What's going on in the garden right now

It’s newly spring, and in my USDA zone (7a), it was time to start planting a few weeks ago. I know some of you didn’t believe me, and perhaps still don’t. I know someone who doesn’t plant until MEMORIAL DAY! Which, by the way, is ridiculous. Things aren’t quite in full swing around here yet, but there are signs of spring and seeds in the ground already.

Some early spring perennials are already up, and a few early trees are putting out buds. So far, I’ve gotten peas and lettuce in the ground in a small patch. The majority of space in my raised beds is not only not planted yet, but they aren’t cleaned up yet either. There are remnants of last year's annuals, dead stems and leaves throughout the space. Although some may consider this unsightly, it’s an important part of gardening. This is to protect pollinator eggs that are overwintering in the dead plant matter from last winter. They won’t begin to venture out until we have about two consecutive weeks of temperatures in the 50’s - so yes, plan your garden, start your early spring plants, and leave the rest for just a little while longer. It can be tempting to get a head start on spring cleanup, but if you want your plants to get pollinated this year, it’s very important that you leave as much space as you can alone until the temperature is where we need it to be.

With that said, you can strategically plant cold-loving plants while minimally disturbing the soil and brush around it, and that’s just what we’re doing. Here’s what’s going on in the garden right now.

In the ground already:

• Peas

• Lettuce

Getting planted this week:

• Beans

• Pawpaws - I was lucky enough to try this fruit for the first time last September and meticulously saved every seed of this rare, native fruit tree. In order to germinate, pawpaw seeds need to first go through winter, so I mimicked that by storing the seeds in the fridge. It’s now the perfect time to start them. Pawpaws are a small tree that can take 6-10 years to bear fruit, so I’m going to plant them in pots so that when I move, I’ll be able to take them with me. Pawpaws cannot self pollinate, so in order to get fruit, you need to plant at least two.

What’s coming up around the neighborhood and in my yard:

• Snow drops

• Crocuses

• Daffodils

• Magnolia buds

If you want help planning your garden this year, we still have slots open for bespoke garden design. No matter the size, we can design a garden that works for you.

Last years pawpaw that I saved the seed from