How and When to Plant a Spring Garden
At this time last year, you may not have even thought about planting calendars, preparing the soil, or growing seasonal vegetables. But a year after the COVID-19 pandemic began, the number of home gardeners has skyrocketed , and now that we’re back in March, those looking to plant their first spring garden may have a lot of questions. Here’s what you need to know about how and when to plant a spring garden.
When to plant a spring garden?
Spring officially begins later this month, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve missed out on planting a spring garden. In fact, the seasonal planting schedule depends a lot on where you live, what you want to grow, and whether you’ve prepared your soil enough for the new crop, according to Jessica Woods, gardener and editor / founder of the infield. Kura + You website.
“You can safely start planting with the last frost, although many plants will happily sprout in frost, so I advise you to check the date of the last frost and decide what you want to harvest and enjoy on your dinner plate,” she tells Lifehacker. “I highly recommend preparing the soil two to three weeks before you plan to plant your seeds. If you haven’t already, you may need to cook more vegetables suitable for summer. “
In some regions, it is recommended that you start growing your seeds indoors and then eventually move them outdoors when they survive. One way to figure out which option is best for your garden is to check the USDA Resilience Zones Map . According to master gardener and Happy DIY Home founder Jen Stark, USDA zones “determine the best times to plant seeds indoors, when to transplant young plants outdoors, and when to plant seeds directly in the ground.” For most of the United States, the best time to start planting spring crops is in March, according to Stark Lifehacker.
You can also use an online tool like this planting calculator from Gilmour, which allows users to enter their zip code and the plants they hope to grow and creates a customized planting calendar.
How to prepare the soil
Planting a spring garden requires some preparation – don’t expect to go outside one day, just start planting in a garden bed that’s been untouched all winter. “Preparing your garden for spring has to start with a thorough cleanup, ” said Lifehacker Angelo Randachi, head gardener and horticultural expert at Earth’s Ally . “Shoot up the trash from last fall and pull out the weeds.”
Then use a straight shovel or shovel to dig in the ground 8-10 inches. “Flip the soil over so the topsoil is at the bottom of your lot,” explains Stark. “Break up large clods of dirt until all soil is the same size and density. At least three weeks before you plan to plant your vegetables, turn the soil over again so that the topsoil is at the bottom of your plot. ”
And while you may also be tempted to dig up any existing roots left in the garden, Jake Till, director of marketing and sales strategy for Fruit Growers Supply Company , advises to quickly pull the roots and remove only those that come out easily. “The remaining roots will feed the beneficial microbes that keep the soil moist and aerated,” he tells Lifehacker.
It’s also a good idea to check your soil pH level – there are several ways to do this, including DIY methods and buying a pH meter. This is a topic for another day, but in short, once you know the pH level of your soil, you can make adjustments to make sure it meets the needs of your plants. For example, according to Till, you may need to add pH-raising agents such as lime or acidifying agents such as sulfur.
Once this part is complete, it’s time to add organic matter in the form of compost and aged manure, said Lifehacker Jill Sandy, gardener and founder of Constant Delights . “You can also use mulch or green manure as they are more natural and in exceptional cases help prepare the soil for planting,” she adds.
Plan your garden
Now that your garden is cleared and the soil is prepared, it’s time to patch up the area. “First of all, decide what you want to plant and make a list,” Randachi explains. “It’s not too late to start seeds, so you can include them on your list. Plants for early spring include kale, radishes, green onions, arugula, and spinach. Be sure to follow the directions on the seed bag. “
If you’ve waited too long to plant a spring garden with seeds – or don’t necessarily want to deal with them – you can always buy starter plants at your local garden center, which Randachi says will save you a step and give you the ability to jump seasonally. “I love growing seeds from seed, but I often find plants in the nursery that look great and take them home to my garden,” adds Woods.
Make a map
When you have a plan, it’s time to map your garden on a piece of paper, says Joseph Marini, horticulturalist and host of the Home with Joseph webinar series on Aspire Design and Home. Here’s how he explained this Lifehacker process:
Using a quarter, a coin, and a penny draw circles to represent the plants in your area. Arrange the plantings in a checkerboard pattern so that from spring to fall you have a full display of flowers and foliage, and even some items that might arouse winter interest, such as tall grasses. Provide enough room for your perennials to thicken and grow for several years before you need to separate them. You can intersperse seeds, bulbs, and annuals between young perennials to keep your garden looking full.
When I plant a new garden bed, I vary the size of the plant pots I buy so that the garden doesn’t look undeveloped. [For] some perennials I will buy larger pots to make the plants look more mature, while for others I will start with small starter plants that tend to grow more vigorously.
Sun and shade factor
The most important thing to consider when choosing a planting site in a garden is how much sun or shade a particular area receives, says Marini. “Since the trees don’t have leaves yet, a spot in your yard may look like the perfect sunny spot, but you’ll find that as the large trees above fill with growth, it becomes darkened after two months,” he explains.
This means your sun-loving plants will have to be rearranged. “Unless you’re planting a shady garden, most perennials and annuals and vegetables require six to eight hours of sunshine a day, whether it’s direct sun or lightly dappled sunshine,” he explains.
What plants are best for a spring garden?
Again, this depends on your location and when you actually start gardening, but some plants are more hearty than others when it comes to the inconsistent early spring weather. Also keep in mind that some of the traditional spring flowers like tulips, daffodils and hyacinths come from bulbs planted last fall. So if you are just starting now, you will have to wait until next year.
But now there is still something to plant for your spring garden. According to the gardeners we interviewed, this includes:
Vegetables
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Lettuce
- Greens cabbage
- Endive
- Cabbage
- Mustard greens
- Peas
- Spinach
- Swiss chard
- Beans
- Arugula
- Radish
- Leek
- Potato
- Artichokes
- Asparagus
- Beet
- Carrot
- Celery
- Green onions
- Certain herbs (parsley, sage, rosemary, oregano mint)
Flowers
- Pansies
- Violas
- Peonies
- Astilba
- Cranes (also known as Hardy Geraniums)
- Bells
- Winter aconite
- Amelanchier lamarckii (aka juniper or berry)
- heather
- Bleeding hearts
- Clematis Montana
- Wildflowers in your area
Finally, remember that gardening is a trial and error process, especially if you’re a beginner. You probably won’t get the luxurious garden of your dreams on the first try, but keep in mind that gardening alone can reduce stress , so the benefits you get may not just come from fresh produce.