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Written by Marilyn Ostergren   
Wednesday, 25 March 2009 18:37
We’re going to experiment with a new way of supporting gardeners. Each week, we’ll send out an email message with a few notes on what an experienced Kitsap County gardener is doing in her garden that week. It won’t give a lot of details – just some ideas to send you off to your bookshelf, library, local garden store or Google for more information. If you’d like to receive these email messages, sign up here.

Here is this week’s news (March 25):
“If people are going to grow potatoes, it is a good time to bring them in the house to both warm them up and to begin them sprouting.  A nice warm 65 -70 degree room with moderate light on them will encourage them to grow sprouts that are short and stubby which makes them less prone to breakage.  They will be ready to plant in 3-4 weeks.
My early starts (that one nice day back in February we had) under remay of salad greens are now an inch high. Peas are planted -- also under remay.  Some starts of onions, lettuce, kale and collards in the greenhouse.
My soil temp is still only around 45 degrees so wait until we get some warmer days for even most cold weather crops.
Rhubarb is coming up.
Will be turning the cover crop next week.”

Here is last week’s news (March 15):
This week I started my second set of cold-weather seeds on a heating pad in the greenhouse – lettuce, peas, chard, broccoli, cabbage, bok choi, Brussels sprouts.
The lettuce and spinach that lasted through the winter under a protective covering are doing great.
It’s usually okay to plant peas at this time of year, but it’s been so cold that they may just rot in the ground.
I’m also grafting fruit trees. I did my plums last week and will do pears and applies this week.
This is also a good time for taking cuttings from currants and grapes and rooting them in pots.
I’ll probably start my tomatoes and basil in the greenhouse next week”