Gardening in Mississippi and the South: March and April.

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The first of March usually begins the spring gardening chores.  By this date you should sow indoors or in a greenhouse all warm weather crops for a head start on the growing season.  Sow tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, eggplants, corn, pumpkins, squashes, gourds, melons, okra, black-eyed peas, sweet potatoes, green beans, lima beans, New Zealand Spinach, and peanuts.  Also sow fast growing annuals for the flower garden like marigolds and zinnias.

 

By about the first week of April, start transplanting these into the garden.  Side dress heavy feeders like corn and peppers, and tomatoes with a good fertilizer. Mulch around young plants to keep moisture in the soil and protect from drought when the soil warms up.  Also transplant all your herbs started or over-wintered indoors at this time, although some not greatly affected by cold spells may be transplanted outside a bit earlier. These are chives, cilantro, dill, fennel, mint, lemon balm, oregano, parsley, sage, tarragon, thyme, and chamomile. 

 

Another outdoor chore that should be done at this time is pruning the azaleas after they have finished blooming to promote bushiness.  Deadhead spring-flowering bulbs but don’t remove the foliage.  Let it die down naturally. Also deadhead perennials and cut back hard after flowering to promote re-blooming and bushiness.  Then plant summer-flowering annuals in flower beds for summer color.  Also plant lilies, begonias, cannas, dahlias, gladiolas, and other summer-flowing bulbs now.  Rake and compost any fallen leaves left on the ground over winter. 

 

In mild weather harden off indoor raised seedlings by putting them outside a little while during the day.  Start hoeing or pulling any new season weeds that begin to appear in the garden.  Prune old growth from perennial herbs such as rosemary, thyme, and sage.  Divide larger clumps of chives as well.  Continue harvesting anything left from the winter garden and any new spring greens that may be ready.  Put up supports for climbers while the ground is still soft.  Use hot caps on any cold nights to protect new seedlings.  Earth up early potatoes or put straw over them.  Thin out young seedlings where necessary and transplant them elsewhere if you don’t want to toss them.  

 

By the end of April all your spring gardening chores should be completed and you can look forward to the bountiful harvest to come.  Watch out for insects and diseases and spray or dust when necessary.  Do this close to sunset if possible and before the flowers bloom so you don’t get the bees and other beneficial insects. Now you can sit back with a cold glass of lemonade or herb tea, and watch your garden grow.  God bless and go grow something!

 

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