Before you know it, the growing season will be upon us. Use this month to get ready by planning your perfect summer garden.
Even if you only have room for some herbs in pots, it's important to get a good start. You may be tricked by a warm day here and there, but March isn't the month to start planting.
Click here to find the last average frost date for your zip code and sit tight until then for anything that can't take a hit from frost. A few cold weather crops like kale and radishes are fine to start now; just read up on early-season varieties.
Root for spring! Underground gems like radishes and beets are some of the earliest crops to sow outside. Shop seeds: https://t.co/QAUgNSuNsH pic.twitter.com/t3CpmAX1jp
— Burpee Gardening (@BurpeeGardening) March 9, 2022
Growing food and flowers from seed is by far the cheapest route and it requires a realistic plan. Think about what your family will get the most use out of—do you yearn for heirloom tomatoes and three kinds of basil, or would you prefer to focus your energy on strawberries and sweet corn?
Either way, you want to start perusing the online seed catalogs now. Summer favorites like tomatoes, corn, and melons go fast when it comes to popular varieties. Burpee, Baker Creek, and Hudson Valley are just a few reputable sources if you're looking for a specific variety. If you wait until April, you may be out of luck!
The perfect single serving-sized plant! 🙌https://t.co/8RcziB9gdF pic.twitter.com/o7HW9bi7M9
— Baker Creek Seeds (@rareseeds) February 21, 2022
Once you have your seeds in hand, go ahead and start them indoors with a bit of soil in a warm location. They can go outside on sunny days once you start to see leaves emerging, but be sure to bring them in or protect them when overnight temperatures plummet below freezing.
Courtesy of Burpee (Facebook)
Building up your yard's soil is something you can start doing now. Pull up any errant weeds or grass and add compost and garden soil to your current plot. Heat up the ground with some black plastic sheeting or landscaping fabric once you have tilled your soil, then score it later when you're ready to plant.
If you plan on container gardening, take inventory of the pots and planters you already have, and make sure you have enough for succession sowing. If you start carrot and radish seeds every two weeks, you can have veggies ready for the table all summer long. Re-using grower's pots you get from seedlings is a good way to upcycle, and plastic milk jugs and berry pints also work well as planters. Just be sure to poke holes for drainage.
Warmer weather will be here before you know it. With proper planning and a supply of seeds, you can get a great start on your summer gardening now.
Do you have any tips for getting your garden ready for the growing season? Share them with us in the comments.
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