March's Garden (2024)

As I said last month, when the sun returns, the remaining winter garden will go wild. It has. This is the garden on March 3rd. 

There has been no more snow, only cold nights so the gamble to remove the hoop houses early has paid off.  

I have shared armloads of fresh greens with friends and family.

Reese said he could use one quart of greens every week so I set myself a goal of canning 52 quarts for him. I fill all of my baskets and then begin washing, removing stems, chopping, blanching, and canning. Green leaves wilt down when blanched. These baskets filled just six quart jars.

As of today, I have "only" canned 44 quarts. When Reese made his request, I don't think he realized he would have to fit it all in his car when he returns to his apartment at the end of his vacation.

This is the collard green and Swiss Chard bed on March 3rd and today. It has been repeatedly stripped of all leaves but continues to grow as the sun shines more and longer. The burst of growth and the amount produced this month has been staggering.

Everything is about to go to seed and it is a rush against time to get things picked before the flavor deteriorates. My priority has been harvesting instead of planting which is backward for this time of the year.  It has made me about three to four weeks behind in starting new seedlings. It is hard to get motivated to plant when you are busy harvesting. Is there ever going to be a normal year in the garden?

Today, the garden looks quite different. Some areas still have the winter vegetables while other beds have been stripped, amended, seeded, and tiny sprouts are appearing.  

We have received more loads of horse manure from our neighbor.  It has been spread beside the strawberry beds on the front sunny side of the garden. Last year's sprouted potatoes have just been planted. It looks quite high but it will settle down after a few more rains. After the potatoes are dug this summer, we will hoe in a center aisle. There are no plans to weed the potatoes since I sank up to my knees in wet manure when planting. The potatoes will fight the weeds by themselves.

In the shady back of the garden, we will continue to fill in the two side aisles with manure. That will make a single center path which will give us a bit more planting area, and standardize the row lengths so the hoop houses can be rotated. I am already thinking ahead to next year.

The weather is warm and it feels like spring is here.  I love it!

Last Month's February Garden (2024)

Last Year's March Garden (2023)

Through the Garden Gate