Ahhhhh...Moisture
Ireland’s resplendent greenery is the epitome of verdant pastures where animals graze on the best the earth has to offer, lush and green, moist and tender, well watered from the heavens. As water is to parched land, so does this vision of greenery touch the soul of the arid-climate gardener.
March 17th is an international day of celebration of the Patron Saint of Ireland, St Patrick. For gardeners, especially Colorado Front Range gardeners, St Patrick’s Day can have special meaning. St Patrick brought the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Irish people, accompanied by many miracles, signs, and wonders. The God of Patrick went head to head with the gods of the druids and vanquished them.
Whence Comes The Seed
Of course, the all-powerful God of Patrick is the maker of seed which, when it dies, brings forth new, abundant life. If we commit ourselves to the garden, we will witness this wonder and many more each Spring (which begins March 20th, 3 days after the Feast of St Patrick).
Seeds In the Ground
This is the moment when the sun’s energy, measurable moisture, and warming daily temperatures will support the growth of cold-season crops. It’s a great day to have your soil ready and your seeds in the ground.
We already planted our seeds, so we decided to build an igloo. A whole day’s labor, but we had a blast!
There’s always the chance that your soil is covered in snow, like it is this year. (In fact, our family just finished building an igloo). But it quickly melts, the arid climate returns, and the soil dries enough to be worked. If we are having a particularly wet year, just lay your seeds on top of the damp soil and cover with compost). Don’t try to work wet clay soil that won’t crumble. It ruins the soil structure.
Do Water In-Between Significant Rain/Snow Events
From now until early June, we who live in this semi-arid desert usually see water from the heavens (although not as much as Ireland). Typically heaven-sent moisture is not enough to support the plants we desire to grow, and not enough to make it green like Ireland, but enough to lessen the demand for us to irrigate.
When we have sunny days, be sure to water your seeds/seedlings, so they can germinate and get their root structure built.
Enjoy It While It Lasts
As summer comes on, when our pastures are beaten by the sun and parched by the lack of rain, I long for that lovely green island across the sea. But for now, we are receiving our most significant precipitation of the year. This blessing of water from the sky is pure, chemical-free, measurable, fresh water. Unlike most of our rains and snows, whose deposits to the earth equal the evaporation rate, these events have enough moisture to soak in and nourish the roots of our vegetation. Plants thrive on this pure water compared to water with chemical additives from the water treatment plant. We can witness the results. The traditional Gaelic hymn Morning Has Broken has within its lyric, “Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden.” Spend time in your landscape while the ground is still moist and you will know the contentment of nature when it is well-watered. It is sweet.
What You Can Be Planting or See Emerging Now
- Bulbs, perennials, and biennials from last year will appear and gain strength as warming continues.
- Seeds already in the ground which are given appropriate moisture will germinate and grow.
Bulbs planted last year
Perennials
Biennials from last year
New Plantings
- Crocus
- Daffodils
- Garlic
- Hyacinths
- Muscari (aka grape hyacinths)
- Tulips
- Pansies (tender)
- Rosemary (tender)
- Sage
- Thyme
- Arugula
- Beet
- Carrot
- Celery
- Kale
- Parsely
- Swiss chard
- Arugula
- Beets
- Carrots
- Endive
- Kale
- Lettuce
- Mustard
- Parsely
- Pansies
- Sorrel
- Spinach
Grow flowers and food that you love. There will be a point where you have too much of a good thing and besides having all you want, you will have some to share with others. You rarely would want to have too much of a bad thing, so don’t plant what you know you don’t like.
Part of the fun each year is to try something new. Sometimes we don’t know if we will like something or not, like kale or mustard or sorrel. If you are curious, just plant one or two to try.
A fellow gardener shared his belief that any edible plant tastes great if you know how to prepare it. I think he’s right. When you discover a delicious recipe, please share it with our community of growers. Henceforth, they and their posterity will be grateful.
Have a Happy St Patrick’s Day
I hope you’ve enjoyed this reminiscence of the Emerald Isle and the Feast Day of St Patrick. It’s time to ready the garden beds for planting. By establishing this tradition, we can reap a harvest in Spring, Summer and Fall.
The best way to enjoy the wonderful lifestyle, incomparable food, and multitude of benefits from growing your own food is to join with other gardeners throughout the region who are doing the same and can help one another experience the great joys found in the every day. If you aren’t already receiving email from us, be sure to subscribe, so you can receive timely information for your gardening success.