Spring has arrived, and gardening enthusiasts are flocking to local greenhouses to stock up on plants and supplies. Dorinda Penner from Sunshine Greenhouse says people are excited to get started, but she advises caution when it comes to planting vegetables too early.
Getting started with vegetables
"People are really eager. The sun is shining. They come in the greenhouse and say, ‘I need this certain pepper, I need this certain tomato.’ The biggest one we hear is ‘I want my Amish paste for my paste salsa.’ Or ‘do you have the Hungarian Oxnard?’ And we're happy to say yes, we do. But don't plant it today," Penner says.
With unusually warm temperatures, it can be tempting to get planting, but it is still too early, she says. We have experienced warm temperatures the past few nights, but we can still expect lows in the single digits this month.
"When the temperatures go below 10 at night, you’re actually going to go backwards, not forward, so a little bit of patience is key."
She recommends purchasing plants now but suggests putting them on a wagon to make it easier to bring them inside during cooler nights to prevent damage. Penner recommends taking steps to help plants get used to being outdoors.
"Put them on a cart, put them out during the day. Let them get some wind and sunshine. Bring them in at night when the temperatures are cool, because remember anything in a greenhouse has no wind element. We have walls, we have lots of light all day long, but there's no wind and all of a sudden, you're going to notice some white tipping on your cucumber plant, and then you're going to wonder what it is. It's literally wind and some extra sun damage from outside."
Lawn care tips for a dry spring
Penner says people can start working on their lawns now, but caution is needed as some shaded areas may still be too moist. She advises against burning yard waste due to dry conditions and recent heavy winds.
Lawn fertilizer can be applied earlier than usual this year because of consistent temperatures, she notes, adding that raking dry, sunny areas and removing thatch can help promote new grass growth.
Penner recommends mowing lawns at three to three and a half inches to create shade for the roots and minimize weeds. "If I can give anyone in southeastern Manitoba a tip – cut it high, let it grow. You will create some shade for the weeds, you'll shade your roots. Fertilize it 3 times a year, get some water on it at key times and you're going to have the prettiest lawn and way less weeds."
Planting trees and shrubs
If you're considering planting trees and shrubs, Penner says this is an ideal time to do so.
"Planting trees and shrubs that you're finding outside at the garden Center is a little different than planting something that you're buying from inside the greenhouse. Any of the trees and shrubs that are outside, this is a great time of year to get those projects done. And we're here to help. Bring in a picture, bring in some measurements and just a photo on your phone, if that's what it is. If you're looking to refresh a new little area this spring, we've got you."
-With files from Kenton Dyck