MARCH

March, 12;

                                     So today is not for outside chores, we have a "March Squall" in progress this morning, in the Keremeos-Cawston area. Today would be great for sorting through seeds and planning the garden rows. As pepper seeds take a while to sprout, now is the time to seed trays, or a pot or two, for later transplants to the garden. you want to time it for 6 to 8 weeks before June 1st, which is my recommended planting time for peppers. they like to be kept warm to hot!

                                      I like to scatter wildflower seeds at this time, I scratch up the soil where I want them, scatter seeds while its not windy. I cast a light layer of compost over the top, press in with the back of the rake and lightly cover with a fine, or straw mulch. its important to cover fine shallow seeds with mulch, as you want to keep the very top of the soil damp until the seeds sprout and develop roots.

                                   

                                       
          Saturday,09; 
                                      Enjoyed working outside today, windy but not too cool. I am going to save the pine needles for mulch on the flower beds, I cover them a little with compost, so they rot into a nice black nourishing mulch (7hp) that flowers love.
                                       Speaking of raking leaves, find a corner to pile them, sprinkle a little old compost between the layers, keep moist, soon you will have a great leaf-mold compost that is good food for your veggies, flowers, and house plants.
                                        For you who worry about weed seeds in composting, I compost every thing. Weeds and all. If you keep your pile mixed with dirt and fairly moist and cover with black plastic to heat it up, the heat will usually get hot enough to kill most seeds. any strays that pop up later as I use the soil I just pull and toss back into the compost pile. The trick to feeding weeds into the post pile, is to pull weeds before they go to seed. Some weeds like Knapp weed are very high in vitamin A.

  

             We should get the raking of leaves on the lawn to let the air and sun in, and to remove any rot and over-winter insects. Also rake and clean flower and bulb beds before young shoots show, to be damaged by the rake. It is also time to finish any pruning before the sap starts to run, which will be soon, to avoid fungus and mold in bleeding cuts.

             Now as the frost is out of the soil, quickly transplant any bulbs you wish to transplant before the shoots appear above ground. remember to water well to avoid and late frosts from seeping deep into the newly disturbed soil, and nipping the new shoots. a light mulch is also advised to keep warmth and moisture in as bulbs don't like over watering.