Sooke Garden To-do List: April – Planting Fever
Start planting summer-blooming bulbs in April.
By Loretta Fritz
A March to-do list for gardeners in and around Sooke*
As bulbs finish blooming, cut the stems down and let the foliage die back naturally. Lift and divide bulbs before the foliage dies.
Continue enjoying winter veggies and hardy greens from the garden until they go to seed.
Plant potatoes and onion sets.
Sow carrots, beets, and chard. Thin seedlings as required.
Plant summer-blooming bulbs once the soil has started to warm.
Begin hardening off seedlings and plant them outdoors in keeping with local planting guidelines.
Put fresh straw around strawberry plants to keep the fruit clean and dry.
Mulch beds.
And, of course …
Continue to build compost with fruit and vegetable scraps, dried leaves and plant trimmings, seaweed, manure, and as wide a variety of other seed-free ingredients — both brown and green — as you can find. Remember, the compost feeds the soil, and the soil feeds the plants.
Remove weeds as soon as you see them. They deprive nearby plants of water and valuable nutrients.
Take steps to prevent pests and diseases from ruining your plants. Monitor plants vigilantly, keep tools and work areas clean, follow appropriate planting, growing and pruning techniques, and keep dead/diseased plant material out from under fruit trees and out of beds and containers. Companion planting, floating row covers, slug patrols, etc., can be helpful during the main growing season.
Take time to relax and enjoy the beauty of your garden and the fruits of your labour!
* This list is for general reference only. The timing of many tasks will be affected by weather and related factors. Please be guided not only by local area conditions, but also by conditions within your own gardening microclimate.