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P.O. Box 266
1833 Park Lane
Burlington, WA 98233
Office: (360) 757-6053 / Fax: (360) 757-4143

Planting Guide

Protecting plantsWe may be facing six more weeks of winter, but now is the best time to start thinking about spring planting. There are a number of things that should be done in the winter to prepare your garden for planting this spring. Here is a quick guide to preparing for a successful planting season.

The first step to determining your planting season is to find your frost-free date. You can look up your frost-free date here: http://www.almanac.com/content/frost-chart-united-states. Remember that this is just a guideline and it is important to be prepared for a late frost. You can protect plants from late frost by covering them lightly with burlap or a garden cloth that is made to trap heat. Just remember to remove the coverings as soon as possible to allow sunlight to reach the plants.

Another great resource for information on gardening timeframes in your area is your local gardening club or a specialist at your seed store. If you are starting your plants from seed, you will want to start the seeds indoors six to eight weeks before the frost-free date for your region. That means many regions need to start planning and purchasing seeds mid or even early in the winter, while others can wait until early spring.

If you live in the Southern part of the country, you’ll have a cold weather season and a warm weather season. Northern areas will plant both types of plants at the same time, due to a shorter growing season.

Cool season vegetables include arugula, beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, collards, English peas, kale, lettuce, onions, potatoes, radish, spinach, Swiss chard and turnip. These vegetables need only about six hours of sun per day; some can even thrive in partial sun environments. They can be planted early in the season, but should be protected from late frost with a layer of newspaper or mulch, as needed.

Warm season vegetables should be planted after the last threat of frost. Warm season vegetables include beans, corn, cucumber, eggplant, melons, peppers, squash, tomatoes, pumpkin, and cantaloupe.

Make use of the winter months to plan your garden. Place seed orders at the appropriate time and build your greenhouse or garden fence. Place your garden in an area that gets at least six hours of sun per day, even better if it gets eight. Consider testing your soil to see if it needs to be enriched before planting. You can purchase a soil PH test kit at most Country Stores. You can also pick up planting tools such as a soaking hose, hoe, gloves, wheelbarrows and shovels, so you are prepared when it’s time to plant.

If you are new to vegetable gardening it is best to start small. It is tempting to begin with a very large garden, but remember that there is a learning curve with gardening. Once you’ve planted for a few years you’ll have a better idea of when, where and how much you need to plant for ideal results.

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