If you are anything like me the countdown is on for the first spring planting. But first, you must get a bit organized to optimize your growth.
I have broken it down into 4 steps to get organized for Spring.
Remember this is for your Spring garden, we will do this all again for the summer and fall gardens.
The spring garden in my zone (zone 6b) last from March-May. This does not mean I will not be planting my summer garden amid the Spring garden. I am just going to focus on the first phase of this blog.
Steps to getting Spring ready:
Spring Garden Ready
I love to use the no/low till method or garden beds because it is easier to get into your garden sooner. You do not have to wait until the ground is ready to get your tiller or cultivator in. If you have amended the soil in the fall, your garden beds will be easy to plant with just a little clearing off the top and roughing up the top layer of soil.
This process all depends on what you did the season before. If you covered your beds with a cover crop, or if you amended them with compost.
Another step to getting your beds ready is to make sure your beds have the nutrients and the structure needed to provide your plants with the best growing conditions. This may mean that you need to perform a series of soil testing before planting.
Seed Selection:
The next step so select seeds that can handle the cool spring temperatures. You can find this information on the back of most seed packets.
I have listed a few of our favorite frost-tolerant plants you can grow in your spring garden.
4-6 weeks before the last frost date
From Seed
Kale
Kohlrabi
Leaf Lettuce
Onions
Peas
Rutabaga
Salsify
Spinach
Turnips
From transplant:
Asparagus (crown)
Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts
Cabbage
Horseradish (root)
Onion sets
Parsley
Potato, Irish Tuber
Rhubarb (root)
2-3 weeks before the average frost-free date
From Seeds:
Beet
Carrot
Chard
Herbs
Mustard
Parsnip
Radish
From transplant:
Cauliflower
Chinese Cabbage
Herbs
These plants are very hardy or semi-hardy plants that will do well in your spring garden.
How much to plant:
The quantity of each plant will depend on the available space and your consumption or preservation goals.
First, determine how much you and your family consume of each one. One of the main questions I ask during my garden coaching consultations is which foods you buy weekly at the market or grocery store. Focus on the foods that can be grown in your region and start there. You can always expand your space later when you're comfortable maintaining the current area.
When you are ready to expand your garden space, create a list of foods you buy monthly and adjust the garden space to accommodate these foods.
Now that you have an idea of the foods you want to grow from the above list, you need to know how much each plant will produce and the space you will need to grow each plant. This will all depend on your method of growing and the variety of plants you are growing. Most seed packets will have a growing guide on the back.
For planning and spacing my plants, I rely on Clyde's Garden Planner. It's super easy to use, and it helps me arrange my plants just right. This tool simplifies the whole process, making sure I use my garden space wisely. Clyde's Garden Planner has become my go-to for a hassle-free and successful gardening experience.
Crop rotation:
This takes some planning and record-keeping, but it is essential to have a good crop rotation in your garden space to reduce pests and diseases. Avoid planting the same plant family in the same place year after year. Below is a good guide on how to rotate your garden beds.
This should get you started on growing your spring garden this season. If you would like more detailed information about other gardening topics, subscribe as a member and check out all the programs and events.
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Thank you for all your support in helping me "Creating healthy gardens for healthy gardeners"!!
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