Veggie Garden Update: Early Spring

It’s finally warm and it’s time to get growing again!

I’m back outside working on my vegetable and herb garden. There is so much work to be done, and I’m gearing up for the challenge. 

I grow in zone 6a Massachusetts where we haven’t hit the date for last frost quite yet. We’re getting there! The growing season here is short, so I try to take advantage of it as much as I can. 

My edibles are grown in raised beds, vertical planters and big pots.

Spring Task List

✓ Add new soil to each bed

✓ Add cow manure to each bed

✓ Add layer of worm castings to pots and vertical gardens

✓ Fertilize garlic bed with blood meal

✓ Mulch in strawberry bed with new straw

Perennial Herbs

 

I’m very proud of my garden sage. It was started from seed indoors under grow lights 3 years ago.

This is the first year it’s really taken off and the plant currently has flower buds right now. 

 

The lemon balm is doing great. I found a praying mantis egg inside the plant right after the snow melted! 

I love having mint inside my garden beds. It’s very easy to contain as long as I trim it back every spring. 

I had two catnip plants in a raised garden bed last summer. I dug them out and moved them to a different location.

There are now tiny catnip plants popping up everywhere. This giant one will be moved soon, but until then, it’s very pretty to look at. 

 

My oregano isn’t coming back very strong this year. Once I fill the bed with new soil, I’ll add a couple more plants.

 

I’m harvesting the onion chives about once a week. Looks like most of my plants are getting ready to bloom!

 

Nellie has been recovering from her foot injury. In the meantime, she gets full reign in the veggie garden.

Vertical Garden

I’m so excited to have the GreenStalk Garden back up and running. I added new soil this year and the plants are all doing great so far! 

 

This is my first year growing cabbage in the vertical garden. I’m excited to see how it will do. 

 

 

 

 

More From The Garden

 

This Jasmine I planted two years ago isn’t supposed to be a perennial in my zone. I think since it’s insulated in the garden bed, that helps shield it from the cold temperatures. 

Starting to bud. 

My rain gauge broke over the winter, but I still think this is pretty for decoration.

 

 

I’m keeping my arugula under a shade cloth to protect it from any intense mid-day heat.

 

 

 

The garlic bed is full of life right now! I wrote a post about planting it last fall, and it’s exceeded my expectations! 

 

 

My first year growing scallions in the garden!

 

 

Hoping to get some inhabitants in the bug hotel soon!

 

 

I planted asparagus 3 years ago, and this is my first year I get to harvest it!

My first asparagus harvest was at the end of April. Here’s my second harvest growing in.

 

 

My strawberry spinach overwintered well. I’ve been letting the chickens nibble on it. One plant is covered and one is theirs to munch!

 

 

So that’s the early spring update.

There’s so much growing and changing on a daily basis! I absolutely love this time of year.

Thank you for reading and happy growing!