Sow what?

There’s nothing more beautiful to bring to the table than fresh produce you’ve grown yourself!  If you’re an avid home gardener, you probably started receiving seed catalogues in January.  But it’s not too late to plan a Spring or Summer flower or vegetable garden for this year.

So how do you know what to sow and when to sow it?  Most of Virginia lies in the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6 or 7, with cooler sections in the western and northwestern areas of the Commonwealth, and warmer zones in the eastern coastal areas.  The plant hardiness zones indicate the typical date of the last Spring frost – so you don’t put any seeds in the soil or transplant plants too early.  See the new 2023 Virginia Hardiness Zone map to identify your area’s USDA hardiness zone.

As for what to plant – that’s the fun part!  You can choose your favorite fruits and vegetables, or try some new varieties.  The Virginia Cooperative Extension office in your county will have free information and resources to help you choose, with a lot of information published online.  Here’s a reference guide for recommended planting dates and amounts.  Here’s a no-paper-was-wasted catalogue from Southern Exposure Seed Exchange to start browsing!

For flowers, it’s recommended to choose native plants that will attract and serve pollinators like bees and butterflies, which you’ll need to pollinate your flowers and vegetables in order to be successful.  You can download free Native Plant Guides for your area of the state.  You can also download the Virginia Native Plant Society’s list of nurseries that sell native plants.

Whether you dig up a large area in your yard, have a small raised bed in a corner of a small yard, or plant up containers and pots on a sunny patio, planting a garden is good for you!   You’ll soak up some Vitamin D, which increases your calcium levels, benefiting your bones and immune system; it’s good movement that’s less boring than an exercise class; being outdoors provides stress relief, reducing depression and anxiety, as well as increasing happiness; and it helps you eat a healthier diet.  Involve kids of your own, neighborhood kids, or Scout groups, and all the benefits will apply to them too.

So get sowing, and make your backyard, potted plants, or community garden a place of beauty this season!