If heavy April showers threaten to delay planting in the Midwest, the excess moisture can be soaked up and the soil made workable by spreading a 4-inch layer of vermiculite or peatmoss over the wet soil and allowing it to remain there for a day or two. This, of course, wouldn’t be practical for a large area but for the small seed bed, where early sowing is all important, this trick is invaluable.

Sow hardy and half-hardy annuals and vegetables as soon as possible. It isn’t too early to sow some of the tender varieties, and even if a few are lost, the gardener will be out very little, for we can sow them again. Put in a row or two of early snap beans. treating the seed first with a seed protectant so it will not rot in the cold soil.

An early planting, if it survives, will often bear a week or two ahead of those sown at the regular season. Also put in a few rows of hybrid sweet corn. The hybrids are somewhat resistant to fungus diseases, which are active in a cold soil.

Finish planting nursery stock as soon as possible and wrap the stems of newly set trees with burlap or paper nursery wrap to prevent sun scald. Trees that have been moved from the nursery row are especially susceptible to injury. since they are usually shaded and therefore protected while growing in the row. Woody plants with “slip” bark such as cherry, magnolia and plum are best moved at this time. lf not planted now, a whole year will be lost. for they should not be transplanted in the fall. Read the rest of this entry »