We have finally arrived at the time of the year when we can start planting our gardens. Normally the first week of April is good for planting potatoes. A lot of gardeners plant their potatoes on Good Friday. This year they will be planted a lot later due to the fact that Easter is later.

April is also the time for a variety of other plantings, including sowing early vegetables such as lettuce, peas, onions, etc. But, it is advised to wait for good soil conditions, rather than having to mud the seeds into the soil. To test for good soil conditions, take a handful of soil and make a ball. If it crumbles in the hand, it's O.K. to plant. If it remains in a mud ball, wait a few days for it to dry out.

Early April is also the ideal time for planting most fruits in this area. Both bare-root and potted plants should have time to develop good root systems before hot, dry weather comes. Special varieties of cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, summer squash, and melons (especially seedless watermelons) can now be started indoors in peat pots. It takes three to six weeks to develop a good transplant in this family. This means they'll be ready in early May. When starting your plants/cuttings in peat pots, the root system can be planted without disturbing the soil ball. Plant when the first true leaves are forming and when the soil is warm.

Plan for successive harvest of vegetables when planting. This can be done by repeated planting of a variety at weekly intervals, or by one planting of several varieties with different maturity times. Thus, the favorite variety of radish can be planted several times, and several varieties of sweet corn can be planted on the same day.

Uncover strawberries. Strawberries are usually left covered with mulch as long as possible to delay bloom and prevent frost damage. When following this practice, check condition of the plants under the mulch every three or four days. When the new leaves show white or yellow coloration, it's time to uncover them. But do it on a warm day so that a frosty night won't hurt the tender plants.

Don't apply insecticide spray during bloom. Most of the fruit crops will bloom during the month, and pesticide sprays should be applied before or after bloom, but not during bloom. You want pest control and not bee control.

Finish pruning fruit plants. Trees and vines can be pruned up to blossom time if necessary. However, it's easier to do a good job before flower buds are grown out. Pruning should be done with a purpose in mind.

Plant frost-tolerant vegetable seeds-beet, carrot, chard, mustard, parsnip, radish, transplants of cauliflower and Chinese cabbage. Remove stalks of rhubarb as they develop.

It's not too late to tamp down cilantro seeds sown directly in the garden in a protected location. Make successive plantings every two weeks. Sow dill. Make successive sowings since dill is short lived and does not re-grow once it is cut.

Trees and shrubs are best planted or transplanted in the spring rather than the fall. These include; butterfly bush, dogwood, Rose of Sharon, black gum, redbud, magnolia, tulip poplar, birch, ginkgo, hawthorn, hickory, and most oak. Examine trees and shrubs for winter injury. Prune all dead and weakened wood. Fertilize trees and shrubs if not done last fall.

Remember, black plastic pots absorb more heat from the sun than white plastic or clay pots, resulting in quick growth for heat-loving plants. Keep this in mind when you choosing your hanging and/or container plants. On sunny days, black plastic pots can be 9 degrees warmer than other pots.

Scatter Shirley poppy seeds in flower borders. The fine seeds need no covering. The plants grow rapidly and provide colorful flowers in early summer. Plant nursery stock if the soil isn't too wet. Begin to harden-off warm season transplants late in the month. Prune late blooming clematis.

Start garden flowers indoors for early plantings. Sow seeds four to six weeks before the last frost-free date (around May 15). Plant bare root plants before they leaf out. Uncover and fertilize roses and tender perennials. If you don't have crocus, daffodils and tulips in your yard, mark your calendar to remind you to plant some in the fall.

GARDEN TIPS: For a shady home garden consider native woodland wildflowers. Some good choices might be: Wild Columbine (Aguilegia canadensis), Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema tripyllum), Wild ginger (Asarum canadensis), Dutchman's breeches (Dicentra cucullaria), Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica), Woodland phlox (Phlox divaricata,) Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis). Note: Only purchase nursery-grown plant materials. Help protect our natural areas, do not dig these plants from the woodlands. You could also plant flowers that can be dried for winter arrangements. Possibilities are: strawflowers, statice, Chinese lanterns, celosia, globe amaranth, any of the Artemisia, yarrow, cockscombs, lavender and some of the ornamental grasses. This is one way to enjoy your garden for years to come. When dividing chrysanthemums, dig the entire clump, discard center, and divide remaining clump. Plant divisions 12 inches apart.

Mark your calendar for April 25^th for the "Herb Festival" here in Mattoon. Master Gardeners will be at their usual location (9^th and Broadway) selling a wide variety of plants and cuttings.