Spring Planting Starter Guide from Woods Farmer Seed & Nursery

There are many ways to garden, and many types of plants to consider. This guide will focus on common landscaping and vegetable/herb options that work well for beginners, but you can always ask the experts at Woods Farmer Seed & Nursery for advice on any plant, sun exposure, soil amendments, etc.

Locally owned and operated for almost 70 years, Woods offers grass and lawn care, landscaping, fruit trees, tree & shrubs, vegetables, perennials, and annuals. They know the Central Minnesota growing environment and can help develop your vision into action steps and product recommendations.

But, for this guide, let's start with basic gardening ideas:

Choose Your Planting Space and Optimize Soil

If you've been thinking about gardening, you probably have a general idea about the space you want to use — traditional pots or raised garden beds that give you a little more control of soil conditions, or right into bare earth in your backyard.

If you’re filling containers or raised beds, soil prep can be as simple as opening bags of clean, screened potting soil and filling them up. Woods carries Ferti-lome Ultimate Ferti-lome potting soil, which is a great choice for starting your containers. For a brand-new garden using existing soil in your backyard, you'll want to add 4-6 inches of compost or top soil and tilling it into the existing soil, so you have loosened and enriched the top 12-18 inches. If you're simply re-planting a prior garden or landscaping bed, you can us 1-3 inches of compost or top soil.

If you have particularly clay-like soil or other special conditions, Woods' staff can offer specific recommendations for products and tools that will make the job easier. The goal is to provide nutrient-dense soil that is easy for roots to push through.

Consider Plants Great for Beginners

At the most basic level, plants just need sun, soil, and water, but like many things, the devil is in the details. Edible plants that are good for beginners include basil, tomatoes, squash, chives, lettuce, spinach, carrots, and rosemary. You also might consider hardy raspberries and blueberries.

If you're more interested in non-edible options, popular suggestions are hostas, coneflowers, daylilies, zinnias, or marigolds. Be sure to check the tag for sun and watering preferences and any other details you may want to consider.  When in doubt don’t be afraid to reach out to the staff at Woods.

Develop Your Timeline Based on Seed Starts and Seedling Transplants

In general, the outdoor growing season in Central Minnesota is May 17 to Sept. 21 — the estimated time between the last frost of spring and the first frost of fall. Woods can offers suggestions for when to plant different vegetables based on whether you are starting from seed or getting starter plants from their nursery. Some seeds you could start inside, while others can be sown directly into your garden soil.

After everything is planted, the hard parts are over, but you still will want to water appropriately, and fertilizer throughout the growing season. Woods' team is always happy to help at this stage, too, and before long, you'll be thinking about harvesting and cooking!

Get started today at Woods Farmer Seed & Nursery, 2801 First Street S, Waite Park, by calling (320) 252-5234, or by visiting woodsfarmerseed.com. It just might be the start of a new, rewarding hobby.