If you’ve looked outside in the last 10 days chances are you’ve only seen grey skies or rain. It was a wet end to March and beginning of April. It’s rained nearly every day of the last two weeks. If you’ve already planted your spring garden you are likely welcoming in the rain. If your garden is not yet planted, the rain has been a rough delay. Either way, all gardens, and probably most people, are going to appreciate the sunny, warm days in the coming forecast!
Some positives to the recent rain:
- Kansas City had an unusually dry winter. Our region desperately needed water, and the last two weeks have been a good start to get us back on track, though we are still low on our annual rainfall average
- For the most part, the rain has been light and constant. This has helped keep the soil moist, which helps seeds germinate
- Schoolyard Gardens have not had to drag out watering cans and hoses to water their gardens!
There are a few negatives as well:
- With each rain, expect weeds to grow just as much—if not more than—your vegetable plants
- If you have not yet planted your schoolyard garden, you are missing valuable growing time before the end of the school year. Schoolyard Gardens staff may recommend adjusting your planting plan to include more quick-maturing crops
- The wet conditions make it difficult to work in the garden
With sunny, warm weather in the forecast, we recommend getting your students into the garden as quickly as possible! The sunshine will give a growth spurt to your veggies and there will be a lot of small maintenance items to attend to. Because most Schoolyard Gardens plant in raised beds, you are at an advantage because raised beds drain more quickly than ground plots.
As mentioned above, weeds will likely sprout quickly in the garden. Be sure to use hands or tools to cultivate the soil and disturb the weed roots. Seeds will likely also need to be thinned. Check out last week’s Schoolyard Garden Blog for tips on how to thin your garden.
And remember, while the rain may be a nuisance now, it could be a hot, dry summer, so try to enjoy the calm while you can!
