Ready to Plant? Get Started Now!

Senetti 'Baby Blue Bicolor' available at Vander Giessen's!

With spring officially underway, if you’re like me you’re probably beginning to get “the itch”for planting. For many of us, it’s just a natural instinct, and as grass starts to grow, flowers burst into bloom and the days get sunnier and warmer, you’re probably eager for at least some aspect of gardening. So, where to begin?

First, if you’re a vegetable gardener, it’s time to get working in your garden. Whether you grow vegetables or herbs in pots on a deck, raised beds alongside your garage or in a vast backyard garden, now is the time to get started with soil preparation and planting. 

Before you begin with any planting, be sure to amend your soil with a fresh layer of compost. Most edibles are good eaters themselves and require nutrient-rich soil to produce an abundant crop. For larger gardens, spread an inch or two of mushroom compost—available in bulk at Vander Giessen Nursery—over the garden and rototill it in. If you grow in a small area or containers, bagged chicken manure offers comparable results. For the best results, add a fresh layer of compost to your garden each spring.

Add fresh compost to your garden each year for
abundant yields!

After you’re properly prepared your soil, you can begin planting. Although it’s still too early to plant many garden favorites, now is the time to plant cool-season crops. Lettuces, spinach, kale, peas, radishes, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, onions—all of these and more can be planted now. Other popular garden crops such as tomatoes, beans, peppers and cucumbers (among others) will require a little more patience; wait until at least the first of May before planting.

As for patience, the warm, sunny days we’ve had off and on over the last few weeks may have you excited for flowers—after all, nothing says summer like a pot of flowers on the deck or a hanging basket by the front door. While the sunny days are tempting, it’s still too early to safely plant most summer annuals outside.

With every rule, however, there are exceptions, and one exciting newer option may be just what you need for early season color, especially if you’re tired of pansies or your primroses are beginning to look tired. Pericallis (pronounced ‘Pair-uh-CAL-iss’) is not a name most gardeners are familiar with, and in fact, it is a relative newcomer to the gardening scene. Most commonly known by the branded ‘Senetti’ name, this daisy-like flower can handle and actually prefers wet weather and cool spring nights. 

Great for pots or in the ground, Senetti is just gearing up for months of blooming—and bloom they will! At their peak, Senetti plants may each hold up to 200 flowers. These mounding plants grow rapidly; just a few are needed to fill a large pot. Available in varied shades of pink, purple and white, Senetti is an excellent annual to begin planting outdoors now. 

Finally, now is a great time to begin planting shrubs and trees around your yard. Each year, I watch as plant deliveries arrive at the nursery—and each year, I have to find a place for “that plant” in my yard. One of my favorite shrubs this spring is ‘Compressa’ juniper. A narrow, upright evergreen with silver foliage, ‘Compressa’ tops out at around five feet tall and only a foot wide, making it perfectly suited for planting beds with limited space. 

As spring kicks into gear, enjoy the excitement and newness of another season and make the most of what your yard and garden has to offer!