Learning From Your Weeds

So you have a grand plan to tear out the weeds and start planting your dream garden. Great! But wait! Before you go digging up those weeds take a few minutes to examine the weeds you have growing and learn what you can about your soil conditions from the weeds you have.

We have a new article Learning From Your Weeds which discusses this subject. Our Indicator Weeds and Soil Conditions table outlines the story your weeds can tell you about your soil. Both of these together can help you gain some insight into your soil conditions.

Okay. Go dig.

Cheers!

Water, water everywhere

Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink ... or at least not over the computer. We've assembled some great products over in the shopping section for Irrigation and Watering supplies. If you've been thinking about drip irrigation this year there are some great deals to be had.

Personally of all the expenses this year for the garden I think this may be the one I am most likely to go for.

We also have a few garden hoses - sturdy, lengthy and not too expensive as well as some unique watering cans - not whimsical stuff but rather uniquely utilitarian.

You Say Tomato I Say Tomato Tomato Tomato

Of course when I think about spring (and as it gets closer it seems I cannot stop thinking about it) I think of snowdrops, daffodils and other early risers, but spring thoughts lead to tomato starts and this year is looking to be a good one (in my imaginations).

With tomatoes on the mind I have added a few things to the site you may want to check out:

• How to plant and care for tomato plants
• Tomato Support methods
  
• Shopping for tomato varieties
• and a poll about tomato support methods

There are a couple more tomato related pages in the works which I will of course announce here. I'd love to hear about your experiences growing tomatoes and look forward to sharing ours.

Greenhouses

Here it is in snowy and VERY frigid Vermont and spring seems an eternity away, but the desire to get things started is eating at me. I started thinking about season extension and greenhouses and figured there may be many others out there in the same boat. So if you are considering a greenhouse then please take a peek at our new Greenhouse and Greenhouse Supply section for some great deals on bringing spring a bit sooner.

Let There Be Spring

For many folks fortunate enough to live somewhere other than the colder northern climates Spring is fast approaching and with it the itch to get digging.

The March Gardening Calendar and Planting Guide for March is now available on the garden-helper site as is the March Gardening Podcast.

So though up here in Zone 4 we are buried under snow and looking at more now coming soon, I certainly hope to hear from folks who are starting the ritual of a new growing season.

One great place to share your thoughts and experiences this spring is the Garden-Helper forums. I hope to see you there!