Weather, soil conditions determine when to start planting
Q. Now that it is spring, is it safe to start working in the garden?
A. Weather and soil conditions are more important than the calendar in determining when to start digging in the garden. If the soil is too wet, it can result in rock-hard clumps that will be around all summer. A good test is to take a small amount of soil from below the surface in the garden and form a ball by squeezing the soil in your hands (like making a snow ball). Then squeeze the soil ball between two fingers. If it readily breaks apart, the soil is dry enough to work with. If it sticks together and squishes instead, wait until the soil dries out.
You should test each garden bed separately, in case one is wetter than another. You can get a jump on spring planting by preparing your garden beds in the fall, when the weather tends to be drier. To avoid erosion over the winter, you can leave the soil in larger clumps and let the freezing and thawing cycles break down the clumps over the winter. Then in the spring, you can simply rake the soil out flat, and you are ready for planting.
- Pete Landwehr
Q. When can I begin to move my houseplants outside?
A. Your houseplants should begin to move outside when the outdoor night low temperature is similar to the temperature in your house. In general, houseplants will grow in day temperatures above 65 degrees and night temperatures above 55 degrees.
In addition to temperature, you will need to acclimate your houseplants to increased levels of natural sunlight. Begin by placing your plant in a spot protected from wind and direct sun. Monitor your plant over a few weeks in this protected spot to allow the leaves to develop a thickened outer covering on the leaf's epidermal cells called the cuticle. The cuticle protects the leaf from sun damage, or sunscald, and reduces water loss. Sunscald can appear as faded leaf color and may cause dry-looking patches and leaf drop. Not all plants thrive in bright light. Some plants will need to remain in the shade or in filtered light if left outdoors.
Check your plant's soil moisture frequently. As outdoor plants generally grow faster than indoor plants, they will need more water and fertilizer than they did indoors. Most of the roots are in the lower two-thirds of the pot. With each watering, allow water to drain out the bottom of the pot. This will sufficiently water the plant and flush excess fertilizer salts from the soil. Be careful not to overwater or allow your plants to sit in water. You will need to adjust your plant care to meet your plants individual needs in their new location.
As you gradually move your sun-loving plants into brighter light, new leaves will be acclimatized to the outdoors. To avoid shocking your plant in the fall, you should reverse this process before bringing your plants inside for the winter.
- Ann Priest
• Provided by Master gardeners through the Master Gardener Answer Desk, Friendship Park Conservatory, Des Plaines. Call (847) 298-3502 or email northcookmg@gmail.com.