Potager Way

Several weeks ago I was planting carrots. Using my favourite tool – I don’t know what it is called – I dragged it down the carrot bed multiple times. Had my carrot name stakes all made up and started filling the rows with seeds then I reigned myself in. It was still march and maybe I should stop at just a few rows and in a couple of weeks do another few and another few a couple of weeks after that. It is so easy to barrel ahead in the spring when the first bit of warm weather arrives. And I almost always push my planting dates but I do know that spring weather is inclined to be fickle.

In early April I had two separate conversations with newbie veggie gardeners. They had both planted their squash and cucumbers in march and our conversations went something like “What are you going to do with them? It’s a bit cold yet to put them out.” “Well, I’ll just keep them in their pots for now.” “Um, I don’t think they will be very happy in their pots for a month or so.” “A month?” “They like it warm. Really warm.” “Well, I’ll probably plant them soon.” “OK. But there’s a good chance you’ll have to replant them.” “Replant?” “Well, maybe you’ll get lucky; it might be a warm spring.” And so it is.

Too warm actually. And already bone dry here on the island. I haven’t put my squash out yet, but I have planted bush beans outside earlier than ever before. Tomatoes are almost all in the ground and, again, never this early. Everything is just way too ahead. And while I love the sun, I miss the cool spring rains. I’m actually a little sad because the heat is stealing the freshness from spring.