By Jeff and Eileen Bidwell

We never thought we would hear ourselves saying this: We are ever so grateful for the sun break that illuminated our living room earlier this week. March left rainfall of nearly epic proportions in its wake. Our early rain total is more than enough to keep our “drought warning” signs in storage.

All that aside, we started our vegetable garden a little later than usual. After two very disappointing springs when many of our spring vegetable seeds rotted in the ground, we planted peas, lettuce, spinach, carrots, radishes and onion sets early this month. Our patience has been rewarded with little green leaves poking their way through the ground.

Our garden is a very small and compact space, so it’s essential to use our space wisely. Veggies such as peas bring a high yield and can be grown in a small space. If you have more space, now is the time to plant starts for beets, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and turnips.

Our vegetable garden is bordered by with onions, leeks, and our culinary favorites, shallots. And the garlic we planted last fall now adorns our spring garden. We have just enough border space for a pretty border of impatiens, which we’ll plant with our summer veggies in May.

Lawns
The return of warm days brings the buzz of lawn mowers to Ballard. Grass has begun to grow, and it’s time to fertilize. For a healthy lawn, choose a product with a 3-1-2 mix (Nitrogen—Phosphorus—Potassium.) Follow directions on the package. Spring fertilizing is optional, but can be done after April 15th. After fertilizing, mow once or twice a week.

Roses and Fruit Trees
Pruning and trimming is one of the most misunderstood spring garden tasks. Roses and fruit trees can be pruned now, but poor pruning can lead to a lack of flowers or fruit.

Both roses and fruit trees have different needs at various times throughout their life spans. The Seattle Rose Society’s website, www.seattlerosesociety.org. offers information on selecting roses, including selecting disease resistant varieties, identifying disease problems, and rose care, including easy to follow pruning instructions with diagrams.

Postpone pruning other flowering shrubs until after the blossoms are finished.

Fruit trees can be pruned when frost danger has passed, but before full bloom in spring. Pruning reduces overall tree size, improves structure, encourages branching, and can increase production and improve the quality of the fruit. A great resource is the website fruit.wsu.edu. You can print or order a copy of Bulletin PNW 0400, Training and Pruning Your Home Orchard. This 16 page Extension Bulletin includes Basic Pruning Principles and general pruning instructions, including diagrams, as well as information on pruning a variety of fruit trees commonly grown in the Northwest.

For questions regarding large trees, contact Plant Amnesty at http://www.plantamnesty.org.

Master Gardener Plant Sale
This fabulous 2-day event is a one-stop shopping extravaganza for garden lovers. The sale features veggie starts, including thousands of tomato plants, herbs, perennials, native plants, shrubs, trees and vines from Master Gardeners and specialty growers, a Plant Diagnosis Clinic (bring a sample in a bag), and expert personal shoppers to assist you in selecting the right plants for your home garden.

Saturday, May 5th, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 6th, 10: a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

At the UW Center for Urban Horticulture, 3501 NE 41st Street (Near University Village Shopping Center)
Free, easy-access parking and shuttle

All proceeds benefit the Master Gardeners of King County, supporting community outreach, stewardship and public education. Visit mgfkc.org for more information.

Gardening Advice Anytime—Ask A Master Gardener
If you’re like us, you occasionally dream about your garden. Do you awaken in the wee small hours, your head filled with questions that only a Master Gardener can answer? If so, the new, FREE email advice service is for you! It’s easy….just send your questions to ask-a-mastergardener@live.com. MG’s will graciously answer questions sent at more civilized hours as well.

2012 Plant Answer Clinic
Beginning Sunday, May 6th, Ballard Master Gardeners will begin our 6th year at the Ballard Sunday Farmers Market. Friendly, knowledgeable volunteers will be there to answer your gardening questions. Let’s all hope for sunshine to compliment the May flowers.

See you at the Market!

Jeff and Eileen Bidwell are King County Master Gardeners and long-time Ballard residents. You can find the Master Gardener Plant Answer Clinic at the Ballard Sunday Farmers Market every Sunday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., May 6st through September 30th. Read past articles, here.