Wednesday, June 11, 2014

New Home (and Growing Season)!

Many of you already know, but I have recently relocated to beautiful Birmingham, Alabama!  While NJ and the mid-Atlantic region will always hold a special place in my heart, it's great to be back home with one of the longest growing seasons in the US (even as we head into the sweltering heat and humidity that is an Alabama summer).  Along with exciting new growing opportunities, horticulture in the southeast region also presents an array of new gardening challenges.  From spiking temperatures to severe thunderstorms, from extended drought to packed clay soils, I know some lessons will be hard-learned.  I'm here to share with you my experiences both good and bad in the garden, so be sure to check back frequently!


To kick off my adventure, let's start with a great question I've heard frequently of late: what should I plant and when?  Of course, like snow flakes (which this region saw an unusually high amount of this past winter) no two growing seasons are the same.  However, the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service (ACES) has a detailed chart (found here) that will serve as a great general guide in planning your garden. Has the spring planting date for your favorite veggie already passed?  Don't despair!  Most will have a suggestion for fall planting dates as well.  Wondering when you'll be able to eat the tasty treats you grow?  Just count forward from your planting date by the given days to maturity to find your approximate harvest date!  As always, be sure to have a current soil evaluation before fertilizing or planting!  In Alabama, ACES soil testing kits are extremely affordable and available from a variety of locations.  Contact your local Alabama Master Gardener Helpline to find a location convenient to you.

Happy gardening y'all!