Daffodils, Garlic Mustard, and Getting a Garden Plan in Place
Just as I predicted, many of my best intentions to garden were sidelined this past week by cold winds, flurries, and the general dreariness that can linger in upstate New York through late April. Snow on blooming daffodils is always a discouraging sight, though they usually perk back up. Most plants outside seemed to pause their development until warmer nights returned. Still, the week ahead looks promising.
To soothe my gardening restlessness, I’ve been leafing through bulb catalogs and building next fall’s planting wish list. The early order incentives are tempting—and if this gloomy weather persists, I may place an order sooner rather than later.
Bulbs on the Brain
Among my favorite catalogs are Brent and Becky’s Bulbs and the duo of John Scheepers and Van Engelen—the latter great for bulk buys. While I plan to add more crocus, my real passion lies with narcissus. I’ve worked hard to divide and spread what I already have, but this year, I’m craving new varieties. I’m especially looking to mix up my early yellow and late white selections.
If you're just getting into daffodils, you might notice they're categorized by "division"—referring to bloom size, shape, and form (like whether they have multiple blooms per stem or the ratio of trumpet to petals). It's a bit nerdy, but useful once you're in deep. For me, fragrance is a must. The only kind I avoid are the “split cup” types—something about them feels like a bridge too far in plant breeding.
A Trillion Garlic Mustard Seedlings
Walking our woods lately, I've found myself grumbling about invasive species. Garlic mustard seedlings are absolutely everywhere, each one a reminder that a single plant can produce astonishing numbers of seeds. A friend told me he once counted 12,000 seeds on a single wild parsnip plant. These plants play the numbers game for survival—and unfortunately, they’re winning.
If you’re tackling garlic mustard right now, know that this is a great time while the soil is soft. Just be sure to get the entire twisted root, or it’ll return. Avoid disturbing large swaths of forest floor, though—disturbance just invites more seedlings. It’s a war best fought in the garden beds, not the wild woods.
Clearing the Way
We’ve also been dealing with a gnarly thicket of bush honeysuckle, multiflora rose, blackberry, Russian olive, and the occasional bittersweet vine. It lines sections of our lane like a prickly wall. We started clearing it last weekend—cold enough to wear heavy layers against the roses—and made decent progress. The biggest roots came out with the help of a chain and our little pickup truck. The area backs onto a stand of ash trees doomed by emerald ash borer, so we need access there anyway. Our plan: keep it mowed at least once a year going forward.
A Quick Vegetable Planting Guide
After chatting with a new gardener recently, I realized a seasonal planting overview might help others too. Here’s my rough planting schedule for our region (targeting a last frost date of June 1):
Indoor Planting:
March 1: Start onion seedlings.
April 1+: Start flowers, tomatoes, sweet peppers.
May 1: Start herbs, brassicas (like cabbage and broccoli), and any latecomers.
(I usually buy hot peppers and eggplants since they need heat to germinate.)
Outdoor Direct Sowing:
Early Spring (as soon as soil can be worked): Spinach, lettuce, peas. I always save seed to replant later in summer or fall.
Mid to Late April: Carrots, beets, chard, kale, parsley, parsnips, radishes. Set out onion seedlings here too.
Early planting may help some crops avoid damage from Asian jumping worms, which hatch from cocoons in spring.
Late Spring (around Memorial Day):
After last frost: Direct sow beans, corn, cucumbers, and squash. Transplant hardened-off seedlings outdoors.
Succession planting: Only for crops that thrive in heat like beans and some greens.
Memorial Day feels far away now, but it will come quickly. There’s still time to prep—but not as much as we’d like. The season’s pace is about to accelerate.