7 Steps to Planning and Prepping Your Garden BEFORE the Snow is Even Gone!

I do realize that this blog is becoming fairly heavy with content regarding gardening and plants. Over time, I hope to even this out with more content involving DIY and home…. but… I have major spring fever so gardens are on my mind! Today, I’d like to share with you how I personally go about planning my gardens each year and the stuff I do before the snow is even gone! I will try to make this as universal as possible, but keep in mind that I live in Minnesota, so timing here is different than it may be in your location. Some of you also might be unlucky and never have to worry about snow… personally, I need my four seasons! 🙂

1. Make a Wish List

Sometime after Christmas, I like to make a list of everything I’d like to grow this year. I include new perennials I want to try, annual flowers to seed, and fruits/vegetables! There is no budget when it comes to making my wish list. Anything and everything I could ever dream of growing goes on that list.

2. Research Grow-ability

It is important to check out if what you want to grow… can actually be grown in the area that you live. I like to check out the websites and catalogs of local greenhouses in my area as they generally have a pretty good idea of what can be grown in my region. Major bonus: This allows me to see plants that I may not have even thought of that I can add to my list. Cross off any plants that you learn that you are unable to grow in your area… OR… if you are like me you can check to see if they can be grown indoors!

3. Map Out Your Garden

Determine where everything will go. I like to consider the heights my plants will get to once they are fully grown to help determine this. Also consider sunshine. Some plants are full or part-sun, while others prefer shade. The majority of flowering plants seem to prefer part or full sun. This summer I am hoping to plant a garden in a shady spot near where our camper is parked, so I will keep you posted on how that goes and what I plant!

4. Determine What Needs To Be Started Indoors

Head to your local home and garden store or hardware shop and check out the seeds. On the back of the package, they will oftentimes say something like “start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost.” Pretty self explanatory… those should be started indoors or purchased as seedlings from a nursery. Feel free to purchase all or some of your seeds now. It’s okay for the world to know you are a crazy garden person! It’s cool… trust me! 🙂

In the past, I always purchased my annual flowers (must be planted every year) at the greenhouse. Last year was actually my first time attempting to start them from seeds at home. The greenhouses do a wonderful job, but if you are like me and love to have TONS of flowers in your yard, it can get very expensive very quickly. Ultimately, that is why I decided to try growing them from seeds. It is significantly less expensive but does require some time. The key is making sure to give the seedlings water and light. You can check out my seed-starting setup for this year here!

5. Plan When To Start Seeds and Follow That Schedule to Start Seeds

Once you have determined which seeds you need to start indoors, think or look back to when you were able to get your garden in the ground in the past. You could also check google for when the threat of frost is gone in your region. Then reference back to the packages and use those to determine when to plant what. Once that is determined, follow your schedule and plant your seeds so they will be healthy seedlings by the time you are ready to transplant outside! If you are choosing to use a greenhouse and buy seedlings directly, you can skip this step.

6. Create Signs For Garden (Optional)

For my vegetable and herb gardens, I like to make signs so I know what was planted where. This can be done by painting simple stakes, or even finding sticks around the yard that you can place packages on after planting. Painting the signs each year helps me get through the spring… especially when it’s nice out, but not quite nice enough out… Minnesotans understand haha!

7. Purchase Any Plants, Seedlings, or Seeds to Sow Directly

Once the weather starts to warm up and you are about ready to till your garden, head to the greenhouse or store and grab the rest of your seeds and/or seedlings. Take seedlings outside when you are able, but always bring in at night. Make sure to give them plenty of water. Then when you are able and the risk of frost has passed… get to work! 🙂