Late March 2024 Planting in the garden

According to my gardening bible, Crockett's Victory Garden by James Crockett, March is the time to plant peas, spinach, turnips and onion sets directly into prepared soil. He was planting in Massachusetts and the killing frosts we have had here in Ohio in March mean a slight delay in planting is okay. Peas, spinach and carrots were planted just before a predicted rain. Peas get planted in the same place every year since the soil there is now well inoculated with the microorganisms responsible for the high protein pea or bean. Peas have large seeds and can easily be planted in rows, but I scatter the seed in a designated area then push the seeds into the soil. This year, besides the reliably delicious sugar snap pea, a different variety of sugar snap is also being planted and the two will be compared. After the rain, seeds will be checked and pushed back into the soil if necessary. Seeds are covered with old screens to prevent curious squirrels from digging them up. Once the seeds have germinated a pea fence of pruned branches (or in my case bundles of water sprouts from the pear pruning) are put near them for climbing. First spinach (second spinach is planted in August) is planted in the bed designated for zucchini which will not be planted until May. The soil was prepared by scratching in some granular fertilizer, then making a furrow where the seeds are planted, then covered with screening. Two varieties tried here too, some germinate faster, some bolt slower, but they pretty much taste the same to me. By the time the zucchini needs the room, the spinach will be gone. Old carrot seeds (2021) were scattered, lightly tamped in, then soil put over them and covered with screening. If they do not germinate there is still the whole summer to replant. Speaking of not germinating, seeds are so interesting, the marigold seeds germinated nicely, the nasturtiums not at all. Three of four tomato varieties germinated, none of the peppers did. They may just need more time. Maples! I have never seen so many maple seeds germinated, they are coming up in all my flower beds, they are germinating in the debris by the curbs near sidewalks. Spring flowers are starting their show, cut daffodils and bring them in. If you notice clumps of daffodil leaves but few flowers they may be too crowded. Supposedly you wait until the leaves die back, or until the fall, to dig clumps and separate the bulbs. They are moved now in my garden, when I can find them. Dig up a big clump and separate out the bulbs. Prepare the hole where you plan to plant, the bulbs will be there for years so provide the best conditions you can. Mix some of the removed soil with potting soil, bone meal, and compost, put a layer of that in the bottom of the hole, place bulbs a little distance from each other, then fill in with the modified soil. Plant them the same depth they were growing. It may take a couple of years until the bulbs have grown enough to produce flowers. It feels good to be outside again, enjoy!