Dear Flora – January 2025
by Sage & Snow Garden Club
January 13, 2025
Dear Flora,
All of this snow is making me realize how long it will be until I can get my hands dirty again. Do you have any fun winter gardening activities to ward off the winter gardening blues?
Sincerely,
Sno Bird
Dear Sno,
You are in luck! With the holidays behind us, it seems like a good time for some gardening projects to help us wait a little more patiently for spring.
Forcing bulbs indoors - Unplanted bulbs can be forced for mid-winter blooms. Chill tulip, daffodil, or hyacinth bulbs in your fridge for at least 12 weeks. Plant bulbs in potting soil, water thoroughly, and set the pots in a sunny window. This deceptive use of temperature and light can "trick" bulbs into blooming in 3—6 weeks after planting. Bulbs and planting kits are available online for ordering—some bulbs even come "pre-chilled" and ready to go for forcing.
Microgreens — Plant microgreen seed in pots and place in a sunny, warm location. Watch seedlings grow in a few days. Microgreens come in all kinds of flavors—radish, kale, broccoli, Asian greens, beet, turnip. Trim these yummy greens to add to salads or sandwiches.
Learn more about gardening - Take a gardening class at Sublette County BOCES. Sign up for "Growing Tomatoes" taught by Arlinda McLaughlin on Saturday, March 1st from 9AM—12Noon. Cost to register is $20.
Become a garden club member. Attend meetings and activities to learn about growing in Sublette County. See detailed information below.
Dear Flora,
How do you decide what seeds to order for our climate? Do you have tips on garden planning?
Thanks so much,
Heather Weather
Dear Heather,
This is a good time of year to look at your notes from last year’s garden season and plan ahead for next spring. It is also the time of year to start studying all of those seed catalogs and to order early to make sure to get the varieties you want.
Important seed ordering tips:
Look for "early" short season vegetable seeds. Varieties that mature in 50-75 days work the best in our extreme climate.
Plants labeled as "cold hardy" have adapted to cooler climates and usually grow better at our higher elevations.Seek out seed companies that grow their own seeds in northern areas. These seeds are often adapted for success in similar growing conditions to our area. Some reliable online seed sources for our climate are Johnny’s Seeds (johnnyseeds.com) or Territorial Seeds (territorialseed.com). Seeds purchased in local stores are also fine, just make sure to check the dates of maturity.Keep your expectations realistic—consult local gardeners for information and recommendations to increase odds for success.
Garden Planning Tips:
Start by evaluating what did well and what failed during the previous growing season. Keeping a garden journal can be extremely helpful to remember the details—like varieties that grew well, timing of plantings, and weather conditions.Map out your garden plan on graph paper year to year (or use planning software programs). This practice helps to make sure that you rotate crops to prevent pest infestations,
plant diseases, and soil nutrient depletion. Save seed packets to remember where to order your favorites and check back on specific growing information.Create a calendar for planting next year’s crops. This is especially important if you start seeds indoors for later transplanting. Ask Arlinda for her planting guide with approximate dates.
Dear Flora,
I would love to learn more about gardening in Sublette County. Does the garden club have any upcoming activities that I could participate in?
Ever Grateful,
Sage Snow
Dear Sage,
The Sage and Snow Garden Club will meet on Monday, January 27th at 5PM at the Sublette County Weed & Pest Office for our annual business meeting to plan events for 2025. Everyone is welcome to join our club to learn more about successful techniques and plants that grow in Sublette County. For more information or to ask questions for our next Ask Flora column, go to our website @ https://www.sageandsnowgardenclub.org/ or contact Arlinda McLaughlin, Master Gardener at 307-231-9402.
|
