Happy Carnival! I always love this time of year when the Japanese magnolias begin to bloom, ushering in Mardi Gras celebrations. Despite the freeze in December, we’ve had a pretty mild winter. Really, it has felt like spring for weeks now. It’s time to get the gardens ready for spring planting. There are plenty of cold crops you can continue to grow while the mild winter temperatures sustain. Download the January NOLA planting guide from Anna Timmerman at LSU AG. I’ve recently sewn lettuce, nasturtiums, arugula, radish, and sunflowers.
If you haven’t already, clear out the debris from the winter freeze. You’ve probably seen dead banana trees around town. Simply cut them back and they will regrow. The sooner you cut them back the faster they produce, which can take up to a year. Along with the bananas went the other tropical fruits we’re able to grow most of the year. Papayas are our favorite sweet treat from the garden. They are surprisingly easy to grow. You can buy an organic papaya from the grocery store and start the seeds in pots to transplant, after the last frost. Another tropical you can grow from seeds found in the fruit is passion fruit. Their beautiful flowers are a show stopper, and their fruit are delicious.For more in depth gardening advise you are welcome to reach out to me for a consultation. Happy Planting!Contact: Arielwallick@gmail.com; (504)228-7892
