March in Virginia , the time when vegetable gardeners spring into activity . We ’re firing up our grow lights indoors and preparing to do some transplanting and seeding in the garden later in the calendar month . We ’re alternately teased by warm , gay day and frustrated by raw , showery ones . But hopeful , always promising , that the adept atmospheric condition is approaching .

This year a fussy care is the wet ground . 2018 was a record rainfall yr and a worse than usual class for mold and disease payoff . Unfortunately , lactating conditions continue and the priming coat really has n’t been able to dry out . At planting time , wet ground makes effective tilling impossible , increases danger of compression and damage to soil construction and can cause leaching of primal soil nutrient let in N , P and K.

Best unforesightful term scheme is to do longanimity , supervise soil moisture , and hold back until conditions are right to plant . The honest-to-goodness test for till - power is still utile : take a handful of land and bosom it . If it forms a wet awkward ball , it is too wet . Wait until the soil persist crumbly and workable under pressure before prepping the stain .

Another fear is the Spotted Lanternfly . If you have n’t heard about it , it is a extremely destructive cuss that in all probability come here from China a few years ago . First discovered in Pennsylvania , it has been found in Frederick County , VA and is moving to the south . The chart below from the Cooperative Extension evince its life sentence hertz . An excellent and very thorough article on this pest can be found in theJune 2018 Garden Shed . If you see grounds that you surmise is Spotted Lanternfly - related , please report it to the local Cooperative Extension Office .

Enough with the warnings!Let ’s get down to some actual horticulture . The follow list of nerveless weather crops was amass from the VCE issue “ Vegetable Planting Guide and Recommended Planting Dates ” and indicates which vegetable may be safely plant in our areaafter the middle of March :

Asparagus ( crowns )

Collards

Leeks

leaf mustard

Kale

Onion ( sets )

Peas

Spinacia oleracea

Radish

Turnips

Potatoes

For folks who want to jump Lycopersicon esculentum and pepper seeds indoors , the dominion of thumb is to start them indoors about6 - 8 weeks before the final frost , which in our domain is around May 15th ( VCE Publication 426 - 331 ) . That intend we should start tomatoes near the end of March . black pepper need an additional 2 - 3 hebdomad head start and can be get down now .

It ’s not too previous for a soil test!If you have n’t had a test for a while , or if you ’ve had produce problem recently , or if you are significantly modifying your soil , a test makes horse sense . They are a worthful peter for identifying and preventing problems as well as keep your soil at optimal fertility and pH stage and are recommended every three long time . A dirt sample kit complete with instructions is available at our local Virginia Cooperative Extension Office on fifth Street Extended . toll for a basic analysis of nutrient accessibility , pH and amendment recommendations is only $ 10 .   For extra information on soil testing , check outVCE PUBLICATION 452 - 129 .

Lettuce is very sensitive to low ( acidulous ) pH levels , so caustic lime should be applied to your lettuce layer if the pH is below 6.0 . A grease test can determine the pH level and the need for calcium hydroxide !

Do n’t throw away that leaky old garden hose!you may employ it to protect yourself and the blades of your pruning saw and other cutting implement during storage . For object lesson , cut a section of the gardening hosiery to the same length as the saw blade . Cut the hosepipe lengthwise on one side and pose it over the saw blade .

If your garden soil crusts after a rain , this may result in poor germination , because untested seedlings are too thin to part though the crust . This job may be due to over - till the soil . handle the seeds with ¼ inch of compost or ok mulch matter , which will keep the land moist and serve keep crusting .

If you are plan a backyard grove , start by map out the site , giving exceptional attention to tune and water drainage . think back , just like water , cold air flows downhill . Avoid Robert Lee Frost pocket — humble areas where insensate air gathers and the risk of a late freeze can damage bud and fruit output .

We ’ve already talked about the ball - and - squeeze test , butsoil temperature is another index that the time is ripe for imbed . As a worldwide rule , cool season crops — collard greens , leeks , peas , radish , and spinach — can be implant when the stain reaches a temperature of 45 - 50ºF , while warm season crops — cucumbers , squash , corn , beans and melon — want a soil temperature above 65º F.

March is a serious time to begin a compost pileif you have not done so already . Most garden center or nursery trade compost ABA transit number . For help in planning your compost pile see our2016 February feature article on compostin The Garden Shed , or regard theVCE Publication 442 - 005 , “ Composting Your Organic Kitchen Waste with Worms . ”

Not sure what vegetables or specific varieties of vegetables to establish ? Check outVCE Publication No . 246 - 480“Vegetables Recommended for Virginia , ” which provide a comprehensive listing of recommended variety show .

leaping fertilization of fruit treesshould occur about 3 - 4 weeks before active outgrowth begins . Scatter fertiliser evenly under the tree , starting about 2 foot from the trunk and extending just beyond the dripping rail line or end of the furthest branches . A soil exam should be performed prior to utilise fertilizer . For additional information on fruit tree , visitVCE Publication 426 - 841 , “ Tree Fruit in the Garden . ”

The optimum fourth dimension to prune yield trees is just before they bloom . Pruning allows the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree to calculate food to arm that will bear in high spirits timbre fruit . The object is to remove dead , pathologic or damaged wood . Also , slay shoot that are growing straight up or straight down as neither provide for good fruit ontogeny . growing crisscross the center of tree should be removed as well . A more open tree diagram allow for greater light-headed penetration and air circulation , thereby increase yield quality and decreased disease and louse pressure level . For additional pruning entropy , visitVCE Publication 422 - 025 , “ Physiology of Pruning Fruit Trees . ”

Bramble fruit such as raspberries and blackberry may be plant in mid- to late March . industrial plant in moist , well - drained grunge containing large amounts of hommos or constituent subject . For green goddess control , mulch around fresh - plant brambles with a hardwood or softwood mulch . For additional information on how to grow bramble fruit , visitVCE Publication 426 - 840,“Small Fruit in the Home Garden . ”

Thanks for stopping byThe Garden Shed . We go for to see you again next month .

resource :

“ Spotted Lanternfly , ” Virginia Cooperative Extension Publication ENT-180,http://pubs.ext.vt.edu / content / dam / pubs_ext_vt_edu / ENTO / ENTO-180 / ENTO-264.pdf

“ Vegetable Planting Guide and Recommended Planting Dates , ” Va. Coop . Ext . Publication 426 - 331,http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/426/426 - 331/426 - 331.html

“ Is it time to plant veg ? Ask your soil thermometer , ” Oregon State University Extension , http://extension.oregonstate.edu / gardening / it - time - plant - vegetable - expect - your - dirt - thermometer