Gearing Up for Garden Season in Zone 5a

The snow is melting, the days are getting longer, and there’s a familiar itch to get my hands back in the dirt. Spring may still be teasing us with a few warm days even with the lasting snow, but in Zone 5b, this is the perfect time to start preparing for a successful garden season.

Dreaming and Planning

Every great garden starts with a plan. Before the soil is warm enough to plant, I like to grab a cup of tea, sit down with my seed catalogs, and map out what’s going where. December through the begging of March I dream of what I want to see in my garden. Crop rotation is important to keep the soil healthy, so I make sure I’m not planting tomatoes in the same spot as last year. Companion planting also plays a big role—pairing certain vegetables together can help deter pests and improve growth.

This year, I’m focusing on a mix of early-season greens, hardy root crops, and warm-weather favorites like tomatoes and peppers. Knowing our average last frost date falls in late -May, I can time my seed starts and direct sowings accordingly.

Seed Starting and Soil Prep

For those long-season crops, like tomatoes and peppers, I start seeds indoors under grow lights. It’s always exciting to see those tiny sprouts push through the soil, a sure sign that spring is on its way! Cold-hardy vegetables like spinach, radishes, and peas can be sown directly into the ground as soon as the soil is workable, so I keep an eye on the forecast and have my garden beds prepped and ready.

Soil is the heart of the garden, so before planting, I like to wake it up with a fresh layer of compost. If the ground is still too cold to work, I’ll test the soil to see if it needs any amendments—healthy soil makes for healthy plants!

Getting the Garden Ready

There’s something deeply satisfying about preparing the garden space for another season. Raised beds may need repairs, trellises need setting up, and fences need checking to keep the rabbits, deer, and those pesky ground squirrels out. I also take stock of my tools—sharpening pruners, checking hoses, and making sure my watering system is ready to go when the heat arrives.

The Excitement of a New Season

There’s no feeling quite like stepping into the garden on that first warm spring day, smelling the earth and imagining the months ahead—fresh produce, colorful flowers, and evenings spent harvesting dinner straight from the backyard. Each season is a new adventure, and no matter how much planning I do, the garden always has a few surprises in store.

Hopefully all this snow melts and we can start to dig into the garden soil soon.