SPRING is here....we are so ready for spring like weather here in IOWA.

       Spring is here and it is lovely out.  Grass is slowly turning green, but still have a little snow that hasn't melted yet. I need to let all of you know, that we are a growing greenhouse.  We have been growing plants for almost 30 years.  So when the customer ask " When will you get your tomatoes in?"  I say they are here now because we have grown them.  We do buy in perennials, trees, shrubs, roses, air plants, and some unusual plants but we do grow most of what you see when you drive up.  In fact, we fill the growing greenhouse 3 times, move plants out, grow more and move them out.  Now this spring because we grow lots, the greenhouse is full and we don't have to wait for the suppliers to bring us finish product it is awesome. 
 
So this week before OPEN HOUSE, we work really hard to turn the growing greenhouse into a garden center.  We are busy cleaning, making displays, getting greenhouses ready for the open house....we will be ready and it is just the beginning of the gardening season.  During open house, there are free gifts.  There is learning going on.  AND most important there is fellowship with fellow gardeners. 
 
With all this in mind, today's blog is going to be short. 
 
Early spring in the garden...don't look at the calendar because we plant, we work in the garden by what Mother nature gives us. 
 
Early Spring in the Garden
What things need to be done in the garden in early spring? What are some early spring gardening activity ideas for kids?
 
Early spring is a time bursting with possibilities in the garden, even while the air is still cold and the days are just beginning to lengthen. Here are ways to jump start spring in the garden with kids, taking advantage of everything the season has to offer.
 
Garden Projects
Planning
Start planning summer vegetable beds. Starting a garden for the first time? See NLI’s Introduction to Children’s Vegetable Gardens Green Desk post for guidance.
Order summer vegetable seeds from catalog and online sources.
Collect containers for starting seeds, such as yogurt cups, milk jugs, 2-liter bottles.
Get information on starting seeds in the spring from this Starting Seeds in the Spring Green Desk post.
Plan ahead to order compost, mulch, garden soil, etc. Begin planning and organizing a garden workday, if necessary.
 
Planting
Plant shade trees, shrubs, and vines.
Plant fruit trees and shrubs.
Plant potatoes.
From seedlings started inside or bought from a local nursery, transplant cold hardy plants such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and leeks into the garden.
Sow seeds of radish, carrots, beets, greens, lettuce and peas.
 
Management
Turn compost pile.
Prune flowering trees and shrubs: Crepe myrtle, beautyberry, butterfly bush.
Cut back ornamental grasses.
Take inventory of garden tools to plan for spring and summer gardening.
 
Other Fun Activities
Newspaper Pots
This is a fun hands-on planting activity that children can create, plant, tend.
Materials
Newspaper (black and white, printed with soy-based ink)
Mason Jar/Can
Pair of scissors
Potting Soil
Seeds (larger seeds are easier for little fingers to handle)
Masking tape
Popsicle sticks for labeling
 
Instructions
1.Cut the newspaper into five to six inch wide strips.
2.Roll the strip of newspaper around the bottom half of the jar and fold any excess paper towards the bottom of the jar.
3.Remove the jar from the newspaper pot, flatten out the bottom of the pot, and seal it with masking tape.
4.Fill the pot with soil.
5.Plant seeds in pot, water, (a spray bottle works well) and label with a popsicle stick.
6.Keep soil moist, and wait for seeds to sprout. Plant in the garden when the weather is warm enough.
 
Jump-start Spring  by forcing branches of spring flowering shrubs and trees to bloom indoors. Place cut stems of Forsythia, Flowering Pear and Cherry, Quince, or Crabapple in a vase inside, and change the water every four days. Children will love bringing springtime indoors!
 
Children’s Literature for Early Spring
 
How Groundhog’s Garden Grew by Lynne Cherry
The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle
taken from https://naturalearning.org/early-spring-garden
till next time this is Becky Litterer, Becky's Greenhouse, Dougherty Iowa beckmall@netins.net