Spring is “ramping up.” Pardon the pun, but I couldn't resist. As we get into mid-April, you'll probably start hearing about Ramps. Ramps, Allium tricoccum, also known as wild leeks, are typically ready for picking in Sullivan County from early to mid-April through May depending on the weather conditions. 

A few years ago, I didn't even know what a ramp was but now that I am retired and have a bit more time in the spring, I have time to go on a ramp hunt through the forest. So where do you find ramps? Look in moist, shaded deciduous woodlands, on damp slopes or near streams as ramps love rich, organic soil in hardwood forests. They don't like evergreens like pine or spruce, so that cuts out half of Sullivan County. Ramps emerge early as broad green leaves with a strong garlic-onion smell when crushed. Skunk cabbage have even broader green leaves, also emerges early but don't have the same smell. You won't get the two mixed up, trust me. 

Ramps take five to seven years to mature from seed and are at risk from overharvesting in New York in certain areas. To prevent this from happening, when you find some ramps, cut only the leaves and stems leaving the bulb/root in the ground to regrow. Think of ramps like asparagus, with responsible harvesting you can enjoy a harvest every year without much effort. Of course, most people take the whole ramp as the bulbs are the part of the ramp most often used as it has the best flavor. Over one hundred years ago when my great-grandmother had a boarding house in Callicoon Center, she used to collect ramps every spring for soups and stews. I'm sure she probably pickled some also to use later in the season as well. But since then, no one in my family ever bothered to collect ramps and over time ramps were just forgotten. I got reacquainted with ramps after talking to a classmate of mine, Jean from Liberty Blooms Florist, as she is a ramp enthusiast. So, this spring I will be out and about, checking in the woods for some delicious ramps for a nice potato/ramp soup.   

Now if you’re not into searching for your food in the woods, it is the time you can start planting your own onions and garlic in the garden. Even though the weather is still cold, the bulbs will start to take root under the soil before they start to sprout above the ground. Likewise, it is a good time to start planting berry bushes, shrubs and trees while they are still mostly dormant as it allows root development while the plants are not actively growing yet. Our April showers are getting things green in a hurry and if you haven't seen one yet, you will soon as the dandelions are coming up. As I wrote about a few weeks ago, this year I will be using my dandelions instead of weeding and tossing them.

The last thought for this week - if you are going to treat your lawn for crabgrass this year, the time to do it is when the forsythia is blooming. The most effective crabgrass control is pre-emergent, which means you need to get it down before the crabgrass seeds germinate. Those seeds germinate roughly when the forsythia is done blooming so you know every year when to treat for crabgrass. Pre-emergent crabgrass control won't harm perennials, trees or shrubs as it only affects seeds that have not germinated yet. Likewise, don't use it if you are about to put down fresh grass seed as it will keep it from germinating as well.