April 2025 Musings

April greetings fellow gardeners and nature enthusiasts,

April comes on like a lion for me- no lollygagging anymore! The first thing I want to emphasize is that this month is finicky. One day it is sunny and warm and our inclination is to plant all the seedlings. Beware! Night-time temperatures can bring killing frosts. Seedlings such as peas, brassicas (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage), most leafy crops like cool weather, but should be hardened off before landing in their permanent spot. I do this by bringing everybody out during the day and back in at night for several days. This is especially necessary if seedlings come from a greenhouse. My peas are garden-bound April 10. You can plant pea seeds now, but have cover available just in case. Be sure to save warm weather-loving plants (tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, squashes and cucumbers, beans, etc.) for planting after May 23. Hardening off still applies. Direct seeding works beautifully late May, because the soil is warm, and seedlings “jump”.

 Onion plants, on the other hand, go directly into the garden now. By the way, all bare root plants (including onions, strawberries, asparagus, etc.) have arrived at our store. Most have been special ordered, but stop by to see what’s still available.

Onion Beds Prepped & Ready for Planting!

Back to onions; here’s how I do it. First I pull back chopped leaf mulch and line out four 16’ rows. I turn this soil over with a garden fork, because this area was a pathway last year and is now a bit too compacted for delicate onion roots. I then apply a 1” layer of Happy Frog Soil Conditioner, followed by a 2” layer of Coast of Maine Castine Mix, followed by a 2” layer of my own compost, and lastly, a generous application of organic Espoma Bulb-tone (approximately 1 cup/linear 8’). No doubt I spoil my onions. They are my favorite to grow. Now I’m ready to lightly turn all this under, and begin planting. It’s now April 4th.  I carve a shallow groove down the row, which acts as a guide. I space Walla Walla plants 6” apart, Pattersons 5” apart, and shallots 8” apart (they form clumps). I poke a hole about 2nd-knuckle deep with my finger and press in each plant. Lastly, I give them a good watering to settle them in and then proceed to keep them evenly moist (not soggy) throughout the growing season. You will find culture tips for all our bare root plants on our website, so please check the website out for this information. Hint: there’s more to growing big, healthy onions than what I have just covered.

Little Onion Soliders Neatly Planted in Rows

So, other than early veggie garden planting, April is all about catching up for me- making sure perennial beds are weeded, mulched. and fertilized, situating trellises where needed, and very importantly, keeping a keen eye out for problems (rabbits, deer, voles, turkeys- you get the picture). 

Lawns need attention later this month. Hopefully, you have seeded bare spots or over-seeded sparse areas in March. If you have, germination and the wonderful sight of “green fuzz” will occur this month. Once that happens, you are good to go with our Blue Seal Safe ‘N Simple all-natural lawn care program. Our best deal is going on right now!

Because we have practiced this program for years, I’ll be mowing in a week’s time! That’s it for now.

Judy