MOTHER NATURE IS CALLING

Most gardeners will tell you that there are many tools of gardening to guide you along the way.  I've even written about a few I've used (see Know Your Zone).  Most of us who garden will have our own view on the prime efforts to achieve gracious results.  At Home Depot the other day my husband ask the Home and Garden employee if it was too early to plant potatoes.  She replied no.  I strongly disagreed.

I've consulted many websites along the way.  I've partnered with The Farmers Almanac and Southern Living magazine all in an effort to get the best results from my crops.  Truth is, as the old saying goes, experience is the best teacher.  When you think about it every ambition in life is a result of someones experience.  Someone who took the time to pass the experience along hoping that traditions and dreams survive.  That we continue to grow and achieve by taking advantage of others observations. Do you have a favorite guide to consider before planting?

While many are still experiencing the dreads of colder climates the area I live in is much milder.  The days are pleasant, the evenings not too chilly.  Mother Nature has taken her wand and spread a hue of green around.  The ground is full of brilliant green above the stagnant brown.  The trees have come alive again with leaves lightly blowing in the wind.  Although Spring has not officially arrived Mother Nature has offered up her opinion of the turning weather, and it looks promising.

Now that I have praised mother nature let me get back to my garden, and the reason I strongly disagree it isn't too early to plant potatoes.  This picture is from my garden just this morning (2/9/13).  Yes, it's a potato.  Funny thing is I hadn't planted potatoes when this little cutie peeped up out of the ground.  Looks like I missed one from my fall crop and it stayed dormant throughout the colder months.  Now Mother Nature has cast her wand and without hesitation my forgotten potato has arrived with big surprise.  The above picture is a pea from my garden.  A Snap Pea that was planted in late November (they prefer cold temperatures).  Of the seeds that did sow and prosper the one above decided to be a late bloomer.  Another nice gift from Mother Nature.  Mother Nature is always a full of surprises.  Finding my spring garden taking off on it's own is one I welcome with a big grin.


So, for my point.  Years of scientific efforts and documented research can't beat the one tried and true sign that you got a go ahead to plant.  When Mother Nature Calls I do hope you will listen.  And by the way I did plant my spring potato crop despite what I was advised.