Spring means new life—and new harvest. What will you grow?
written by MAKENNA SPANGLER
With the weather warming, it’s time to start planning our gardens, but not everyone has a green thumb. So here are some tips and tricks to ensure your garden produces the cream of the crop.
Preparing
One of the most important aspects of your garden is the soil. Plants grow from the ground up, so it’s important to have soil that provides the plants with the nutrients necessary for healthy and progressive growth. One way to accomplish this is through soil testing. The WVU Soil Testing Laboratory offers free basic soil testing to West Virginia residents and provides soil, fertilizer, and crop recommendations based on the test results.
Planning
Whether it’s seasonal crops and seeds or a few transplants, starting your garden at the right time is critical to its success. The WVU Extension Garden Calendar is a tremendous asset in this endeavor. It features planned-out daily maintenance tasks for sowing and harvesting crops, removing the guesswork and pressure on the part of the gardener. Visit your local Extension office or extension.wvu.edu for the 2023 Garden Calendar.
Planting
West Virginia’s mountainous terrain is spread over multiple hardiness zones ranging from 5a to 7a. Knowing which zone your garden lies in can provide assistance in choosing which plants to select based on average climate and conditions. But regardless of the zone, West Virginia is the ideal location for many spring crops. Lettuce and onions can be planted beginning in early April and, with succession planting every two weeks, will yield all season long. Many versatile vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and turnips can also be planted throughout the month of April for a summer harvest.
READ MORE ARTICLES FROM WV LIVING’S SPRING 2023 ISSUE
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