WHEN TO START GARDENING

Gardening season is upon us! In fact, for most avid gardeners, they’ve been working on prepping and even planting their veg crops for the year for weeks now. But don’t worry--it’s not too late! If you want to pick fresh tomatoes or cut gorgeous lettuce for that spring salad from your garden, you’re right on time.

We’ll give you a quick run down of when to start your veggies and your flowers, our top five tips for new gardeners, and some ideas of great flowers and veg to plant to get the most out of your plot this year.

Peas

Lettuces

Kale

Arugula

Radishes

Spinach

Beets

Broccoli

Brussels sprouts

Cabbage

Carrots

Cauliflower

Tomatoes 

Squash

Cucumber

Melons

Beans

Corn 

If you are planning on planting new fruit trees, now is a good time to get them in the ground (though top tip: planting them in early fall is even better!). You can plant berries too: raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, etc., as soon as the danger of frost is gone.

There are two types of flowers: annuals (which bloom for one year and then die) and perennials (which will come back next year). If you live in the Mountain West like we do, you don’t want to plant any annuals until around Mother’s Day. It’s just too cold and the danger of frost is still present. You don’t want to spend the money on beautiful flowers only to have them die in a late April frost. Perennials are super tough and can be planted as soon as the ground is warm enough to get a shovel in. Be sure and give them a good drink of water--even if you think it’s too cold. It will give them a good start in life. 

If you’re a newbie at gardening, never fear: you’ve got this. With that in mind, it’s always a good idea to ask a neighbor or family member who gardens in your area for advice. Chances are they’d love to pass on their wisdom. Hey--we do, too! So here are five of our best words of wisdom for beginning your garden:

1. Check your soil. You want to give your seeds and plants their best start in life. You can send it out for a soil test or try it yourself with these DIY tips from Farmer’s Almanac. Add compost, gardening soil, etc. if you need it.

2. Set up your watering system first. It’s so disappointing to go on vacation for a day or two just to come home and find all of your crops fried to a crisp. Make sure the area where you are planting gets hit by sprinklers or set up a drip system for optimal water conservation.

3. Follow the sun. Some veg want sun. Others are shade-lovers. Make sure you’re not planting tomatoes in a mostly shady area (they are sun-lovers through and through) and don’t put lettuce in full sun (they’ll crisp right up). Check the packaging for seeds and little plants--they won’t steer you wrong.

4. Plant what you will eat. That being said--it’s never a bad idea to try something new. But make the bulk of your garden something you LOVE to eat.

5. Don’t give up. Really. If you fail at tomatoes one year--ask a neighbor about what you might have done wrong and try again. Chalk it up to experience points, pull on your gardening boots, and try again. You can do it!

Gardening is so good for you. Not just because you’ll be eating fresh vegetables and fruit, but being out in nature is so good for your mental and emotional health. Whether it’s a couple of pots on the balcony of an apartment complex or an allotment plot, or your own garden, it’s always a good idea to dive into gardening.

We can’t wait to see what you’ve grown!