Preparing for Your Vegetable Garden

Now is the perfect time to plan and prepare our vegetable gardens for a bountiful harvest. Preparing for a garden can be overwhelming – especially for those of us who haven’t been gifted with the greenest of thumbs. With some general knowledge and practice, your success in the garden will surely grow!

Spring Garden Planning

When planning for a garden, begin by making a list of things you would like to grow. Consider vegetables your family enjoys or produce that you cook with frequently. This way, you won’t end up with 10 heads of cabbage that go to waste.

Next, you need to consider your climate. Cedar Rapids and the surrounding area falls into the USDA plant hardiness zone 5a with an average last frost date between May 11-20. This information helps us determine which crops are best suited for our area and helps us plan a timeline for outdoor sowing.

The climate and temperature can vary drastically from year to year. Be patient and wait to plant tender crops outdoors once nighttime temps are consistently above 55 degrees Fahrenheit. It can be tempting to get those tomatoes planted on the first 70-degree day, but its best to be patient as cool temps aren’t likely gone for good. Cool temps and frost on young seedlings can kill them or severely slow their growth and production in the summer months.

Sowing Seeds vs. Purchasing Seedlings

When it comes to the plants themselves, you have a few options – starting seeds indoors; purchasing plant starts from a nursery or garden center; or directly sowing seeds in the soil. The seed package or plant start will have guidelines on the conditions for it to grow best. A seed package includes information on when it should be sown, if it should be started inside or in ground, and days to harvest. Both seed packets and plant starts will give recommendations for sunlight, water, soil conditions, and special care, such as trellises. By knowing our average last frost date of mid-May, we can plan our seed sowing or seedling purchases accordingly.

There are pros and cons to purchasing seedlings or growing your own from seed. Plant starts are typically more expensive than seeds, but are ready to be planted when the weather warms. Growing from seed can be more cost-effective and allow greater variety, but also requires more work and sometimes even special care. Most seedlings will require grow lights and nutrient rich soil. As plants grow, they will gradually need to be exposed and prepared for the outdoor conditions, such as direct sun and wind. Starting plants from seed can be a great learning experience, but can also be frustrating at times.

Gardening can be a fun, rewarding hobby. Not only does it teach us patience, but it also produces fresh produce. The best time to start is now because the only way to grow your green thumb is by getting it dirty!