Garden Notes: Late May

Phenology:  the study of cyclic and seasonal natural phenomena, especially in relation to climate and plant and animal life.

The Spooner Agriculture Research Station is starting to wake up and planting is beginning in the display beds.  The lilacs are blooming which according to phenology is an indicator of the right time to plant vegetables.  

From a UW Horticulture article here are examples of phenological correlations:
• Plant peas when forsythia blooms.
• Plant potatoes when the first dandelion blooms.
• Plant beets, carrots, cole crops, lettuce and spinach when lilac is in first leaf.
• Plant corn when oak leaves are the size of a squirrel’s ear.
• Plant bean, cucumber, and squash seeds when lilac is in full bloom.
• Plant tomatoes when lily-of-the-valley plants are in full bloom.
• Transplant eggplant, melons, and peppers when irises bloom.

New this year in the Teaching and Display Garden will be a straw bale garden display and a dahlia bed featuring 30 unique plants.  We're hopeful that last week's rainy and cold weather did not rot the tubers that have been planted. 

You are welcome to visit the gardens from June through September and watch the progress during our growing season.  For more information on the gardens go to our Teaching & Display Garden page.