Spring has sprung, and although we’ve seen some delayed frosts it is fast approaching the perfect time to start our gardens. The ground has been dug, the seeds have been acquired, and now we get to put in the love and effort to create the fruits, vegetables, and flowers that we love. Alabama is a great environment for gardening. Our sunny, humid climate provides a nourishing backdrop for a variety of green beings, but they still need an understanding gardener to help them grow into their best selves. Luckily for inspired planters in the state, it’s an easy process to learn.
Preparation
Plants have been growing on this earth since the beginning of time, true. But that doesn’t mean you don’t need any tools to help your garden grow. Make sure you have the soil, tools, early planting pots, and everything else necessary to growing a successful garden in Alabama. If you have dogs like my household does, you may even consider creating a makeshift fence to keep your loved animals away from trampling your loved plants.
Grow Seasons
Different seeds have various optimal planting times according to their plant type in the region you are gardening in. Many seeds are split into four different timetables in the continental United States based off the season changes in each area (typically we are the second earliest planting region). Herbs like basil are recommended for March through June in Alabama, while other plants like Lima Beans are suggested to wait until at least April. Typically these next few months into early summer will be the best time to plant your spring garden.
Sunlight
There are many spots around your yard that could make for a scenic garden, but are they also the optimal place for your future plant friends? Make sure that your garden is able to get at least 8 hours of sun each day. You can do this by observing which areas around your home are overly shaded during the morning or evening hours. This could come from your house itself blocking the sunlight, or other sunray obstacles such as trees.
What To Grow
There are all sorts of great options for plants to garden, but some will naturally do better in the Alabama climate! Sweet peppers, tomatoes, green beans, and bell peppers are a few examples of veggies that do great in the warmer late Spring weather. You can start by raising the seedlings in pots inside before transitioning them to the slighter harsher outdoor environment.
There are thousands of tips you could research before finishing your Alabama garden, but understanding the basics and learning by doing is the best way to begin. Good look and may your harvest be bountiful.
Cover image from Kampus Production
