Food grown close to home just tastes better.
Hello, again!
One of the things I enjoy most this time of year is the feeling that the growing season is just beginning to wake up. The days are getting longer, the sun has a little more strength to it, and many gardeners are thinking about what they might grow this year. There’s something especially satisfying about growing some of your own food and knowing exactly where it comes from. Even a small garden can produce a surprising amount of fresh vegetables, and the flavor of something picked just minutes before dinner is hard to beat.
I was reminded of that while on a bike ride several years ago along the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route. When you’re riding day after day through small towns and remote countryside, grocery stores and restaurants can sometimes be few and far between. One afternoon I stopped at a small roadside stand where a family was selling fresh vegetables from their garden. After days of eating typical travel food, a simple tomato and a handful of fresh greens tasted unbelievably good.
It was a good reminder that food grown close to home just tastes better.
Early spring is the perfect time to plant many of the crops that enjoy cooler temperatures. Right now we have seed potatoes, onion sets, onion plants, asparagus crowns, and a great selection of vegetable seeds ready to go. Some of the easiest and most rewarding crops to plant this time of year include lettuce, radishes, beets, peas, spinach, Swiss chard, and carrots. These crops grow well in cool weather and often reward you with an early harvest while the temperatures are still mild.
If you enjoy trying something a little different, we have many heirloom varieties along with some beautiful, colorful mixes. Multi-colored carrots, bright Swiss chard, and unique lettuce blends can add a little extra personality to both the garden and the dinner plate.
For gardeners who prefer to start with plants rather than seeds, we also have cole crops like cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower, along with spinach plants ready to go into the garden.
Of course, not everyone has space for a large garden, and that’s perfectly fine. Many of these crops grow very well in containers as well as in the ground. A sunny patio or deck can produce a surprising amount of fresh food. One of the easiest ways to garden in a small space is with EarthBox container gardens. They’re designed to provide consistent moisture and nutrients, making them especially productive for vegetables. Just a couple of containers can keep you in fresh salads through much of the spring.
Healthy plants start with good soil. Over the years we’ve spent a lot of time refining Johnson's Soil Recipe to provide the structure, organic matter, and beneficial microbes plants need to thrive. Whether you’re filling containers or planting directly in the garden, good soil makes all the difference.
Looking a little ahead, Easter falls on April 5th this year, and one plant that always brings a bright and sunny feel to the season is tropical hibiscus. Ours will be arriving soon. Their large, colorful blooms make it a cheerful indoor plant for spring decorating, and once the weather warms they can move outdoors for the summer.
Spring always feels like a season full of possibilities. Whether you’re planting a backyard garden, growing a few vegetables on the patio, or simply adding a little color indoors, it’s a wonderful time to get your hands back in the soil. And before long, we’ll all be enjoying the rewards of those early spring plantings. 🌱🥕🌿
Your friend in the garden,
Marty Johnson
Owner - Johnson's Garden Centers
P.S. - For those who planted garlic last fall, now is a good time to fertilize the emerging plants. Gardener’s Special from ferti-lome is an excellent fertilizer to use on all garden beds for flowering plants such as our spring flowering bulbs and perennials.
