By Tom Kalb, Horticulturist

NDSU Extension

Every year in the garden is full of surprises and challenges.

In some years, Mother Nature can plague us with destructive pests and drought. In other years, she can fill the sky with generous rains.

Now is a good time to reflect on our growing season in 2023. Was it a good year for you? It was for many gardeners.

Let’s start with last winter. After years of drought, much of North Dakota was blanketed with heavy snowfalls.

Moisture is vital in our gardens, so this snow was a blessing. At least that’s what I told myself while I was shoveling all winter.

The snow melted and our soils were replenished with moisture. This made our spring season a time for hope and promise. Then Mother Nature provided a cold shoulder to us, giving us one of the coldest Aprils on record.

Once temperatures finally began to warm in May, we experienced more rain than we needed. This delayed planting for weeks in many gardens.

Our summer was wonderful. It was warm. We did not get a lot of rain, but the rains were timely for most of us.   

Old and new pests threatened our landscapes. Grasshoppers emerged as a problem in spring, but their presence declined. The baby grasshoppers did not appreciate the cold, wet weather.

Emerald ash borer was detected in Moorhead, Minnesota. Fortunately, the pest has not been detected in North Dakota. We need to keep vigilant. It’s critical that we do not move firewood from infested regions into our state.

Another emerging threat is tomato spotted wilt virus. This has been a huge problem around the world for over 20 years and it is starting to make its presence known in the Dakotas. This virus causes tomato vines to wilt and the fruits to develop spots that look like moon craters. Fortunately, tomato varieties are being developed to resist the virus.

The autumn was tremendous in 2023. I can’t recall a longer, warmer or sunnier autumn. It was a treasure. Melons, squash and other late-ripening crops thrived this year.

I will remember 2023 as the Year of the Turtle. The old proverb “slow but steady wins the race” comes to mind. In the famous fable, the turtle started slowly but won his race against the rabbit.

Just like the turtle, our gardens got off to a slow start, but Mother Nature gave us the rains we needed in summer. The glorious autumn gave our gardens an opportunity to enjoy a full growing season. This year was a winner!

Happy New Year! May you be blessed in 2024 with a pleasant end to winter followed by a spring filled with gentle rains. May the summer bring warmth to your garden and heart, and the autumn bring you a bountiful harvest.

For more information about gardening, contact your local NDSU Extension agent. Find the Extension office for your county at ndsu.ag/countyoffice.                          

NDSU Agriculture Communication – Dec. 19, 2023

Source: Tom Kalb, 701-877-2585, tom.kalb@ndsu.edu

Editor: Kelli Anderson, 701-231-7006, kelli.c.anderson@ndsu.edu