Spring is an exciting time for gardeners everywhere. It’s the season of growth and renewal! Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro, planning and preparing your garden ahead of time is key to having a flourishing garden. We’ll share when to start your Spring garden, a timeline on what needs to be done – month to month and some tips for a successful Spring garden. Let’s get started!
When to start preparing your Spring garden
We’re in zone 5b, and it’s a cooler growing zone with average annual minimum temperatures between -26°C and -12°C. Spring gardening in our zone requires a bit of forward planning, as frost can linger until mid to late May.
Here’s a timeline for when to start preparing your spring garden:
- January: Start chili pepper seeds indoors.
- Early February: Start celery seeds, eggplants and onions.
- Late February to early March: Start seeds indoors for cool weather crops like broccoli, lettuce, kale, and spinach. These crops thrive in the cool temperatures of early spring.
- March: Start seeds indoors for warm weather crops like tomatoes
- Mid April: Begin hardening off your cool weather seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions.
- Mid April to early May: Start direct sowing your cool weather crops outdoors as the soil begins to warm. (it can be an earlier timeframe if you have a hoop cover of cold frame over your garden bed)
- Mid to Late May: After the last expected frost date (usually mid May in zone 5b, depending on the weather), plant your warm weather crops like tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers outdoors. (after the hardening off process)
Preparing your soil for a Spring garden
Zone 5b, with its cold winters and relatively short growing season, requires careful soil preparation to ensure a successful spring garden. Here’s what we do:
Clean and loosen soil
- Remove Debris: Clear out any mulch or wood chips from the previous season. We don’t want this to mix into our soil when we put our soil amendments
Add natural soil amendments
Natural amendments can help improve soil fertility and structure. Here are some excellent options:
- Compost: Add a 2-3 inch layer of well rotted compost to enrich the soil with organic matter and nutrients. Compost also improves water retention and drainage.
- Aged manure: Incorporate aged (not fresh) manure to boost nitrogen levels and improve soil texture.
- Leaf mold: If you have access to decomposed leaves, mix them into the soil to enhance its structure.
- Bone meal: For phosphorus, which supports root development, add bone meal. This is especially helpful for root crops like carrots and beets.
- Cover crops: If you planted cover crops (like clover or rye) in the fall, now is the time to till them into the soil. They act as a green manure, adding organic matter and nutrients.
Timing
Start soil preparation as soon as the ground is workable in early Spring. In our zone, this is typically late March to early April, depending on the weather.
Spring gardening tips:
Starting a garden can feel overwhelming, but with these tips, you’ll be planting with confidence in no time!
- Know your zone: Find out your hardiness zone and use it to guide your planting schedule. This ensures your plants have the best chance of thriving in your climate.
- Start small: It’s easy to get carried away with the excitement of spring gardening, but start with a small plot or a few containers. You can always expand later! (This is exactly how we did it)
- Choose easy to grow plants: If you’re new to gardening, stick to beginner friendly plants like lettuce, radishes, marigolds, and sunflowers. These are forgiving and grow quickly.
- Test your soil: Healthy soil is the foundation of a great garden. Use a soil testing kit to check the pH and nutrient levels, and amend your soil as needed.
- Plan for frost: Keep an eye on your area’s last frost date and protect your plants if a late frost is expected. Row covers and frost blankets are lifesavers and pretty simple to put together.
- Start seeds indoors: Growing from seed is fun and cost effective. Plus, the varieties you can choose from is expansive compared to what you can get at a garden centre. Start your seeds indoors 6–12 weeks before your last frost date for a head start on the season.
- Water wisely: Water in the morning to prevent disease and evaporation. Aim to water deeply once or twice a week rather than lightly every day.
- Keep a gardening journal: Track what you plant, when you plant it, and how it grows. This will help you learn what works best in your garden over time.
- Have patience and have fun: Gardening is a journey, and not everything will go perfectly and that’s okay! Enjoy the process and celebrate your successes, no matter how small.
Spring gardening is a rewarding and joyful activity that connects you with nature and provides fresh, homegrown produce or gorgeous flowers. Whether you’re starting seeds indoors, preparing your soil, or planting outdoors, planning ahead will set you up for gardening success.
By following the planting timelines for your zone and keeping these beginner friendly tips in mind, you’ll be growing a blooming Spring garden in no time.
Happy gardening! 🌱
