Start the Best Fruits and Vegetables
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(February 27, 2022) Are you ready for some gardening? Spring will arrive sooner than you think. It’s time to start planning. That means ordering seeds. Or plugs. Or just figuring out what you want to grow this year. So, we welcome back a woman who knows a lot about growing things. Today, we will give you some great advice to help you get your fruits and vegetables started.
Lisa Hilgenberg regularly visits us at this time of year. She is horticulturist for the Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden at the Chicago Botanic Garden. The garden produces 400 different edible plants, all grown organically. As I wrote last year,
…that means managing the four-acre Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden. It means working with a crew of four and 25 volunteers. It means mentoring interns from Windy City Harvest, College First (Chicago Public Schools) and the French Heritage Society. And it means that when you say, “We’re gardening for the public,” especially during worldwide pandemic, you have a tough job.
The pandemic is…well, it’s not over. It still occupies an important part of our lives. We’re returning to something, if not quite normalcy. Even last year, however, Hilgenberg says the garden was able to perform its mission. This year should be even better. On the other hand, ordering seeds is still an issue. She says she can’t get her favorite variety of chives. Who knew?
She warns that you want to wait until the end of March to get tomatoes started. But there are a lot of other fruits and vegetables you can start right now. We’ll talk about that today. Take notes.
Orchids, too!
Speaking of fruits and vegetables, Hilgenberg will be teaching an online course in April. It’s called The Organic Vegetable Garden in Spring. Learn about early-season vegetables that thrive in cool spring temperatures. Discuss and practice early-season bed preparation, seed sowing, and harvesting techniques. Of course, CBG offers many horticulture courses. You can learn about them here.
But life isn’t just about fruits and vegetables. We’ll also chat about the The Orchid Show: Untamed at CBG That’s not the way I usually think about orchids, but what do I know? They say the event “celebrates the unexpected verve of wild orchids.” It runs now through March 27. Get tickets here.
Finally, the Chicago Botanic Garden is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. To recognize that milestone, the Garden will present Flourish: The Garden at 50. It features nature-inspired art installations, pop-up programming, and an exhibition to recognize the Garden’s remarkable growth and how they look forward to the next fifty years.
What’s going on
Meanwhile, Peggy and I are following a number of environmental stories. Some good, some bad, some just interesting.
Activists Rally as Clock Ticks Toward March 1 Deadline To Save Bell Bowl Prairie – WTTW
Skokie gives final approval to Carvana glass tower near forest preserve despite opponents’ fears it will kill birds – Chicago Tribune
When should public land be sold? Environmentalists say rarely. Forest preserve officials say deals can benefit communities. – Chicago Tribune
Chicago region grapples with reducing road salt as chloride levels exceed state limits in waterways, continue to rise in Lake Michigan – Chicago Tribune
The urgent efforts to save winter in the Alps – National Geographic
Recycled Christmas Trees Get New Life As Lake Glenview Fish Habitat – Journal & Topics