baby plants, take them outdoors during the day. Place them in a spot sheltered from the wind and blazing sun and let them sit there for a few hours each day. Bring them back in at night. Gradually, over the span of a week or two, increase the number of hours the plants are staying outside and offer them a bit less protection until they can withstand being outdoors all the time. Then they are ready to transplant into your garden.
Thank you to everyone who stopped by our Pop-Up Seed Swap and Share event on April 4 – it was a pleasure to share some seeds with all of you and visit about gardening! We have some exciting events planned for the community over the summer so watch for announcements to come.
Click here to the Bridlewood Community News home page for the latest Bridlewood community updates.
Click here to the Somerset Community News home page for the latest Somerset community updates.
