Beginning Sprouts Newsletter March 2008

March is the month when many beautiful spring perennials sprout.  Now is a good time to get the garden ready.  The changing weather this month makes it difficult to set schedules for planting.

Perennials, annuals, and bulbs

Pull mulch off gradually as the plants begin showing signs of new growth. The mulch acts as a protector from sudden changes of temperature and chilling winds. Winter is not over yet. Acclimate your plants by gradually removing the mulch, allowing light and air to reach the new growth slowly. It is much better to remove the mulch a little later that to remove it too early. Roses can be pruned this month. Severe pruning results in nice long stemmed flowers and more compact bushes. Check roses for black spot.

Feed roses. Sow seeds of summer blooming annuals indoors. Seeds which were started indoors last month may be transplanted from the flats into peat pots and given dilute fertilizer. Alternating thawing and freezing can tear plant roots and force the plant right out if it’s hole. If you notice any plants that have heaved, push them back into the ground, and tap lightly with your foot. Plant tender bulbs in ground that has thawed. You may continue additional planting of bulbs every two weeks until mid June to ensure a continuous source of blooms. Remove all dead blooms from bulbs. Fertilize any bulbs that have finished blooming with bulb booster.

Fruits and veggies
Take a little time to prepare the vegetable garden soil or planting. The additions of processed manure, peat moss, or compost are good additives for building compost humus in the soil. Peas and sweet peas may be planted, as well as, rhubarb, horse radish and artichokes. Mid month, eggplant, cauliflower, celery, leek, onions, early potatoes and radish seeds can be planted. Other hardy vegetables like spinach and cabbage can be planted in late month. Plant strawberries, blueberries, and grapes. It’s time to start tomato, lettuce and other vegetables from seed. Odds and ends
It’s time to weed. It really needs to get done before the weeds have a chance to flower and go to seed. Remember one the weeds go to seed you can be fighting that weed seed for up to seven years or more. Most weeds can be pulled or cultivated out of the garden while still young. Turn the compost pile, adding any course mulch which was removed from the garden.Clean out all of your birdhouses now, so they will be ready when the birds return. Check the plants under the eaves of the house and under tall evergreens to see that they have sufficient moisture.Daffodil  a.k.a. Narcissus

 Daffodils, the flowers symbolizing friendship, are one of the most popular flowers due to their unmatched beauty. Daffodils belong to the genus Narcissus. Daffodil flowers have a trumpet-shaped structure set against a star-shaped background. Often the trumpet is in a contrasting color from the background. The name Daffodils includes the cluster-flowered yellow Jonquils and the White Narcissi. Narcissus is the botanical name for a genus of mainly hardy, mostly spring-flowering, bulbs in the Amaryllis family native to Europe, North Africa, and Asia.

Daffodils are constantly recurring flowers. Where climate is moderate, Daffodils flourish among the first spring buds. Daffodils often bloom in clusters. There are at least 50 species of Daffodils. Daffodils are native mainly to the Mediterranean region.

Generally, these flowers are yellow, but some of them also grow in yellow-and white, yellow-and-orange, white-and-orange, pink, and lime-green. All Daffodils have a corona in the center that looks like a trumpet, and a ring of petals all around. The natural Daffodil is golden yellow color all over, while the trumpet may often appear in a contrasting color. The paper-white Daffodils could be planted in gardens that are outdoor, but they could grow in indoor gardens during Christmas.

There is no difference between Daffodils and narcissus. The two words are synonymous. Narcissus is the Latin or botanical name for the commonly called daffodils. Daffodil is the common name for all members of the genus Narcissus.

Daffodils flower among the earliest blooms in spring. The often grow in large clusters, covering lawns and hillsides with yellow. When planting, large bulbs should be 6 – 8 inches deep, medium size bulbs 3-6 inches, and smaller bulbs 2-3 inches. Remember that the load of soil proves helpful to protect the bulbs from breaking too easily and keep them upright for a longer duration. If ignored and not enough depth is given to the daffodil, then it will bend down very soon. Choose a well-drained, sunny place, with slightly acidic soil. Plant daffodils so that their top (pointed end) is a least two times as deep as the bulb is high (top of a 2” bulb is 4” deep). Plant bulbs deeper in sandy soil than in clay. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizer. Most organic bulb fertilizers can be placed right into the planting hole because they are gentle and nonburning. Daffodils need lots of water while they are growing. After blooming, never cut the foliage until it begins to yellow (usually late May or June). Since Daffodil is a perennial, every 5 to 10 years, divide the clumps of b bulbs in early summer.