One of the more common head-scratchers for rookie gardeners is determining the best time to start planting seeds, which, unfortunately, doesn’t have a one-size-fits-all answer. There are several factors to consider to guarantee your garden thrives, like what you’re planting and the location in which you live.
This could be tricky for less experienced gardeners who aren’t familiar with the process. Even veteran gardeners run into obstacles when preparing their gardens for growing season. Regardless of your experience level, seeding doesn’t have to be a headache but rather a calming start to the prosperous garden of your dreams.
We spoke with Gene Caballero, landscaping expert and co-founder and CEO of lawn care company GreenPal, for tips on nailing down the perfect timing for seeding your garden. You might want to take notes.
When to Plant
Caballero first suggests deciphering your cool-weather plants from warm-weather plants so you can plant them accordingly. Although many crops can be grown year-round, some do best when planted at certain times.
For instance, lettuce, spinach, and broccoli are cool-season plants, meaning they should be planted indoors during late winter and early spring. Meanwhile, tomatoes, peppers, and basil are warm-season plants that should go in the ground six to eight weeks before the last frost.
Gardening experts from Gardening Know How agree that it’s crucial to ensure the type of crop you’re planting can withstand certain weather conditions. However, seeding indoors is beneficial as they typically grow faster than direct-sown plants.
Planting the seeds
Once you have your crops in order, you can move on to planting the seeds. In doing this, Caballero recommends using a well-draining seed mix, which allows any excess water to quickly drain away to avoid the soil becoming waterlogged and giving the plant room to breathe.
Many sites online, like The Seed Sage, offer tips on making your own seed-starting soil, but it can also be purchased in any garden center. Be sure not to skip this step, as your seedlings can seriously suffer from root rot and not germinate effectively due to excessive moisture.
It’s also important to note that you shouldn’t use dirt from your garden or that you have leftover, which popular outdoor supply store Sneade’s Ace Home Center stresses on its website, as it could give way to diseases or pests. Also, if planting in containers, they recommend filling them with soil about half from the top and gently packing them to remove air pockets.
Light and warmth
Lastly, providing light and warmth to your plants will allow them to blossom to their full capacity. Caballero suggests giving them 12 to 16 hours of daily light to set them on a path of healthy plant growth.
Although we’d love it if the sun shined this much every day, that’s not always the case, as the clouds do take over sometimes. Experts at Full Circle Farm recommend supplementing your seedlings with light for days when natural sunlight isn’t going to cut it.
This, coupled with ample warmth, is key because if your space is too cool or dark, your plant simply won’t grow. LED lights are suggested to establish the light and warmth your plant needs to flourish, as they best mimic natural sunlight.
Experts agree that determining the appropriate season for your plant’s growth is essential to making your garden thrive. Along with using the proper potting soil and providing plenty of light and warmth to your plant, there’s no reason you wouldn’t have a plethora of fresh crops in a few weeks’ time.
Take it from Caballero, who says, “Strong plants and better yields with vibrant gardens year-round result from following a well-planned planting schedule.”
