Let’s grow together…. Saturday, March 22nd

10:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Join us to discuss gardening tips with special guest speaker, Karen Hinton with an Introduction to Hydroponic Growing

Please register in the Narthex before March 9th. 

GARDENING NEWSLETTER 2025

Happy New Year Wesley Chapel Family,

You may be thinking it is too cold and too early to begin planning my spring garden. However, now is the perfect time!

What could you be  doing?

1) Decide what you want to grow this year for the Spring and Summer Garden.

May I suggest adding a few items to your list just for fun or to challenge yourself!

2) Inventory your seeds and buy what you need.

Remember seeds do not expire at the end of a calendar year. Yes, germination rates may decrease but seeds want to grow.

Fun Fact: The oldest viable seed that has grown into a full plant was a roughly 2,000-year-old Judean date palm seed, recovered during excavations at the Herod the Great’s palace on Masada. It had been preserved in a cool, dry place not by freezing. It was germinated in 2005.

3) Don’t wait until the last minute!

Seed catalogs have already been sent to consumers and many of the big box stores have the 2025 seeds for sale. (Including Dollar Tree)

4) Begin planning where you want to garden this year. Do you need to prepare the space?

We often get a few warm days in February and March, get those new garden spaces ready to go!

5) Get your soil tested.

Many of the county extension offices in GA offer soil testing. The soil testing is usually for in ground garden beds and older raised beds. The testing can save you time and money regarding what amendments you need to add to your soil.

6) Do you need new pots or tools for the garden?

Start early and spread the cost over the next few months.

I will be placing copies of the UGA Extension Office Vegetable Planting Chart in the Narthex.

*Remember our last frost date for the Decatur area is March 31, 2025.

What am I currently doing?

The same items listed above.

• Inventoried/Ordered my seeds
• Sending in my soil test samples
• Preparing the Greenhouse
• Preparing the gardening beds

What am I currently planting?

• It is my hope to plant out my seed potatoes and onion starts in late January.
• I will start my tomato seeds by February 1st to put out in the garden April 1st (if the Lord says so).
• I will start my pepper seeds by February 15th. I will not put my peppers in the garden until the evening temperatures stay above 50 degrees.
• During the month of March, I will start seeds indoors for watermelon, cantaloupe, and squash.

As you can see there is much to do

Praying for your abundant gardens!

Nicole

GARDENING TIPS 2024

Hello Fellow Gardeners,

It’s July and the heat is on. Now is the time when gardening can get tough!  As temperatures rise, so do all the pests that love to eat our veggies.  Please remember to drink plenty of water and work in the cool of the morning or late evening.

As for your plants, you can try to provide some shade using a shade cloth or an old sheet. Water them deeply in the early morning or late evening. Using mulch is a great way to keep the moisture from evaporating quickly. 

Although it is steaming outside, guess what? It’s time to start thinking about our Fall Garden.  Fall gardening is far more enjoyable for many gardeners than summer gardening. Temperatures are cooler and pests are easier to control.

What would you grow?

Brassicas:

Does this sound like a lot?   No worries.  Stay tuned for the Fall Gardening Class. We will sit down over a big fresh garden salad and plan our Fall Gardens together.

Praying for your garden’s abundance!

Nicole

SEED SWAP 2023