We're finally having an actual Spring!

Not in the previous four years that I've been back in Missouri have we had a proper spring.  We've had a few days each year at what's normally considered springtime, but this year, we're actually having lovely spring weather all of April to date.  And it's absolutely marvelous.

The 'Improved Maestro' peas I planted on the 2nd are coming up nicely.  Germination was very good - for peas.  Admittedly, I plant quite densely.  I like this variety because it produces nice, sweet peas in pods averaging 5 to 8 peas each, and they don't have to be staked.  They're not climbers; they're bushes.  Picking means you're standing on your head, but raised beds would take care of that.  I'll gladly stoop to avoid having to make a fence for them.  I'd crawl to avoid that.

This year instead of onion sets (baby bulbs) that I have always planted before, I thought I'd try seeds just to see how that goes.  I was getting a little concerned that they weren't coming up, as I planted them on the 6th of April.  But two days ago, on the 22nd, they started sprouting.  I don't have a picture, because they're still hard to see, and just look like grass weeds.   And you're thinking, am I sure they're NOT?  Yes.  Unless the grass weeds have learned to grow in nice rows.

I made a note to myself to plant the arugula two weeks after the lettuce, but I forgot anyway, and I planted them in a bed alternating with beets and carrots.  The arugula, of course, came up right away and is ahead of the other two, which are visible if you're looking very closely.  For now, it looks like I have a very spotty stand of something.

The lettuce bed is starting to fill out.  I planted saved seed from what I labeled as an arrowhead leaf (but they don't look like that's what they are)  along with a Red Wing Mix from Baker Creek Seeds, and celtuce, which Baker Creek says was introduced from China in the 1840s, and is grown for its "giant, crunchy stems that are tasty raw or cooked."  I'd never heard of it before last year, and I'm eager to taste the stems.  The leaves at this stage are mild and almost sweet.  Very nice.

Bunnies ate most of the celtuce that I put out as transplants, so maybe the ones I direct seeded will  have a better chance at surviving amongst the other lettuces.  I also transplanted some small celery plants I started way back in January (they grow ever so slowly), and they seem to be especially tempting for the bunnies. 

I recently potted up the tomatoes to 4" pots from the six-packs they were growing in (on the right in the picture below) and will be planting them out in a week or so - whenever the roots fill out the new pots.

Top row: 'Missouri Pink Love Apple' and 'Sun Gold' tomatoes

Bottom row:  (L) 'Savor' and 'Petit Gris de Rennes' melons; (R) Mexican sunflower (Tithonia)

Same goes for the melons (bottom left in the picture above).   I tried a new variety (for me anyway) last year from Baker Creek: a French Charentais melon called 'Savor', and it was so good, I ordered itseeds again this year, plus another one called 'Petit Gris de Rennes' just in case it's possibly even better.  I doubt it, but I'd hate to say I hadn't tried to find out.  'Savor' was a small melon with firm, super sweet flesh.  The vines didn't produce a lot of fruit, so I'm planting several more this year, sacrificing the space I used for zucchini in previous years.  I set them out the end of April last year and began harvesting a month later.  I can't wait.

The grapevine finally opened a leaf bud!  It held out as long as it could.  

'Golden Muscat'

The raspberries I planted last year didn't flower or fruit.  There are three different varieties.  I hope at least one of them will feel like producing fruit this year.  A couple of days ago I bought two thornless blackberry plants, variety 'Navaho'  (yes, with an "h"), and situated them near the raspberries (in the wildflower garden).  I'm excited to start getting some berries.  They won't make it as far as the house if they do set fruit.  I won't need to take a basket out. 

'Navaho' blackberry

The rhubarb is growing large.  I haven't harvested any yet, although I could, but I did purchase two new plants - 'Canada Red' variety, which I could see actually has red stems.  Hopefully they stay that way.  Three years ago, I went online looking for seed to the reddest variety possible.  I got three from a place that only has rhubarb - all kinds.  I chose two varieties for the fact that they're supposed to be spectacularly red: 'Holstein' and 'Cherry Red', and one: 'Victoria' that I'd seen as small plants in nurseries.  They were also supposed to be red. I grew several plants of each.   All Victoria were green through and through, And while some of the other two varieties are red at the base, they're mostly green, too.  

Rhubarb

You have to remove the flower heads on rhubarb as soon as you see them so the plant will put its energy into leaf stems, since that's what you harvest.  But they're so pretty when they first pop open.

Since I have so many plants, and don't care if I don't get more green stems, I thought I'd leave one go to see what becomes of the flowers.   They're just as disappointing as the green stems.

Fortunately, the leaves are always nice, so they make a pretty garden.

The tulips and jonquils are fading.  They sure were a beautiful early spring sight.  So now I want to do two more plots, and - this will not surprise anyone who's been paying attention - I already have chosen all the plants I want to use.  I'll be getting them from Tulips.com again, as these were a great success.

The deer ate the large 'Orange Emperor' tulips after about three days, though. 

By the way, that little windmill wasn't made to withstand 30 mph winds.  I had to have it welded back together for the second time.  It spun its top off.  

'Grande Amore' rose has the most incredible new foliage.  It will eventually turn all green except for the new tips, but right now it's brilliant.

Alas, the deer have also been "pruning" my roses.  I forgot they did that, so I didn't get them sprayed in time.  In the past, I've used Ortho Deer B Gone, which seems to work well - but it did burn tender magnolia blossoms last year.  I was careful not to spray the blooms themselves this year.  And they were beautiful.

Magnolia 'Jane'

Some day, I'm going to get one of those yellow-flowered magnolias.  I saw one a few days ago that was just gorgeous, although it did look to have some limb damage.  I don't know which named variety it is. 

In the meantime, check out the old lilac bush we do have on the property:

It doesn't bloom long, but it's unbeatable while it lasts.  And nothing smells better.

 

I hope you're enjoying this spring as much as I am.  

P.S.  I saw the first hummingbird of the year yesterday.  If you're in mid-Missouri, put out your feeders.