At first glance, the garden in March seems to be fast asleep, but on closer inspection it becomes apparent that much is happening! The Witch Hazel has set forth flowers, crocuses begin to open in all hues, daffodils and tulips push leaves up to gather the sunlight of lengthening days and hellebores open their exquisite blooms. Even day lilies are beginning to make an appearance.
It isn’t just flowers and shrubs waking up. In my 8' x 8' unheated greenhouse, spinach is sprouting. Strawberry and raspberry plants, purchased at a discount late in fall, have been wintering over and getting a head start on the new season. Before the first frost last year, I moved a large, low container of ruby chard into the greenhouse in an attempt to get a longer harvest, and was pleasantly surprised to find that it continued to produce the whole winter through.
Indoor seed starting is also under way. I've started seed collected from last year's garden, as well as trying a several new varieties of vegetables for my raised-bed gardens. Catskill Brussels Sprouts and Tete Noir Cabbages are among the newcomers. There were also a few contenders that I tried last year that won't make it into the garden this year. Suyo Long Cucumbers were a big disappointment with very poor production. Perhaps this variety is just not a good choice for western Pennsylvania’s growing conditions.
Persimmon tomatoes will also not be making a repeat appearance in my garden. Not because they did poorly, in fact the plants were vigorous, healthy and very productive with large, beautiful, apricot colored fruit. Unfortunately they were too meaty and lacked enough acidity for my taste. In a small garden like mine, pretty doesn’t cut it, veggies need to be practical too. I did however collect plenty of seeds for friends and family who prefer that kind of tomato to plant this year in their own backyard gardens. Instead of the Persimmon plants, I plan to double the amount of Black Krim tomato plants that I started last year. It is a tough variety from the Russian Crimea region along the Black Sea. With a good gel-to-flesh ratio, nice acidic balance, and slightly salty flavor, they have secured a place in my garden for many years to come. This variety also continued to produce well late into the season, plus the deep maroon color looks beautiful in the garden!
For now I must be content to let the spring bulbs and flowering trees do their thing and tend to my tiny seedlings. It is too early to do much gardening other than transplanting trees and shrubs (which I have already done: one Korean Spice Bush Viburnum and one Coral Bark Japanese Maple) and planting those few plants in the garden that will take the cold, such as lettuce, spinach, leek, and peas. But it is certain to be a wonderful beginning of a busy and (hopefully) productive gardening season here in the Pittsburgh suburbs.
