Extra Time on Your Hands?
Spring has arrived! Spend some extra time outdoors! With the arrival of spring, enjoy some solitude and soak up the sunshine that graces our gardens. Now is the perfect time to relax and unwind in the company of crisp spring air and sprouting garden friends. Grab a jacket, and a warm cup of tea or coffee, and take a walk in your yard to plan out your summer garden. What are your desires for your garden oasis? Maybe some different varieties of dahlias or begonias. How about some new perennials? Why not try a new, lesser-known variety?
Activities for the Kids!
Kids at home? Get them away from the electronics and into the fresh air. Involve your kids in planning the garden. How about asking them which colours and varieties they would like to grow this year? Ma ybe designate a small garden space for them to take ownership of and watch them become little gardeners!
Starting Bulbs Indoors – Dahlias
If you are staying close to home, there are many bulbs and roots you can start inside while you are waiting for the last frost date. A common favourite, Dahlias can easily be started in your home. Grab a pot with good drainage holes, and fill it with soil. Place tubers in the soil, around 1-2” below the surface. Set your pot in a location where it will receive 6-8 hours of sunlight a day. Water when the top 1” of the soil feels dry. You should be seeing growth within 1-2 weeks. After the threat of frost is gone, or about mid-May, transplant it into a sunny area of your garden.
Starting Bulbs Indoors – Begonias
Another popular flower to start inside during the early spring are begonias. Plant the tubers hollow side up, just below the soil level, using small pots. Place on a window sill or in a warm location. Do not let the temperature drop below 16-17ᵒ C. Water the soil sparingly until you see some growth. It may take 5-6 weeks to see some growth, but do not worry! Those bulbs are making roots and growing under the soil. Make sure to water regularly, especially during hot weather, as they don’t like dry soil.
If you start planting these and other varieties indoors, they will be ready to transition to your outdoor garden in the middle of May.
Enjoy extra time this spring by getting into your garden, or by preparing plants indoors. You will appreciate the extra effort now when you are transplanting large, lush plants in the garden in May.
