The Subtle Arrival of Spring

Last week I suggested Spring might arrive early again this year. In my neck of the ‘Wood, it’s got all the hallmarks of Spring. It might not be happening in your microclimate just yet, but it’s not far off. My garden is one of the first places to experience Spring in our region, as per the reports delivered to me over the years. What are the signs of an early spring in the garden?

Flowers

I usually look for Jonquils popping up around this time, but they popped in early July, and expired weeks ago. I thought it was a false spring, but I notice the Daphne is following up now in full flower weeks before I would expect it. Next, I look to the Manchurian Pears. Buds are starting to unfold and this morning one of the trees has 3 blossoms on show. 

It’s been a while since I’ve experienced a long Winter, Spring seems to arrive earlier every year. There are usually many signs that Spring is about to arrive in your microclimate. The subtle art of paying attention will help you learn to notice Spring arrive, because it rarely turns up on the 1st Sept. 

Birds

Many of the birds in the garden have changed their song, a great indicator of Spring, the Currawongs being the most notable. The Wood Ducks made use of our oasis to breed a few weeks ago, now off somewhere laying eggs. I’m eagerly watching the male Fairy Wrens as some of them change feathers to their fresh iridescent blue breeding plumage. The short feathers are mostly in and now the longer feathers are coming through. 

Vegetables

Asparagus is starting to sprout under the Apricot tree. I’m new to Asparagus so I don’t quite know its patterns, but I am looking forward to a taste this year. I’ll wait a second year to let it fully establish before adding it to the menu. 

Critters

The most notable change in the past week is the sound of the frogs. They are in full song this week. I found some mosquito larvae in puddles. The water on the ground has stayed a while and the critters are making good use of it. 

Leaves

Trees in pots are starting to pop leaves, Chinese Elms and Mulberries. The black pots enhancing the temperature of their root balls. The Mulberries in the ground are fattening buds as are the Chinese elms. The Apricot buds are getting ready to burst too. The Comfrey on the main garden Swale has started to sprout new growth to provide plenty or organic matter for the garden.

Grass

The Winter grass on the garden paths is overdue for a mow. Its long enough to be annoying with morning dew wetting ankles. Long grass creates a microclimate within its leaves that keeps the soil temp warmer and more stable than bare earth. This stability in temp assists nearby beds to maintain soil temp through winter. Short grass has less buffering effect on the soil. It’s a fine line at this time of year, between leaving the grass long for the insulating benefit, or trim it and get some sun on the soil to warm it up. 

Soil temp

Noticing the happenings in your garden is a great way to get a general feel for Spring time, but the ultimate way to know whether Spring is sprung in your garden is to monitor your soil temp. The soil temp in your garden is the best indicator because it tells us what the roots of little seedlings will experience when they are planted out. 

A tomato likes a soil temp of around 15C and above. If put in the ground at less than 15C it will wait to grow, regardless of the ambient temp outside. Put in the ground at soil temp of 15C and above and it will grow even if the outside air is less than 15C. I have been planting tomatoes based on soil temp for years, and recently it’s been sometime between Fathers Day and October long weekend.

My soil temp has stayed around 9C this winter, this morning one bed reading 8C after a few frosts in a row. As soon as I see an uplift in my soil temp, I’ll be calling it Spring in my garden and start to plant out my tomato seedlings. Im not scared of the last frosts of winter or the few we will get in spring. A tiny tomato seedling is much easier to protect in early spring than it is to protect a fully laden bush in late summer.

BST tomatoes have been bred to strike at lower temperatures than regular tomatoes allowing for earlier planting than you might think. They will grow in the low spring temps and thrive in the right spot, especially if you give them occasional protection.

Larder 

Our summer garden feeds us in real time, but it also provides for us through the cold months. Passata stocks are low, only 2 bottles left. More jars this year will provide passata for longer. There is nothing quite like opening a jar of liquid sunshine in the middle of winter and pouring over pasta. 

Pumpkins stocks are low, only one of each variety left. If only we had more storage, we can certainly grow more. This year in the larder is one lone Spaghetti Squash. An experiment to see how it might store over winter. It stores well. We will do it again.

Planning

Now is the time to be planning your plantings. Where will your precious tucker be placed for best effect this year? I have new tomato beds planned, but I haven’t yet the time to build them. So many other priorities distracting me around the homestead. I’ll get onto it, but the indicators suggest I may be late. Nothing new around here, a little late is about on time, and we will eat our own tucker from just outside. Happy planning.

Stay Awesome

The Gordon Gnohm