Spring is the most exciting and most over-planted season in the garden. The trick is matching each crop to the right window so a late frost does not undo your enthusiasm.
Find your last frost date first
Everything keys off this single date. Look up the average last frost for your area and write it on the calendar. Most spring planting decisions are measured in weeks before or after that day.
Cool-season crops go out early
These plants actually prefer chilly soil and shrug off light frost. Direct sow them four to six weeks before your last frost date:
- Peas, spinach, and arugula
- Radishes and turnips
- Lettuce and other leafy greens
- Onion sets and potatoes
Start warm-season crops indoors
Tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant need a long, warm season, so give them a head start under a grow light six to eight weeks before the frost date. Do not rush them into cold ground; they will sulk and stall.
Harden off before transplanting
Seedlings raised indoors are tender. Over a week, set them outside for a few hours, then gradually longer, so they adjust to wind and sun. Skipping this step is the most common reason transplants collapse.
A simple rule of thumb
If you can sit comfortably on the soil, it is warm enough for warm-season crops. If the ground is still cold and damp, stick to greens and roots. Plant in waves, not all at once, and you will spread out both the work and the reward.