by Zelpha A. Boyd
As I write this, in the middle of March, I’m certainly looking for this snow to melt and run away. I admire the wonderful snow pack that will fill reservoirs, but seeing the brown earth once again will be terrific!
In the meantime, there are house plants to tend to. My geraniums are becoming tall and leggy. Cutting them back now will result in more robust plants and give me some cuttings.
I lay the cuttings out on the counter to allow the ends to dry. This prevents them from simply rotting before the rooting beings. After a few days, I can plant them in good potting soil.
The cuttings are dipped in a rooting compound and planted deeply into the pot of soil. Watering thoroughly and kept damp, soon new growth appears. A welcome for the Spring that will surely come!
My non-heated greenhouse also can use some attention. After digging it out – there was a couple feet of snow in front of the door – I clean out the old stalks. Since the soil is dry, I rake and water. As soon as seedlings appear – some are volunteers and some weeds – I can plant.
There’s a trellis along the back side that works well for growing garden peas. Planting them now – along with spinach – assures me of fresh produce earlier than I can get from the garden later on.
Yes, Spring will come again this year. And until it does, the gardener will keep busy doing whatever with plants growing inside.
Happy Spring, everyone!
