Spring planning and planting

Spring is a wonderful time to garden with the right amount of sunshine to make plants grow.  Spring may be when the majority of planting happens but many gardeners here on the peninsula garden all year round in permanent garden beds, often raised beds or hügelkultur beds. With established beds, spring planting is just a continuation of the gardening calendar, especially now as seasons are not so well defined.

Fall plantings of well-mulched brassicas and Chinese cabbages allowed the complex web of bacteria and fungi to keep them growing, even if slower than we would have liked. And any weeds that survived the wind and rain were consigned to the compost bin.

As cabbages and cauliflowers are harvested, compost and well-rotted manure can be applied for the spring planting, and with an established garden bed, paths and structures, there is not much prep that needs to be done. All you have to do is wait for the soil to warm up.

Spring is also the time to check and repair all structures, and plan where the summer climbers will go. Garden ornaments and tools can harbour disease and pests so a good clean will be necessary. Hopefully you have ordered your seeds and have all saved seeds in good condition ready for planting in a warm sheltered place.

While you wait, you can sow seeds of sunflowers, pumpkins, marigolds, tomatoes, cucumber and any of the summer vegetables for early planting out. Kumera beds can be prepared while keen gardeners will find many self-seeded perennials popping up.

Many hidden slugs and snails have been enjoying your brassicas. They will be hidden in the mulch and garden edges, so now is the time to hunt them down. Evening snail hunts under the stars with a good torch are always worthwhile. Any you miss will certainly munch your newly planted seedlings. Netting newly planted seedlings and strawberry plants will stop sparrows from decimating them.

Many seedlings can be tucked into spaces between the existing crops soon to be harvested, just make sure that you replenish the soil, with compost, well-rotted manure, liquid seaweed brews, or urine!

There is no such thing as too many herbs, and spring is a great time for dividing or transplanting any herbs that have survived a cold wet winter. Taking cuttings of bay, rosemary, thyme, and sage is easy, though it helps to have a dedicated area close to your garden. And even if you don’t have the space, herbs are easily grown in pots and planters.

So go wild. Let nature take its course!