Hey, guys! In this blog post, I want to talk to you about sowing in spring, which is quite different from sowing in summer. When we discuss sowing in March and April, some people may lose their chin: Wasn't it as cold as a refrigerator at that time? Yes, for those summer vegetables that like warm environment, such as chillies and tomatoes, who are afraid of cold,They have to wait patiently indoors until the frost danger is over before moving outdoors.
Practice and exploration are excellent teachers of gardening skills.However, in early spring, once the soil becomes suitable for cultivation, many crops with strong cold resistance can start sowing, which is the theme we are going to discuss today. Just like me in the central and western regions of the North, the pace of spring is always slow;While friends in the South may have entered the warm season ahead of time. Therefore, when planting, we should make corresponding "fine adjustment" to the sowing time according to our geographical location ".
know your zone
If you want to successfully build a vegetable garden, you must master two key information: one is the cold-resistant area of your crop baby, and the other is the average final frost period of your location.You can obtain this information through the following two magic links:
2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
2024 First and Last Frost Dates
Although these tools can provide an approximate sowing date,However, the best way to truly understand when to sow depends on long-term accumulation of understanding of the actual climate conditions in your region. In this way, you can judge the best sowing time more accurately, just like the old farmers counting on their fingers, they will know when to let the seed baby sprout in the soil!
Which crops are suitable for planting in spring?
Sowing in spring is very different from planting in summer. Now is not the time to play with tomatoes and corn, but the season to be light and purify food. Unless you live in the far south, we will plant some fast-growing and cold-resistant little guys in spring. For example, those cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli and cabbage,They like to plant in spring so that they can fully grow up before the hot summer.
Of course, there are also early spring sowing crops prepared for the summer harvest, such as chamomile, Marigold, potatoes and various flowers. It depends on your planting area. I am in area 6b, and the following is a glimpse of my small garden in spring:
Direct Sow:
Lettuce (Red leaf, green leaf, romaine, baby)
Spinach
Kale
Radishes (red, easter egg, french breakfast)
Peas (shelling and sugar snap)
Scallions
Root vegetables (beets, turnips, carrots)
Kohlrabi
Herbs (Chamomile, calendula, cilantro, parsley, dill)
Potatoes
Transplant:
Onions
Cabbage
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Established:
Chives (a perennial)
Rhubarb (a perennial)
Garlic (planted in the autumn previous)
Perennial herbs (oregano, mint, lemon balm, catnip, etc)
Some crops can be sown early in spring,Even if it is a little cold, you are not afraid, such as cold radish, pea or lettuce. While other crops need to be sown in late spring, near the last frost period. The back of most seed packaging bags will clearly tell you when to sow, such as "sow 4-6 weeks before the last Average frost date", "raise seedlings indoors 4-8 weeks before the last Average frost date" or "sow immediately once the soil can be cultivated".Then you can take your seats according to your planting area and make your sowing plan.
Summer crops such as tomatoes and cucumbers, as well as cold-resistant herbs such as basil, cannot be planted at will until the winter frost risk is completely over. In my case, it usually refers to around Mother's Day, but if you live in a warmer place,It may be earlier. Fast-growing spring crops will exit in time when summer crops need to occupy the site.
Where i get my seeds
There are many great places to purchase seeds from. I like to purchase from a variety of small companies online as well as my local garden centers. I always make sure my seeds are organic and haven’t been treated with any unnatural chemicals.
Botanical Interests
High Mowing Organic Seeds
Southern Exposure Seed Exchange
Renee’s Garden
If you can’t order online for whatever reason, check to see what your local gardening center has to offer. Here is a list of small seed companies that you can check out as well.
How to plant
As mentioned above, most of my crops choose to sow directly, and a few will be transplanted after raising seedlings indoors. Under my climatic conditions, I can easily plant green leafy vegetables from seeds, so in order to save indoor space, I usually plant these vegetable seeds directly into the soil. Root vegetables also need to be directly sown,In order not to disturb their roots, otherwise they may harvest crooked carrots and weird turnips!
However, the growth cycle of onions, cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower is very long, and they need to raise seedlings indoors several weeks in advance to ensure full harvest on time. Self-breeding is not only economical and affordable,And it is a lot of fun, but if you don't have enough time or encounter difficulties in the process of seedling raising, you can also buy ready-made seedlings from the local horticultural center.
Basically, the back of all the seed packaging bags contains all the planting information you need-from the depth of sowing, the best sowing time and so on, just as considerate as the instructions in the planting field!
Hey guys, if you're thinking about starting your gardening adventure, then I'm going to cheer for you! Whether you are a gardening expert who thinks you have magical green fingers or a "black finger" that feels that your hands touch plants, try it boldly. You know, gardening is like life,Full of ups and downs, sometimes you may encounter some small failures, such as the carefully cared young seedlings unfortunately leave you; But more often, you will harvest full of joy of victory, such as the first big pumpkin planted by yourself or flowers blooming in the garden.
Don't forget, the most important teacher is continuous practice and exploration,Sometimes we need to fall behind a few times to find out the temper of mother nature. Therefore, I wish you all the more frustrated and brave in the gardening world, and finally you can usher in the harvest season and pick your own sweet fruits!
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