Do These Things Now to Prepare for the Spring Garden.
Sometimes warm days in February are a teaser for spring, so we understand if you’re starting to dream about the garden you’ll plant closer to summer. But you don’t have to wait – you can get started on some spring gardening work right now.
Mark your calendar
The exact dates for planting, harvesting, and other gardening activities will vary depending on your local climate. This means you should check out the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone in your area if you don’t already know. The higher the number, the warmer: Minnesota is in zone 3, and the southern tip of Florida is in zone 11.
Then find your zone – or better yet, check with your local university’s co-op extension – to find out what to plant and when. At the very least, mark a date on your calendar when you can expect the last frost of the season. Many plants should not be planted outdoors until the danger of frost has passed.
Find the plants you’d like to grow – specific varieties like ‘Scarlet Nantes’, not just ‘carrots’ – and see how many days it takes for them to germinate and from planting to harvest. Work backwards to figure out what you need to plant and when.
Take inventory
Think about what you would like to grow this year and find out if you have all the necessary materials and equipment. What seeds and seedlings should I buy? Do you need to replace any tools? Rent a cultivator? Stock up on fertilizer and mulch?
Start seedlings of tomatoes
Work backwards from planting dates for tomatoes, peppers, and other heat-loving crops to figure out when you can start planting seeds indoors. Some plants grow well from seeds planted in the ground in May (like squash and beans), but others (like tomatoes) really benefit from starting indoors early so they are big and healthy when planting time approaches. The colder your climate, the shorter the growing season outdoors, which is why northern gardeners tend to grow more seeds indoors than people in warmer southern climates.
Prepare your beds
You can start to get your hands dirty as soon as the land is ready to be worked, which usually also means that the snow has melted and you only expect light gusts of wind and frost from now on.
Get outside as soon as possible and pull out any dead plants, weeds, and any remaining pegs or cages. The next step, once you can get the shovel into the ground, is to prepare the soil with any fertilizers or additives you may need and set up new planters or beds. Now is also a good time to do a soil test (at your local office or with a home testing kit) if you are not sure what you need to add to the soil.
Plant early crops
This is the fun part and one that many people overlook. While you may have to wait a few months to plant heat-loving crops, many vegetables love cold weather and can be planted as soon as the land has been worked.
Lettuce is one of them and it provides almost instant gratification as you can start enjoying baby lettuce in just a few weeks. Carrots, radishes, spinach, potatoes and peas can be in the ground now or very soon, and you can eat a whole homemade salad before your neighbors bury their tomatoes in the ground.