Hello Gardeners!
This last Sunday Mother Earth was giving us a spring tease. It was downright balmy feeling outside! (Only a Minnesotan would consider 42°F balmy!) I longed for spring yesterday even knowing it was only February and I should expect at least another 6 weeks of winter. So what should a gardener do during these days of late winter?
There are plenty of activities to help you pass the time while waiting for spring:
Prune your trees and shrubs (except spring blooming shrubs) U of M pruning
Sharpen and clean your garden tools sharpen pruners
Give your houseplants a bath washing houseplants
Design or redesign your garden
Read up on a new (to you) gardening technique such as:
No-till gardening No till gardening
Permaculture permaculture
Hugelkultur What is Hugelkultur
You’ve heard of blueberries, strawberries, apples and pears but consider growing more edible plants such as:
Honeyberries honeyberries
Hazelnuts American hazelnut
And of course, I need to suggest starting seeds. But don’t start them too early or your seedlings will be leggy and weak from lack of proper light or outgrow their container before you can plant them outside.
This is the perfect time to remind you of the next Seed Talk on March 8th at 6:30 pm via Zoom. This Seed Talk will be all about starting seeds—vegetable, herb and flowers. I’ll cover when to start various types of seeds as well as how to grow them and how to safely transplant them to your garden. To register for this event go to Mar 8th Seed Talk
This seed talk is via Zoom and you need to register at least 3 hours prior to the start of the talk so the Ramsey county library can send you the link. It is open to anyone, beginners to seasoned gardeners. Seed Talks are community get-togethers where people can share their questions and experiences on gardening.
Update
on Seeds
Almost every week I add more vegetable, herb and flower seeds.
See the links to all the available seeds on the blogsite. Look on the right hand side.
A BIG THANK YOU to all who have donated seeds! It’s wonderful to have such a big selection of seeds in the seed library.
How to Get Free Seeds
You can access the seed packets during regular library hours. The Seed Library table is to the right as you come through the double doors. (White Bear Lake library, 2150 2nd St, White Bear Lake; M: 10-8, T, W: 1-8, Th, F, Sa: 10-5)
You can find the current list of available seeds on the Seed Library website at Seed Library site. Or a less than current paper list on the Seed Library table in the library.
If you can’t find the seeds you’re looking for please let me know via email: wblseedlibrary@gmail.com and I’ll get you the seeds if they are available.
‘Grow a Row’ Participants
As I only had one person return seeds from the ‘Grow a Row’ activity last season, I didn’t have enough seeds to do it again, so I bought more bean and pea seeds. Later this spring I’ll try again, so stay tuned.
Seeds Needed
The seed library welcomes any seed donations of non-hybrid, non-cross-pollinated seeds. Place dry seeds in a paper envelope with the name of seed, year and location on the envelope. Drop off in the bin on the seed library table in the library during open hours.
Volunteer Opportunity
Help package seeds for the seed library. If interested, send me an email and I’ll get you seeds, supplies and instructions. You package the seeds and return them to the seed library table.
Future Seed Talks via Zoom, all at 6:30pm
Mar 8, 2022 Tues How to Start Seeds
Learn all the ins and outs of starting vegetable and flowers seeds.
Events and Classes
Ramsey County Master Gardner classes: calendar
Northern Gardener classes: classes
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Contact info for the Seed Library:
Email: wblseedlibrary@gmail.com
Blog site: WBL Seed Library
Pam, who would like spring to come, but is also looking forward to more snow to play in!
