Is it Too Late to Start a Garden? | Leavitt Group News & Publications (2024)

FAQs

How late is too late to start a garden? ›

You can absolutely continue to garden after your first frost date in the fall or winter and then begin to plant before your last frost date in the late winter or spring. The only thing your first frost date tells you is when your warm season ends and your cool season begins.

Finding Your Time

As a general rule, you should plant hardy greens and cruciferous vegetables (cool weather crops) a few weeks before your final frost. If you start these crops in February or March, you'll likely be harvesting your own fresh veggies by April or May.

When done correctly, even the smallest backyard plot can produce copious amounts of fruits and vegetables and possibly even a significant saving to the grocery budget. However, it takes time and patience, and a small outlay of money to buy seeds, and tools, if you need them.

The Garden: The First Year, Plants Sleep, Second Year, They Creep & Third Year, They Leap! A popular adage in the gardening world but I think it is a worthwhile reminder for all homeowners. The first year after planting means that the plant may appear to be sleeping but really it is the roots that matter!

In truth, each season is different and garden planting dates have been even harder to peg down than the traditional wisdom would lead one to believe! I want to emphasize that it's not too late to plant a great garden, even in June and July.

Planting a Late-Season Garden

There are many crops you can plant well into summer (as late as mid-late August) and still harvest a sizable amount of food.

As a general rule, put tall veggies toward the back of the bed, mid-sized ones in the middle, and smaller plants in the front or as a border. Consider adding pollinator plants to attract beneficial insects that can not only help you get a better harvest, but will also prey on garden pests.

Do not disturb containers, fountains, statuaries or water features. No playing or standing on fountains, statuaries and in water features. Do not climb trees or rocks. Do not feed animals, birds or fishes. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

What is the first thing a gardener sets in a garden? ›

The first thing a gardener typically puts in the garden is soil or a growing medium. The quality and composition of the soil are essential for plant health and growth. Gardeners may prepare the soil by amending it with compost, organic matter, or other nutrients to improve its fertility and structure.

If you calculate the money saved from theropy, then, yes vegetables that are grown are cheaper. But you also need to take into consideration that the food you grow is healthier (I use only organic fertilizer) and tastes better.

Saving Money with a Garden

If you keep gardening year after year, you will really see that gardening is worth it financially. If you just grow things for one year, then it may not be worth your time or money to set up a garden. I do think that growing a garden is great for your body and mind, not just your wallet.

You can, of course, start simply for a couple hundred dollars, or you can invest more significantly with a few thousand. If you're DIY'ing your garden installation, expect to spend anywhere from $25 to $50 per square foot of garden space for wood raised beds. Stone, brick, and steel will be more expensive.

While you can plant a late planting to the first frost date, it's always best to allow as much growing time as possible. If you missed the spring planting, then calculate which vegetables you can grow now and still have a harvest before the first frost.

Learning the correct vegetables and herbs to plant in July can help you extend the harvest season into fall. Despite common perception, July is not too late to plant new seeds or young transplants—it all depends on finding the right species that can grow to maturity before the first frost date in your region.

If you didn't find time to plant a garden this spring, don't fret. It's not too late to plant a vegetable garden. Gardeners can plant vegetables in July and August for a fall harvest.