Plant warmer-season vegetables. Did you know that March is National Nutrition Month? What a perfect time to get your vegetable gardens ready for more edibles. March is a good time for some melons, eggplant, basil, and squash, and then by April all summer edibles can go in. By then is it mostly too hot for lettuces unless they are shaded.

It’s tomato time. Tomatoes love summer heat and sun. My husband’s birthday is March 26, and that is usually my goal date for getting at least some tomato plants into the ground. When picking your seedlings, look for vibrant green leaves on a plant that is wider than it is tall. Gently slide the plant from the container to check the health of the roots, making sure they are bright white and not thickly matted. Plant young plants deep to get the best root development. Snap off the lower sets of leaves, and plant deeply enough so that you leave the remaining leaves above ground. If you haven’t yet discovered Tomatomania, “the world’s largest (and most fun) heirloom tomato seedling sale,” go to one of their events nearby. They sell so many different varieties of tomato that you are sure to find the perfect ones for your garden.

Check over and install raised beds. If you are using raised beds, get them built now, or make sure they are in good shape. If you have multiple beds and they are irrigated, I suggest having a separate shutoff valve for each bed. The beds are often in different stages of use, and there is no sense wasting water if you can shut off the water to any bed that doesn’t need it.

Try something new with a straw-bale planter. If you are in a temporary location, don’t have building skills for a traditional homemade planter, or just want to try something different, plant in a straw bale. You will need about two weeks to prep the bale for planting. First, make sure you put the bale in the exact spot you want it because it will start to get too heavy to move. The sheared side needs to be pointed up, with the twine sides facing outward. It should be watered well daily. Add fertilizer on the first day, and then about every other day. Water and fertilizer will start the decomposition process. This creates heat, so you must wait for the straw to cool down to your ambient temperature before you can plant. A compost thermometer can be used to check the temperature. If you don’t have one, a meat thermometer should do. Then have fun planting, using a trowel to create planting spaces. You can add a layer of compost in the planting holes or simply plant straight into the bale without compost. Since there will be less soil and therefore fewer nutrients available, you should add fertilizer periodically through the growing process.

Build a compost wall. Compost walls can serve multiple purposes by being space dividers as well as places to get rid of larger branches and twigs. Insects and other small creatures will be attracted to them, and they are wonderful living lessons for children.

Take a walk through the gardens. Descanso Gardens in La Cañada Flintridge hosts “Spring Bloom Walks” on Fridays and Saturdays throughout the month. What a lovely and relaxing way to meet other gardeners by strolling among the gardens and learning about what is in bloom at this time.

—Francesca Corra, APLD, is a nationally certified landscape designer and owner of Dirt Diva Designs in Studio City, California.

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Solid Build—The Ashman Garden Cultivator/Tiller is strong in construction so that it can withstand heavy work in the garden. The blade and the shaft are coupled well for deep digging and uprooting the soil from the depths. It serves the purpose of cultivation very well. Create a blooming crop and watch it blossom and reap the benefits. Sharpened Fine piercing Blade—The blades are razor sharp and are made to pierce into any kind of soil and to serve digging, loosening soil, and weeding. The blades are rust-proof and have chip-resistant coating enhancing durability. Use it to control weeds, bury crop residue in the soil, and for preparing a proper seed bed. High-Quality Design—The thoughtful design incorporated to shape the blades in L shape helps dig deep into the soil and rip it from beneath for cultivation. This helps a lot when weeding. Dig well and plant well. The handle is made to fit in the hand well and can be held tightly to apply push and pull forces effectively. Practical Utility—The garden cultivator is made with “practical utility” as the core of its purpose. It serves all the necessary purposes when gardening. Helps mix soil, which will loosen it up, providing more nutrients for the crops.

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A.M. Leonard Deluxe Soil Knife & Leather Sheath Combo

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MULTITASKING DUAL EDGES: a deep serrated edge and a tapered slicing edge ideal for tough or delicate cuts. DURABLE 6-inch stainless steel blade withstands 300 lbs of pressure. TWINE CUTTING NOTCH, DEPTH GAUGE MARKINGS & spear point - no need to switch tools when using this garden knife. LEATHER SHEATH: heavy duty, protective, clip on sheath to keep your knife convenient and secure. LIFETIME WARRANTY.

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Gardener's Log Book from NYBG

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This weatherproof five-year log book includes the following features: · Sturdy waterproof cover to protect pages from rain and muddy soil · Lined pages and gridded paper for plotting beds · Five years of 12-month bloom and harvest grids for recording what you planted and when · Authoritative appendices on composting, pruning, pest and disease control, and container gardening · Useful reminders by season on fertilizing, mulching, and transplanting · Space for listing your favorite sources and suppliers.

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