A Cosmos Full of Magic
The Solstice, a Solar Eclipse, and now Neptune in Aries usher in Spring
Let the Planets Begin 🪐
Some of you know I’m an astrology nerd. (It’s not all seeds with me, I swear!) I love tracking the movements of the planets and right now we’re at a turning point of a HUGE transformation all because of the cosmic lineup of events that elapsed over the past 10 days: the spring equinox (March 20), a partial solar eclipse in Aries (March 29), and Neptune entering the sign of Aries (March 30). These events all usher in what’s new.
In Western astrology the sign of Aries — depicted by the ram - is considered the first sign of the Zodiac. Aries initiates action, new beginnings, and explosive, forward-moving, confident (albeit impulsive) energy.
What does this have to do with gardening or seeds? Maybe nothing. But it does portend that YOU have an opportunity to sense this grand shift in the Universe, the microcosm that is you, and use these planetary-born winds of change to transform your own world.
Seeds to Sow in April 🌸
By April, sunny weather arrives in Napa County just in time for spring break and Easter. After alternating bursts of wet, cold, mildly sunny, then 80-degrees, then windy weather, we’re either going with the flow or we’re over it.
So what’s good to plant in April in early spring?
You’ll do best to plant and nurture most of the same seeds and seedlings you tended in March. That’s right, these seeds are still good to go in April in Zone 9b (Napa County).
As the water drains through your garden soils, carefully work (or rework) the ground to about 1/2 inch depth. Do a little strategic planning, hand remove small beings (in my garden pillbugs and snails happily munch my young seedlings) that emerge to undo your handiwork. If you have them ready — *cautiously* transplant a couple of tomato seedlings (Personally, I’d wait until mid-April; according to Dave’s garden calendar, the final frost dates for spring in St. Helena, Calistoga, and Angwin are March 4, March 26, and April 16, respectively. Be sure to have back-up seedlings ready in case of losses due to weather, soil, or competing interests.)
You can direct sow beets, carrots, cucumbers, and beans as the soil warms to 50 deg F, but protect them with row cover to avoid damage from frost during cold nights. Start warm season crops like eggplants, okra, melons, and summer squashes indoors, while your peppers and tomatoes continue to develop. You can direct sow cool season crops like leafy greens, brassicas, and radishes in succession as long as cooler weather remains. Once they mature and start to bolt (in other words, they begin to produce flowers) you can replace them with the warm season crops.
It’s a fabulous time to be in the garden. Enjoy the sunshine and fresh air and get your hands dirty.
Direct Sow These Seeds
flowers: borage, calendula, California poppy, cosmos, lavender, lupine, nigella, scabiosa, strawflower, sunflower, sweet peas, wildflower mixes; veggies: arugula, beans, beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celosia, chard, chives, collards, corn salad, kale, leeks, luffa, lettuce, mizuna, mustard greens, onion, pac choi, peas, potatoes, radish, spinach, tatsoi
Start These Seeds Indoors
flowers: agastache, alyssum, columbine, delphinium, echinacea, gaillardia, hollyhock, lobelia, lovage, milkweed, nicotiana, roselle, sunflower, tithonia, viola, yarrow; herbs: bergamot, catnip, oregano, marjoram, mint, rosemary, sage, thyme; veggies: asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, corn, cucumber, fennel (bulb), lettuce, melons, okra, pepper, summer squash, tomato
It’s OK to Transplant These Seedlings or Direct Sow These Seeds, but Protect Them from Frost
tomatoes, peppers, beans, cucumbers
Planting Wintersown Seeds 🌱
Winter sowing is a game changer. Period. Here are photos of the seeds I grew from January 20 through March 20. Six varieties were transplanted on February 25, and the remaining twelve are ready to be transplanted now. What a remarkable method to discover! I’m entirely grateful to Elizabeth who demonstrates this method with ease. If you didn’t get a chance to practice this method beginning in January, there are a couple of weeks to get a few seed types started. But honestly, the magic for me happened in the dead of winter here in Napa. And I wouldn’t have it any other way going forward. I’m hooked.
Jeffrey Pine Annex + American Canyon Community Garden 🌲
I traveled to the American Canyon Community Garden last week to view and select the garden plot that we were granted, excited about its potential for the season. Sam was there — he’s the guy who helps tend several plots for others in their absence - so I introduced myself and picked his brain for ideas. He suggested plot J1 for the seed library. As we chatted, I realized I hadn’t checked the annex since my last visit where I found its contents raided. I opened the cabinet to find the baskets returned! With some amount of faith restored (and prior conversations with Jeff Freed and Kim Moreno, its seed keepers, offering solutions), we’ve decided to restore the seeds there beginning mid-April after the last frost date. BUT they will be kept in jars instead of envelopes and watched over closely by Kim, Sam, Jeff, and me. Protect your resource, respect these seeds, and treasure this community project. If we give a little, get a little, we come away with a lot more. I promise.
4th Annual Seed Swap: Call for Volunteers 📣
We need 5 more people to help with our 4th Annual Seed Swap happening SATURDAY, April 5th! The seed swap will be held at the CIA at Copia gardens located at 500 First Street in Napa. The swap goes from 11 am to 3:00 pm and we need assistance from 9:30 am through 3:30 pm. Use this Google Form link to select from 1-hour shifts: https://forms.gle/jSd71oB3kUaCkuet8.
You don’t need to be an experienced gardener or seed saver to help out. Just be yourself! When you volunteer, everything you do creates an amazing, inspiring experience for others – you won’t regret it.
Just One More
Ahhh… cheers to Spring!
Seed you soon,
Didn't know about your astrological interests. Love it!