Greetings from Evergreen Blooming! 🌍

Welcome to the March edition of our monthly newsletter, marking the start of the primary gardening season.

Across much of the U.S. and Northern Hemisphere, March marks the true awakening of the sustainable garden: soil is beginning to thaw, buds are swelling, and gardeners are itching to get their hands back in the dirt.

It’s the perfect time to turn winter planning into action and set up a productive, eco-friendly year ahead.

In this issue, we’ll explore:

• Early Spring Bed Prep​
  Gently cleaning up garden beds, adding compost, and refreshing mulch so your soil is ready to support a new wave of growth.
• Cool-Season Planting​
  Direct-sowing hardy crops like peas, radishes, spinach, and other cool-weather vegetables in regions where the ground has warmed enough to work.
• Fruit Tree & Shrub Care​
  Finishing up dormant pruning on fruit trees and berries, and checking for winter damage so they’re primed for healthy blossoms and future harvests.
• Seed Starting Under Cover​
  Starting tomatoes, peppers, and other warm-season crops indoors or in a backyard greenhouse—perfect if the year‑round growing ideas on Evergreen Blooming inspire you.
• Composting & Soil Health​
  Using kitchen scraps and yard waste to build nutrient-rich compost that feeds your fruits, vegetables, and herbs all season long.
• Learning & Inspiration​
  Tapping into our fruits, vegetables, and guides sections for expert tips, recommendations, and best practices tailored to gardeners at every level.

We have added some new articles to our website. Please enjoy these articles by scrolling down our Evergreen Blooming Home page until the "Latest Articles" section.

Here are five amazing facts about Lettuce:

1. Ancient Salad Green​
   Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) has been cultivated for at least 4,000–5,000 years; it was eaten by ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans, who bred it from a bitter wild plant into the milder heads we know today.
2. Mostly Water, Very Low Calorie​
   Lettuce is approximately 90–95% water, making it low in calories while still providing volume, crunch, and some vitamins and minerals, especially vitamin K and folate in darker leafy types.
3. Many Different Types​
   There are several main groups: crisphead (like iceberg), romaine/cos, butterhead (like Boston and Bibb), and looseleaf types. Each has a different texture and flavor, from crunchy and mild to soft and slightly sweet or bitter.
4. Can Produce a Sleepy Sap​
   Lettuce contains a milky latex called lactucarium, especially in the stems and older leaves. Historically, this was nicknamed “lettuce opium” and was thought to have mild sedative properties, though it’s very weak compared with real opiates.
5. Likes Cool Weather​
   Lettuce grows best in cool seasons; in hot weather, it tends to “bolt” (send up a tall flower stalk), which makes the leaves bitter. That’s why it’s a classic spring and fall crop in many home gardens.

Some Interesting Articles

How to Tell If Lettuce Is Bad? Don’t wait until you bite into your food to learn it’s gone off – know the warning signs beforehand. Read on to find out how to tell if lettuce has gone bad. Read article

Are Tomatoes Perennials? Many gardeners lose their tomatoes to winter frost, but are they perennial plants? Read on to discover the truth and some overwintering tips.... Read article

How to Tell If Blueberries Are Bad - A Fresh Guide. Discover the key signs to spot spoiled blueberries and keep your fruit fresh. Learn how to tell if blueberries are bad with our easy-to-follow guide. Read article

EGB SHOP OFFERS

Please check out our shop for our latest informational, kids and word puzzle books.

As a token of our appreciation for your continued support, we’re offering you a discount on all our products. Please click on our shop icon link below, choose your product, and when checking out, type the following coupon code into the order: EGB THANK YOU 25

For more in-depth guides, visit the Evergreen Blooming website, where you’ll find resources on everything from winter sowing to compost bin recommendations.

Our guides cover everything from cultivating your fruits and vegetables to discovering expert gardening guides and recommendations for all experience levels.

As the season shifts, this is your moment to lay a strong, sustainable foundation for the months ahead. Let’s welcome spring together and get your garden ready to flourish.

Warm Regards,

Tracy and the Evergreen Blooming Team

​Evergreen Blooming​