Bursting into Spring

I know it isn’t truly spring in Northern Indiana… but I will enjoy every ounce of sunshine I can get. The garden agrees and is already starting to burst into life. The spring flowers started to emerge a couple of weeks ago. This week we had our first blooms of the season from our crocus and hellebore. Our first perennial garden vegetable also broke through the ground, see the photo of our singular rhubarb leaf below.

Firstly, let's talk about the cabbage patch. It's truly rewarding to witness the development of our cabbage that was planted less than a month ago, those babies are already starting to unfurl their true leaves, signaling robust growth and promising harvests ahead. Our nightshades (tomatoes, peppers, & eggplant), planted just a few weeks ago, have sprung to life. The tomatoes, in particular, are showing remarkable progress, with the emergence of their true leaves. However, the unexpected 100% germination rate has presented us with a pleasant dilemma… when I was sowing our seeds I added 2-3 seeds into each hole – now we will need to thin out the seedlings to ensure the healthiest and most vigorous plants thrive.

On another front, I embarked on a mission to prune our overgrown apple tree, a relic from the past homeowners that has graced our yard with its abundance but yielded less than desirable fruits. Armed with my newfound knowledge thanks to the internet and a can-do attitude, I made my first attempt at pruning the fruit tree. I carefully removed excess growth and diseased branches. I hope that this step will not only rejuvenate the tree but also yield larger and more flavorful apples this summer.

Until next time, happy gardening!