So many mists in March you see, so many frosts in May will be.
- Contrary to popular belief, the symbol of St. Patrick is a three-leaf shamrock (also called a trefoil), not a four-leaf clover.
- This month's full moon will be on March 25th - a "worm" moon, so named in reference to beetle larvae, which begin to emerge from winter hideouts at this time.
- Worms do wonders for the soil - they improve aeration, moisture retention, structure, and nutrient availability.
- The Easter Egg eggplant produces purple flowers in late spring, followed by ornamental white fruit that turn orange as they mature.
- Sow peas outdoors even if its snowy. The earlier they mature, the sweeter they'll be.
- The word "daffodil" may have come from the Old English word "affodyle" which means "that which comes early". Daffodils pop up in early spring, blooming in yellow, white, or a combination of the two (several new varieties include pink and orange). The bulbs are both deer-resistant and rodent proof.
- Daffodil sap shorten the vase life of other cuts flowers, so keep flower arrangements solely daffodils, or soak the stems in cool water for 24 hours before adding to other flowers in an arrangement.
- To attract goldfinches to your garden, plant sunflowers such as Aztec Gold and Mammoth Russian, whose seeds are edible. To see a list of other sunflowers with edible seeds, click here.
- You can begin planting seeds outdoors as early as late March for beets, broccoli, cabbage, and peas. Plant carrots, cauliflower, kale, lettuce, and spinach outdoors in April. Plant onions, peppers, and tomatoes in May. Beans, Brussels sprouts, corn, and cucumbers go in the ground in June, and squash in July.
- To encourage proper beetroot development, sow seeds in well-worked soil that is free of clumps and stones.
If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant. - Anne Bradstreet, American poet