> Next: Gardening Seasons and Cycles
Beginning the Growing Year
Snows melting, warm spring days, and trees bursting into bud signal it soon will be time to plant your vegetable garden. Thoughts of the coming season often tease the imagination, so when is the right time to begin?
There are two vital measures of the time to plant: absence of frost in the evening and soil warmth. Both take sustained days with warm air and soil temperatures before you should plant.
Three other considerations to judge before starting to plant are:
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- The condition of the garden’s soil.
- Climate and frost hazard.
- Pre-planting preparation of the garden.
Condition of the Garden Soil. Another consideration is the condition of the garden’s soil, especially how much moisture it holds. In early spring, melting snows and frequent rains often make soils boggy.
The pore spaces between organic materials and mineral silt, sand, and grains fill with water, displacing all the air normally present. In such conditions, the soil loses its oxygen and becomes unable to support life. Even soil microbes, beneficial bacteria, and seeds die.
It’s important to check before planting that the soil is moist, not soggy. The video above shows an example of a planting in soil that is saturated with water, with a struggling eggplant start.
Climates and Planting. The date of last spring frost varies according to your plant hardiness zone. Local conditions that moderate temperatures, including large bodies of water, create microclimates in small areas [see Planting and Harvest Planner].
In the warmest zones, frost hazard may end before March 1. In colder areas or at high elevations, frosts may linger until June or even later. Use the time between first thaw and last frost to plan for planting and to prepare your beds.
While a few vegetable plants reliably germinate and grow in soil with temperatures of 40–50°F (4–10°C), all do best when soil temperatures reach 60°F (16°C) or higher.
Vegetables that require even more protection and warmth—melons, peppers, squash, sunflowers, and sweet potatoes—may be started indoors or reared within a greenhouse [see Starting Plants Indoors].
Other Pre-Planting Preparation. Install plant supports, fences and watering systems. Get an early start on weed control by turning the soil to prevent weed seed from germinating. double-dig your beds to bury and kill the first sprouts of weeds.
Plant outdoors earlier with a cold frame installed over a base of fresh manure and covered with a deep layer of topsoil [see Building a Cold Frame]. As the manure decomposes, it releases heat and warms the soil above. The translucent top of the cold frame will capture heat from sunlight and help protect the plants within from cool nighttime temperatures.