By JESSE EASTMAN

Jesse Eastman

f.s. life contributor

The itch to start planting my garden has now grown from an almost imperceptible tickle to a full-blown case of Spring Fever. I desperately want to see my tomatoes start growing and enjoy the sweet fragrance of roses outside my front door. However, living in Colorful Colorado is a double-edged sword in terms of satisfying my urge to garden. The sun is out, many trees are already in bloom, and yet, if I plant petunias now, I can be sure it will snow the next day.

So what’s a gardener to do? I spend this uncertain season planning and preparing for what I hope will be an exquisite year for plants. I am measuring my garden and flowerbeds, planning my plant selections and researching new varieties I want to try. While this may feel a little mundane, and certainly won’t stem the tide of springtime hormones that this mild weather inevitably releases, it makes subsequent forays into my yard much more pleasant.

First, examine the space you have to work with. For flowers and veggies in containers, consider whether they receive morning or afternoon sunlight. If you’ve ever worked a full day in the July sun, you already understand the difference.

It is easy to connect container gardens to a drip irrigation system, which reduces the clutter of hoses. It’s important to choose appropriate plants for the size of the containers. Tomatoes need deep root space (at least 24” – whiskey barrels are ideal), while most annual flowers only utilize roughly the first 8”- 12” inches of soil.

Photo by Chelsea Dunfee

Always allow for accessibility. It’s surprisingly difficult to bend over and pull weeds in the garden when your hindquarters are pressed against a fence.

Plant spacing is also a tricky issue. If plants are too close together, they will not only fight for space, but also light. If they are too far apart, they get lonely and mock me when my back is turned for using space so inefficiently.

Now is a great time to learn about new varieties of vegetables, flowers, trees and shrubs, as well as new tools, fertilizers and other gardening accessories. I have always liked lilacs, but wished they were a little more interesting once they’ve finished blooming. Luckily, the newly released Dappled Dawn Lilac has variegated leaves for a showy display all season long! By this time of year, local independent garden centers should know pretty much everything they’ll be carrying for the year, so pay them a visit and find out what’s new and exciting.

For veggie gardens, many plants, such as spinach, lettuce, corn, beans, peas, squash, and potatoes are better off grown from seed than bought as a starter. Others, such as tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and artichokes are often easier bought as starter plants. Of course, there are always exceptions. This year I am trying my hand at growing tomatoes from seed. There is something intensely gratifying about taking a seed the size of a grain of sand and ending up with a delicious Caprese Salad.

While there is still plenty that can be planted right now – trees, shrubs, perennials; broccoli, kale, potatoes and pansies– planning the rest of my landscape is essential for my mental well being. Not only does it make gardening in May

Photo by Chelsea Dunfee

a little easier, but it also

makes me feel in control of my yard, an area where, thanks to the Colorado climate, control is nothing but a fantasy.

Jesse Eastman is General Manager of Fort Collins Nursery, 2121 E. Mulberry St.

For more information on the nursery, or for advice on what you can plant this time of year, stop in, call 482-1984 or visit www.fortcollinsnursery.com.