04/01/2025
A huge Thanks to WFAE Charlotte Talks for inviting me to join the discussion and share insights on spring gardening! A replay will air tonight at 8pm.
For those who are wanting support in starting your spring garden, here are my 🌱 Top 10 Spring Gardening Tips:
~ Test Your Soil Before You Plant ~
Don’t guess—test. Use a basic soil test kit or work with your local extension office to get a soil test. Knowing your pH and nutrient levels gives you the edge for healthy, productive beds.
~ Compost Like a Boss ~
Enrich beds with 2-3 inches of compost. It feeds the soil, improves structure, and jumpstarts spring growth. Especially important for clay soils.
~ Start with Cold-Hardy Crops ~
Get an early harvest by planting greens like kale, arugula, choys, spinach, radishes, and beets—these thrive in cool soil.
~ Ready by 30 ~
Need a quick harvest win? Try these crops that are ready in 30 days or less: Radishes, Arugula, Mustard greens, Baby kale, Tatsoi, Spinach, Lettuce (cut-and-come-again types).
~ Mulch Early and Often ~
Suppress w**ds and lock in moisture with a thick layer of mulch—use straw, leaves saved from the fall, or aged wood chips in pathways and around plants.
~ Keep Tools Clean and Sharp ~
Disinfect pruners and sharpen your hoes and trowels. Clean tools mean healthier plants and less chance of disease spread.
~ Water Deep, Not Daily ~
Focus on deep watering early in the morning or late at evening 2–3 times a week. It trains roots to grow strong and go deep. Rain water is best.
~ Rotate Those Crops ~
Avoid planting the same family in the same spot each year to prevent soil-borne diseases and pest buildup.
~ Create Habitat for Pollinators
Include flowering herbs like thyme, mint, and dill early. Pollinators = better yields.
~Stay Ahead of W**ds ~
W**d weekly in spring. Catching them small saves hours later—and keeps nutrients focused on your crops. Hand plucking is ok, but Stirrup hoes will up your w**d removal game.
Bonus** for pest management - Plant strong-scented herbs like basil, thyme, mint, dill, and rosemary near crops that are susceptible to pests. Nasturtiums attract aphids and flea beetles—plant them around kale, cabbage, or squash to act as pest magnets.
🌱 Want to take your garden to the next level? Check out our Guide to Starting a Spring Vegetable Garden and get step-by-step tips straight from the farm 👉 https://www.deeprootscpsfarm.com/product/guide-to-starting-a-spring-vegetable-garden/53?cp=true&sa=false&sbp=false&q=true
Let’s grow something great together!
Whether you’re an experienced gardener or a beginner, this guide will provide you with valuable information on steps to start growing vegetables and herbs in a backyard garden this Spring. Includes a list of popular and easy vegetable and herbs to consider growing.Once ordered an email will be pro...
