Long before the last of the snow has melted in many parts of the country, diehard gardeners – and many new homeowners – are eager to get their hoes into the ground to prepare for a spring and summer bounty.
But knowing what to plant when – and where – is a learned and practiced skill and one that varies depending on where you live. If you’re new at the game, garden supply company Bonnie Plants can help to get you started.
You can begin by entering your zip code at bonnieplants.com to find out what gardening zone you live in, as calculated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Once you do that, you can begin researching which flowering and vegetable plants are most likely to thrive in your area in spite of lingering unstable weather.
As for early spring planting, you can find ideas online at burpeeseeds.com, ufseeds.com, americanmeadows.com, or a host of other easily accessible sites.
Generally, in the more temperate zones stretching from the lower Northeast through the middle swath of the country, March is not too early to plant leafy green veggies like broccoli, lettuce, cauliflower and spinach or early spring flower favorites such as pansies, geraniums, violets and daisies.
In the mildest climates, gardeners can already plant spring root vegetables, such as carrots, beets, onions, and radishes, and flowers including bare root roses and summer-flowering bulbs.
In regions where winter tends to linger, vegetable plants may be started now in pots and containers and moved into garden plots after the thaw. Perennials and hardy annuals, such as larkspur, lupine, and evening primrose, may be planted early and will sprout when warmer weather arrives.
Detailed information for your area is available from local garden shops, or you may curl up by the fire as winter wanes with recommended books like, ‘The Garden Primer” or “The Beginner’s Illustrated Guide to Gardening.”
I hope you found these tips helpful. Contact me today with your real estate questions!
