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Most gardening articles and blogs are written for widespread usage. They do not go into specific times and dates for planting because the answer varies from location to location. But, I need to know when to plant MY garden. I need information specific to my location, my soil, and my weather conditions. I’ve found that there are a number of resources anyone can use to find this information. It’s free, easy to use, and location specific.
The first and easiest resource to use to determine when to plant my garden is through fruit, vegetable, or flower seed packets. All of them give average temperatures for planting, and many will also give planting dates by climate zone. The USDA publishes climate or temperature zones for the entire country. Look for the color coded map on the back of seed packets. Find your location within the climate zones to determine when to plant that particular fruit, flower, or vegetable.
In my case, I’m right on the edge between two climate zones. So, to get more specific information on when to plant my garden, I went to the county extension agent next. County Extension Agents are personnel who provide the general public with agricultural information. They are often a cooperative office developed by the state or county and a local college or university. County Extension Agents can not only provide you with specific planting information, they are a fount of useful knowledge regarding everything from local weather impact on crops to pests and diseases know to affect gardens in the area.
Finally, I’ve found that nothing beats personal experience when determining when to plant my garden. Sure, trial and error is going to result in some miscalculation. However, if you plan for unexpected weather changes, you can almost always salvage your crop. Invest in a roll of gardener’s plastic sheeting to use to cover your plants in the event of an unexpected frosty night. You can also purchase shade covers in the event of an unexpected heat spell. Keep in mind that most plants can handle a small temperature drop or rise outside the optimum growing conditions for a short time. It may set back the development of your plants, but probably won’t kill them.
There are a lot of resources available for your use when planting a garden. Use that information to create and execute your plans. Then use your personal experiences to alter, refine, and fine-tune your garden plan. Sure, you might lose a couple dollars worth of seeds if you miscalculate. But, the experience gained will give you the confidence to continue to grow and expand your gardening efforts.
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Author Bio Box: Patricia Wainwright
Get all the facts about When to Plant My Garden and gardening articles at GreenThumbArticles.com!
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