Each week, this newsletter will contain three sections:
How things are going
I will share an update on my garden as a point of reference for how my weekly tasks are adding up and looking.
What to do this week
Here I will present the 3 - 5 things I am planning or doing this week.
Resources
A deeper dive into information and perspectives that are inspiring or informing my gardening.
If you are coming to this newsletter mid-season, please take a look at the posts from the past few weeks to get a sense of context for where we are at this week!
Week 15: 3/31/2024 - 4/6/2024
Reminder: Bring your seedlings to swap, share, barter, sell, giveaway, and meet your fellow neighborhood gardeners. May 4th, 10am - 12pm, Curtis Park, at the corner of 31st and Curtis, we’ll be at the picnic tables!
How things are going:
It feels like the past few springs have become windier and windier. I don’t know if that is really the case that our springs are becoming more windy, but I do know that wind is something I need to take into account when designing my garden.
I shared a similar resource around this time last year, and there is clearly a need to share some guidance on designing your garden to thrive in windy conditions. This video provides a lot to think about as you prepare your garden space for the season.
This wind over the weekend blew away my plastic covers. I was traveling, and I am very grateful my neighbors were willing to re-secure the plastic while I was gone. I was already considering rebuilding my plastic covers to make them fit the beds a little better, and the thought of them sailing away has pushed this project higher on my to do list.
Along with that, I am beginning to assess whether the tomato trellis I built last year is designed in a way to secure my tomatoes against high winds. I did have one vine break last year because of winds whipping it so much that its support string became unanchored. The string lost tension and the vine collapsed without support, snapping. Maybe I just need deeper anchors? I am not sure yet, but it’s something I am going to research this month.
The other design decision I am thinking through is how best to protect my vegetables from hail. I can rely on my plastic covers until the plants become taller than the covers. At that point, it is difficult for me to get them over the plants without risking damaging the leading shoots. While I got through last season this way, I’d like a more thought through approach for protecting my plants as they grow larger.
All that is to say, the weekend wind has been a catalyst for me beginning to make some infrastructure plans. You just don’t want to go through all that work of starting seedlings, building up good soil, planting your plants, to have them wiped out by the odd hail storm, or a trellis being blown over. A little preparation now can go a long way!
Otherwise, this week, I am continuing to sow seeds in gaps where germination didn’t occur in my beds. I am also starting some herbs and lettuces inside to have ready to fill things in when I plant my summer crops mid May.
What to do this week:
Intro text for context
Here’s what to do:
If this is your first season gardening, you might want to start making a list of all the supplies you will need to build your garden space. Here is a great guide to get you started on thinking about your own approach.
Schedule a few weekend mornings this month to go gather supplies so you are ready to build your garden space. Plan to have your garden space ready for planting by May 4th.
Consider the kind of infrastructure needs your plants will have (trellises, shade covers) and have a plan for protecting your plants from the hail. Here are a few hail protection ideas: https://northernhomestead.com/gardening-in-the-hailstorm-alley/
Next week:
Finalizing garden designs / decisions
Preparing soil
Continuing to plant
Resources:
Resource 1
Some more resources to get you thinking about how to prepare your garden for the wind:
Resource 2
Another great guide to windproof your garden
https://www.growveg.com/guides/4-ways-to-windproof-your-garden/