Your Outdoor Living

For a Lush Garden, Start These Plants Early

By Stephanie N. Grimoldby

Spring may have only just begun, but it’s not too early to start planting.

Think about it in terms of cold- and warm-season crops, says Matt Zerby, president and CEO of Wasco Nursery and Garden Center in St. Charles.

Cold-weather crops tend to do best when sown directly into the ground while it’s still cool, he says. Good candidates are leafy veggies like spinach, asparagus, cabbage, kale, lettuce and Brussels sprouts.

“They will grow if you plant them later in the season, but the quality of the vegetable itself – the quality and taste – will be diminished when you try to grow cool-season crops in warm weather; they’re more starchy and bitter,” Zerby says. “There are more sugars in the plant when it’s cooler, so they taste sweeter.”

Most cool-weather plants are annuals, but certain fruit – like raspberries, blueberries and blackberries – are perennials so they can be planted in spring and come back every year.

An excellent kid-friendly choice is Raspberry Shortcake, Zerby says. Most raspberry varieties have thorns, but this one is a dwarf, thornless plant that does well both in a pot and in the ground.

Often, when plants are bred for certain characteristics – like being thornless – the fruit doesn’t taste as good as the original variety. “But in this case, they taste just as good as any raspberry tastes,” Zerby says.

If it’s still too cold for you to traverse outdoors, you can still get a head start on planting. Just get going indoors.

Tomatoes and peppers are warmseason crops that can be started in a pot inside and transferred outside later on, Zerby says. Tomatoes can go in the ground around Mother’s Day; peppers like warmer soil, so mid- to late May, if not June, is best.

Marigolds and herbs are also easy to start indoors and transfer outside.

However, not all plants like to be started indoors – particularly squash, cucumber, zucchini and sunflowers. It’s best to sow these directly into the ground when the soil is a bit warmer. ❚

Wasco Nursery and Garden Center is located at 41W781 Illinois Route 64 in St. Charles, (630) 584-4424.

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Your Outings All Are Welcomed on the Pickleball CourtEnjoying

By Katie Gray

No doubt you’ve played tennis, badminton and Ping-Pong. But have you tried your hand at the sport that combines all three of them?

Pickleball is a fast-growing game played with a paddle and ball, and it’s become popular across the Chicago suburbs. And with good reason: it’s accessible to people of all ages and skill levels.

To give you an idea of what to expect, the court is comparable in size to the one badminton players use. It has similar markings to a tennis court, and there’s a short net in the middle. But the paddles are smaller than tennis rackets, and the ball is plastic, like in Ping-Pong.

If you’re brand new to the game, don’t be intimidated. “The regular pickleball players are open, welcoming and friendly,” says Megan Hatheway, athletic supervisor for the St. Charles Park District, where pickleball is a rapidly growing pastime. “They love to see new players, and they’re even willing to teach you the basics during open play.”

New and experienced players alike can drop in during open play hours at Haines Gymnasium (Monday-Saturday 9 a.m.-noon) and Pottawatomie Community Center (Monday and Thursday 1 p.m.-4 p.m.). It’s a low cost to drop in and play a few games.

Once the weather warms up, head to the outdoor courts at James O. Breen Community Park for open play. And bring the kids or grandkids with you: even the little ones are welcome to play here.

In this multi-generational game, there’s no need for fancy clothing or equipment. Anything comfortable that you’d wear to play basketball or any other court-based sport will do.

Once you get the hang of the game, beginner and competitive leagues play round-robin style indoors on Monday and Tuesday nights.

Schedules and fees are subject to change, so double-check before you go. Or, better yet, subscribe to “The Dink,” St. Charles Park District’s monthly pickleball newsletter. ❚

Contact St. Charles Park District at (630) 513-6200, and get the latest details on pickleball at stcparks.org/pickelball.