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As winter recedes, each sign of spring seems more symbolic than the last. And the season’s teasing tone always makes us a little crazy. We’re longing for thunderstorms instead of snow showers. The sandhill crane’s raspy call or the melodious song of a redwing blackbird makes us grin. Even the bright yellow of the first dandelion flower can be a cause for celebration.

It’s time to plant cool weather veggies, like broccoli, cauliflower and other members of the cabbage family. Potatoes and onions could go right into the garden if you’re lucky enough to find workable soil by the end of the month.

You can certainly start hot peppers and eggplants though they are warm season veggies and shouldn’t go into the ground until mid to late May. Unless you go to extreme protective measures around your tender vegetables, you won’t get much of a head start if cold weather nips your transplants. Warm weather vegetables and annuals will be stunted if exposed to cold temperatures.

The Vernal Equinox is on the 20th this year, but the average frost-free date for Dane County occurs somewhere between April 26th through May 9th. Many varieties of annuals are fine outside unless temperatures below freezing are in the forecast. Pansies, snapdragons, and stock all love the cool temperatures of early spring. Temps below freezing won’t kill them but will stunt the flowers. So keep some covering material handy for chillier nights.

It is a bit soon to look for half-hardy annuals like marigolds and celosia. Once nights are reliably in the ’40s, they’ll be safe without any frost protection. But really tender plants like impatiens, coleus, and sweet potato vine will most likely need protection until late May. Any temps below 50 degrees are cause for concern for these cold-sensitive plants. Watch out for chilly spring breezes, too.

If your raised beds are ready to work and you’re planning to sow some radishes or lettuces soon, remember to thin the seedlings once they have two sets of leaves. Use clippers to remove weaker plants. Pulling them from the ground can disturb the tender roots of the plants you are leaving behind. This may seem cruel to novice seed-growers, but thinning will result in larger and healthier plants with bigger yields.

And if you’re starting some summer blooming bulbs like dahlias and begonias indoors, remember to mix some slow-release fertilizer into the soil that is filled in around the roots. This will help them get off to a great start. You can supplement later with water-soluble feedings.

We’ve got some workshops posted on the spring calendar this season. They’re great fun to attend with friends and you get to create something to take home with you. You’ll find all of the other choices on the Events page of our website, https://www.brucecompany.com/events/. It’s a good idea to plan ahead as the classes can fill up quickly.

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