I'M LATE, I'M LATE, I'M LATE---

Remember White Rabbit in Alice in Wonderland?  "I'm late, I'm late, I'm late for a very important date.  No time to say hello, goodbye, I'm late, I'm late, I'm late." 

This is probably the lament of more than one gardener on the days the sun brings a little warmth and thethermometer rises to 60 degrees.  Take off the rose-colored glasses and remember you live and garden in high desert country---warm today, snow tomorrow (or let's hope for snow someday soon).

Ross Penhallegon, OSU, has offered the pruning advice that although February is pruning time for western Oregon, March 15 is a traditional time east of the Cascade Mountains.  Penhallegon advises starting the process by getting a good mental picture of what you want your tree to look like this year and five years from now.  I know I don't want my forsythia to continue looking like it does now.  I have many crossed branches that need to be pruned out.

If your landscape includes trees that develop sprouts at the base, be sure and prune them out, as well as the old ones you forgot last year.  The sprouts rob the major growth of nutrients. 

In the process of reorganizing my life, I found a pair of rusty pruners.  I'll add an overnight clean up soaking  session to the spring to-do-list.  The soaking solution will be a 50/50 solution of white vinegar and water.  The session will be followed by a scrub with a steel-wool scouring pad.  Then a blade sharpening session and it's ready, set, go.

Gardeners who order bare-root plants by mail may feel compelled to order earlier this year, just to be sure.  Generally the plants arrive before our recommended planting-out weather.  What to do?

Unpack the plants immediately.  Check for damage and be sure the roots are moist.  Store where the temperature is between 33 and 40 degrees F.  This can be a refrigerator or garage.  Keep the plants loosely wrapped in plastic to maintain the humidity.  You may need to sprinkle the packing material (shredded newspaper, peat moss, or excelsior) that is commonly used.  This will help to maintain the moisture level.

The plants that have broken dormancy can be potted up and held indoors until conditions are right for moving outdoors.  Previous to potting up, soak the roots for at least an hour. 

The seed packets are starting to accumulate.  The goal now is to stay organized.

Mark the packet with the year of purchase and if possible, the expiration year of the seed.  Seed viability charts are available on-line.  It's a handy chart to have in your file.  Vegetable charts are easily available, flowers seed charts are harder to find.

Sort varieties according to sowing dates.  The packets that need to be started indoors come first.  Set aside packets of beans, peas, greens, or any crop that might get multiple sowings.  This may seem like a tiresome exercise but organizing the seed inventory can save money by avoiding a duplicate purchase.  Plus it is satisfying to feel more organized at such a busy gardening time.

A seed packet should offer germinating directions.  In addition to days to germination and days to maturity, the packet should offer light requirements for germination--dark or light.

For end of season storage, use a box the width of your seed packet and file packets behind a divider that indicates the  category--Tomatoes, Peppers, etc.  A section should also be made for Perennials, Annuals and Herbs.

The March 1st "Gardening: Get Good at It" on KPOV radio's The Point will explain how to have a successful vegetable garden in your patio containers. Tune in at 9am to 88.9FM or listen streaming at KPOV.org.