Spring Gardening Is In The Air

Greetings from the island everyone. Hope all of you are doing well, and remembered your sweetie last weekend on Valentines Day. Always remember – happy girlfriend/wife, happy life.

Well, we had a few weeks of Spring-like weather for awhile, but as I sit here on the 13th, the forecast shows a drastic drop in temps in several days. So don’t put away those winter jackets just yet, February is normally the cold month for us, with some late season northers blowing into Spring.

This time of the year begins my favorite island months out here. From the beginning of March thru May is usually beautiful weather, and the greenery and small island flowers are adding a touch of color to the brown salt grass terrain.

This also begins the time of year that my inherited Czech/Danish gardening genes begin to come alive and crave the feel of fresh soil and sprouting seeds. I started my tomato seeds a few days ago, trying out 16 different varieties and planning on putting 27 plants in the ground around the first week of April. Do I need to grow that many different varieties? Of course not, but I enjoy experimenting with different ones, both hybrid and heirlooms, to determine which plants will thrive in this island environment. I’ve started seeds for 54 plants total, knowing that I’ll give some away, and others will not be healthy enough to go into the ground.

I’m also building eight additional raised beds this year, 3’ square each, for extra watermelons and cantaloupes, 8-10 varieties, including seedless ones. Nothing better than a cold sweet watermelon on a hot summer afternoon. I’ll start the melon seeds in 3” peat pots after the tomato plants go in the ground.

I am fortunate this season to have friends, Jim and Cricket Dietert, trailer down from Seguin into Port O’Connor, over two thousand pounds of rabbit manure and mushroom compost for me to add to my many raised beds. Thank you both and also to Darrell McLain of Kitchen Pride Mushroom Farms for providing this wonderful compost. Yes, it was very labor intensive hauling the 150+ pound tubs across the bay, but I know it will be worth it.

I want to say Thank You to everyone for your kind words over the passing of my Barnacle. Complete strangers who followed Barnacle and his island life have touched me with their compassion. I can never replace him, nor do I want to, but I’m hoping that by summer I’ll have another companion and first mate, a boxer puppy, by my side on the island. I’m looking forward to little Corky enjoying island life with me.

Well that’s it from the island for now, everyone take care and happy gardening.