Spring is here!
Yes, it’s FINALLY here, after a
long and harsh Michigan winter. The trees are starting to grow leaves again,
tulips, daffodils, and lilac are blooming, and the grass finally needs to be
mowed. Plants of all kinds are being sold, people are bringing out their
tomato, eggplant, pepper, and other seedlings they started earlier in the year
out, and the first crops of salad greens are being harvested. Warm temperatures
are here, the last frost of the season is done, and with it, hope and new
beginnings are on the wind.
Speaking of wind, welcome to May in
Michigan! These past few weeks the weather has been topsy-turvy, with warm and
cold temps, tornado warnings, and torrential rain. This has been troubling for
many people, because right now is the time to plant many different kinds of
crops, mainly cucumbers, melons, squash, and late peas and beans. The erratic
temperatures, intense wind, and horrible rains are almost impossible for seeds
to start and thrive in. However, there are ways around this! All you have to do
is start these finicky plants indoors with the right tools and knowledge.
The
reason that these plants are usually directly planted in the ground instead of
indoors, like tomatoes and peppers, is because they do NOT like being
transplanted. They hate having their roots disturbed, due to having delicate
root systems that are sensitive to disturbances, which can lead to wilting,
stunted growth, or temperamental growing spurts. This is why starting them
about two weeks before you intend to plant them, which is usually around late
May to early June in Michigan, is the best time to start them indoors. The
plants get a head start, but don’t grow so large that they become root-bound in
their containers, which inhibits root growth for these plants, and causes the
before mentioned problems. If timed right, this will not be an issue at all.
This week, May 18-24, is a perfect time to start the melons, squash, cucumbers,
and late peas and beans for this area. Kady Maser
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