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...because all the best garden advice is local
January 29, 2016
Greetings!  Veronica in front of a snowy evergreen
     
Even with all this snow and cold, a few days ago I got a first hint that spring is on its way. Have you ever noticed how our cute little black-capped chickadees change their song, according to the season? I was outside just after dawn (full confession: letting my dog out for a pee) and there it was "fee-bee, fee-bee."
   I referred to my friend Leland Searle's nifty 2016 Iowa nature calendar and sure enough, it's a courtship call that starts in late January. How cool!
   Snowdrops and snow crocuses can't be far off, right?

Yours in hopeful gardening, 
Veronica Lorson Fowler
 
Better Bulbs Longer
 
I love purchasing pots of daffodils and tulips forced into bloom. They brighten up my home and my outlook. To keep your potted indoor bulbs looking their best longest:
  * Purchase bulbs that aren't quite fully open. Avoid those that have any petals that are already withered or drooping.
spring bulbs in the window
   * Keep them in the coolest place possible (away from heat sources) and out of direct sunlight, if possible. They don't like getting hot. After all, in nature they're out in the cold!
   * Keep evenly and slightly moist but don't overwater.
   * Sorry-they won't rebloom. When they're done flowering, toss them.
Success With Seeds  seed packets in ziploc bags

As long as you choose very easy seeds and time them right, you'll have excellent success in getting your seeds to sprout indoors! Here's how:

 
 
 
Fresh Herbs Indoors  

Now is a wonderful time to visit your local garden center and pick up small pots of your favorite herbs--parsley, rosemary, mint, cilantro, basil, thyme, and more. 
     They will do well indoors for a few to several weeks (there's not enough sun inside for them to thrive much longer than that). During that period, you can harvest from them regularly to give a zing to your winter cooking.
      Shown here is a fun herb dish garden I planted in a large serving bowl. It makes a garden-fresh centerpiece and you can snip off the herbs right at the table and put them directly on your food. It doesn't get fresher than that!
Editor's Choice 
Garden Events  
 
February 11-14
Iowa Events Center 
Enjoy feature gardens, celebrity speakers, and do-it-yourself tips from various vendors and marketers. A great way to stock up on ideas and get an early breath of spring! 
Garden Quote  
 
"Awake, thou wintry earth -
Fling off thy sadness!
Fair vernal flowers, laugh forth
Your ancient gladness!"

-- English poet Thomas Blackburn, From "An Easter Hymn"
Issue: 123
Monthly To-Do
 
 If you haven't already, cut up your Christmas tree and use the boughs for mulch over tender plants. Or tuck the boughs into pots and window boxes. Pretty, and you'll save on a collection fee.
 
 Make on-line and mail-order purchases early. Supplies of the most popular items tend to start running out in March or so, especially this year when vegetable gardening again promises to be hot.
 
 Look at your houseplants. If they're struggling, it's probably time to pitch them. (A great excuse to buy a new one.) Otherwise, give them a good rinse, trim off brown or problem parts, and top off the soil with fresh potting soil.
 
 Don't fertilize houseplants this month. With less daylight and therefore growth, they need less food.
 
 Boost humidity around houseplants. They really need it this time of year. Misting has been shown to be ineffective, but a tray filled with pebbles and a quarter inch or so of water is. Also, turn up your humidifier.
 
 Check on any forced bulbs in your fridge. Water to keep soil lightly moist, as needed. When shoots are 1/2 inch high, put them in the sunniest spot you have. Supplement with a grow light, if possible.
 
 Check on any bulbs or corms. If you dug glads, tuberous begonias, and other tender bulbs up last fall, uncover and examine them. They should be firm and healthy looking. If they're shriveled or mildewed, pitch them.
 
 Start seeds of slower-growing plants, such as parsley, onions, and some perennials. Don't start other seeds too early (check the packet). The vast majority of seeds should be started 6 to 8 weeks before your region's last average frost date: May 10 in southern Iowa, May 15 in northern Iowa. That means starting most seeds in roughly mid-March.
 
 Know your USDA Zone so you can choose the right plants. Northern Iowa is roughly Zone 4, southern Iowa is roughly Zone 5. Click here for a detailed map.