The freeze earlier in the week did not scare me as I did not do what I always want to do: put the plants out too early. It is tempting when we have such warm days in March and April to think May will be equally as kind.
For our neck of the woods, the frost date is May 15. It is still possible to have a frost after that date, but fortunately, it is unlikely. Once you have gardened for a few years, you realize that late date is necessary to ensure plants will not be subjected to temperatures they cannot tolerate.
That late date also allows the gardener to do all the things necessary to prepare for the season, like amending the soil, cleaning the tools, sharpening the tools, tackling weeds before they go to seed and creating a planting plan so you know where you want to put all the plants you started from seed that are taking up entirely too much space in your house. If you bought plants from your local nursery or greenhouse too early, youll be relieved to know that you can finally get them out of the back of your SUV and into the garden where they belong.
Now that the frost date is upon us, it is safe to plant nearly all vegetables and flowers in the garden. If you did not utilize your time wisely and create a garden plan, you should do so before putting your plants in the garden.
When creating a garden plan, keep in mind the final height of the plant. You dont want taller plants shading shorter ones that need as much light. The tall crops such as peas, beans and corn, should be planted on the north side of the vegetable garden. In this way they will not shade the rest of the vegetable crops. Consider trellising plants that grow up, like beans and squash, to allow for more room in your beds. In the center of the vegetable garden area, plant the medium-sized crops such as cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, tomatoes, squash, pumpkins and other medium-sized crops. The south end of the garden can be used for lower-growing plants, like onions, carrots, lettuce and radishes. Once you have established your plan, it is time to put plants in the garden or directly sow seeds.
I prefer to plant in raised beds because the soil warms quicker, stays warmer longer, provides better drainage and weeds are easier to maintain. Row covers are easy to use in a raised bed garden and that can extend your growing season by many weeks, help prevent insect damage and protect young plants from high winds while they are getting established. A raised bed garden also looks nice, and your neighbors will think you know what you are doing.
One last note on planning your garden: plant what you will eat or preserve for later use. Too often, novice gardeners plant too much and are left with trying to find friends or neighbors who will take the extras off their hands. If you like tomatoes, plant tomatoes, but be prepared to freeze or can, so you can enjoy summers flavor this winter. If you dont like broccoli, dont plant broccoli.
Wasting valuable garden space on vegetables you dont like makes little sense. Talk to friends and neighbors, too. Sometimes they might be planting something you dont have room to grow, and you might be planting something they dont have room to grow. Gardeners love the barter system. They may have invented it.
