As we gaze out at what looks like a winter morning, in the back of my mind I am thinking in about a month, spring activities will be in full swing. This white stuff should turn the grass green, as it is sometimes referred to, “Poor Man’s Fertilizer”. Basically the nitrogen gets held longer on the plants with snow than when it rains, so the plants turn green quicker. I didn’t realize that reference is actually found in Laura Ingalls Wilder’s book Farmer Boy.
“The book tells the story of Laura’s husband, Almanzo, growing up on a farm in upstate New York in 1866. His father told him snow was a good thing and called it “poor man’s fertilizer.” It made me stop and think about how snow could be considered fertilizer.”
So if you are getting the urge to start planting, the experts have mapped out the month according to the moon. This will offer the best chance for success according to the Farmer’s Almanac.
Happy gardening, whenever you decide to start, haha
- 6th – 9th
Grub out weeds, briars, and other plant pests.
- 10th – 12th
A favorable time for sowing grains, hay, and fodder crops. Plant flowers. First two days are when to plant corn, melons, squash, tomatoes, and other aboveground crops. Last day is a favorable day for planting root crops.
- 13th – 14th
Start seedbeds. Good days for transplanting. Good days for planting beets, carrots, radishes, turnips, peanuts, and other root crops. Also good for leafy vegetables.
- 15th – 17th
Neither plant nor sow on these barren days.
- 18th – 19th
Favorable days for planting beets, carrots, turnips, radishes, onions, and other root crops.
- 20th – 22nd
Excellent time to kill weeds, briars, poison ivy, and other plant pests. Good harvest days.
- 23rd – 24th
Set strawberry plants. Excellent for any vine crops, such as beans, peas, and cucumbers. Good days for transplanting. Favorable days for planting root crops.
- 25th – 26th
Poor planting days. Break ground or cultivate. Good harvest days.
- 27th – 28th
Favorable for planting beans, corn, cotton, tomatoes, peppers, and other aboveground crops.
- 29th – 30th
Poor days for planting, seeds tend to rot in ground.
