Spring’s Arrival
By: Sky L. Moss
The act of growing is often viewed as tedium. I would equate it to exercise, people know and understand its intrinsic reward but fear the time investment and commitment. Therefore the most important aspect of growing is to start off too easy, you might pull a proverbial muscle. To become involved in growing is to marry your physical environment to your social, physical, psychological health. Try making it a family activity motivated by communing with nature, food production and old fashioned dirty fun.
When you think of when and how to start I would suggest perennials. For the sake of this column perennials are any plant, bush or tree that will come back on its own in the next year. Spring in the northeast is always anxiously anticipated. To associate this with the arrival of blossoms in your yard is both natural (pun intended) and uplifting. What follows are some simple spring planting that will yield endless springs' of anticipation.
I started growing for delicious food and to participate in local farmers’ markets. Consequently I am always more excited about foods than ornamentals (pretty plants and shrubs). Springtime is the perfect opportunity to plant some food that will bring annual reward.
Everybody loves fresh strawberries. They are nirvana to the pallet after having endured months of Sam’s Club/Wegmans’ produce. I am not banging on store produce but it is a poor facsimile for fresh grown. Strawberries are a perennial that require a little yearly upkeep but can provide quarts of enjoyment form a small bed. Each area of the country (and the world for that matter) has a unique growing personality. Certain varieties simply do better than others based on localized climate characteristics. Try to find a local grower who has experience. In the case of strawberries it is likely they will give you five to ten plants to get started. Some varieties created for this regions are Honeoye and Northeaster. A simple internet search can yield a local supplier. While a bit pricey Miller nurseries of Canandaigua are a quality supplier. Pinetree seed company in Maine is another quality source. To start a bed clear a 5’ by 10’ space (or smaller) with a spade or tiller. Remove the sod and shake well leaving the remnant topsoil. (Save the top-sod to put in your compost pile, something we will talk about next time.) Space your plants two to three feet and mulch them. Mulching is the act of surrounding your plants with a cover to prevent weed germination and conserve water while moderating temperature. Grass clippings, straw, leaves, newspapers, compost are all good mulch. Try to procure something free verus purchasing. This will prove a more sustainable model. By the second year you will have strawberries each June to enjoy fresh on your favorite cereal.
One of my favorite things to grow are berries. Blackberries and raspberries are easier to try initially (versus blueberries). These two delicacies grow from roots and shoot up new canes each year bearing succulent berries. I am fond of procuring roots form local wild berries or friends. As with strawberries clear a small bed, plant the roots and mulch (see above). I acquired my raspberries from an old grower friend in the town of Dix. They have grown in this region for forty plus years and are amazingly hardy (can handle our winter) and wickedly delicious. My black berries were dug from the wild. Their canes are easily identifiable by their deep purple color. The first year canes will shoot from the roots. You may want to build some spartan support for the canes in the second year. When they bear fruit they sag toward the ground. Any simple trellis structure will suffice. In your second year these canes will bear fruit. Some varieties that perform well in up-state are Jewel, Allen and Latham. Specialty berries such as Boysenberry and Loganberries are also easy to grow.
I would be remised to not mention ornamental perennials that provide instant seasonal therapy in the spring. Tulips are often planted in the fall but spring is OK also. Along with Daffodils they are amongst the first arrivals and almost guaranteed to produce. While there are countless varieties I normally purchase my bulbs locally with an eye on color and hardiness. Crocus are another zone 5 (our growing region) friendly early spring perennial flower. All three are grown from bulbs and can certainly be planted in the spring. In a year the reward will be obvious.
Shrubs are also fun to plant with the expectation of some spring beauty. Lilacs and forsythia are short-term bearers but the intensity of their aroma (lilacs) and color (forsythia) make them worth the space. You can dig young shrubs from the wild in the case of forsythia. Lilacs can be obtained from friends or bought in many places. Here again I look to color and variety suited to our climate. Start looking around for suitable varieties to get started. Next week we will look at other mid-summer perennial both ornamental and edible and begin preparation for the backyard garden. While I would wait a few week to plant the soil is certainly thawed, go get dirty. Remember to have fun with the possibilities. Landscaping, or arranging your cultivars, is an entirely different column. Suffice to say let your artistic self engage.
