The weather in February was less than favorable with ice and lots of snow, not to mention the brutally cold temperatures that we are not used to having. However, like most days in Oklahoma, the weather changed from -17 degrees to beautiful 50’s and 60’s. It is almost time for those of you who like to garden to get some plants in the ground. Later this month is a good time to get those potatoes and carrots in the ground. Make sure to hold off on planting those tomatoes and peppers until closer to May. They can’t handle the late cold snaps we can get sometimes. Make sure to check your Farmer’s Almanac for when to plant each vegetable. Most vegetables you buy comes with instructions on when to plant them. Or if you have any questions, you can always call your OSU extension office and they would be happy to help you.
Remember when planting your garden, that all this beautiful spring weather brings rain and storms that can destroy all of your hard work. So remember to cover those new plants before bad weather hits to protect them until they are strong enough on their own. I am not a professional gardener and I struggle with keeping my plants alive, but I try to learn as much as I can so I will be better the next year. My mother has a green thumb and she can usually make things grow in harsh conditions. We had blackberries growing wild in our pasture and mom would take us down there to pick the berries to make some good stuff with them. I hated picking blackberries because of all the thorns that stabbed me and stuck in my clothes but they sure were good.
My great grandmother used to make me pick vegetables with her in her garden when I would come visit and pick up pecans off the ground. I never minded the work because she would make the best homemade chocolate pie as a reward. Her garden was beautiful with the tallest plants loaded with all kinds of vegetables. The only thing I hated to pick was the okra because the plant made me itchy.
The only plants of mine that has stayed alive is my roses because they don’t mind when I forget to water them. In a vegetable garden, the only thing that I do good with is potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, and onions. However, growing them in a pot turned out to be a weakness of mine. They died every time. So go out and get to planting if you are into to that, if not, then just enjoy the sunshine and nice weather. Stay safe out there and remember to make some memories.