How To Plan For Your Spring Garden
Spring is the perfect time to get your garden ready for the growing season in Surrey, BC. Starting a spring garden can be rewarding and help you enjoy fresh, homegrown produce.
Before beginning your spring gardening journey, it’s important to consider the types of plants that would do well in spring, when to plant them, and how to care for them throughout the growing season.
Check The Climate
When deciding what to plant in spring, it’s important to take into account the climate and weather of your area.
Depending on where you live, you may have a shorter spring season or warmer temperatures that allow for more options.
What To Plant
Some common spring plants are vegetables such as lettuce, kale, spinach, and radishes.
Some common herbs are rosemary, basil, and thyme.
You may want to plant fruits like strawberries and blueberries and annuals such as marigolds, snapdragons, and pansies.
While choosing plants for spring planting, make sure to check the seed packet for information about planting depths and spacing requirements for each variety.
Prepare The Soil
Before getting started on your spring garden project, take some time to prepare the soil.
This will help ensure success by providing the necessary nutrients and aeration needed for healthy plant growth.
Start by testing your soil pH with an at-home kit before adding any amendments or fertilizer.
Once you know what type of soil you’re working with, you can begin tilling or amending it with compost or manure depending on your needs.
Weeding
To keep weeds out over the spring season, consider laying down a layer of newspaper or mulch overtop of freshly tilled soil before planting begins.
Time It Right
Timing also plays a role in successful spring gardening projects.
If possible, wait until all danger of frost has passed before sowing seeds or transplanting young plants from trays or containers into your garden beds.
To further ensure success with cool-weather crops like broccoli or peas start seeds indoors about six weeks prior to the last expected frost date for your location so they’ll be old enough to transplant outside after all danger of frost has passed.
Maintenance
Once everything is planted in your spring garden there’s still one main task left and that is caring for it.
Depending on what type of plants were chosen during planning stages this could involve watering diligently during dry spells (keeping an eye on new transplants that are extra sensitive), weeding regularly (especially in early stages while young roots are still establishing themselves), and fertilizing if needed throughout their growth cycle (usually once at planting time then again mid-season).
If certain varieties require additional steps specific instructions should be followed closely.
Happy Gardening!
