If you grow your own plants from seed…

• Review current seed stock and place all necessary replacement orders well in advance of your planned seed starting date.

• If you have a seed wish list, review and place all necessary orders to ensure timely delivery ahead of your planned seed starting date.

• Establish the dates of the last expected spring frost and first expected fall frost for your location. The time between these two dates determines the length of your frost-free period. This timeframe is crucial for deciding:

• When to safely plant out tender starts (like basil or cucumbers).

• Whether you have sufficient time to fully mature long-season, heat-loving crops (such as tomatoes, peppers and beans) before the first killing frost of fall.

Check out my blog post for more information: https://www.tigreblumeinthegarden.com/blog-posts/stop-guessing-grow-what-works-the-ultimate-hardiness-zone-guide

If you plan to sow seeds indoors due to your cooler climate…

• Create a seed starting schedule now. Develop a schedule that ensures your seedlings are the correct size for transplanting. To do this, calculate the target start date for each weekly milestone (e.g., 12 weeks before your last frost, 10 weeks before your last frost, etc.) by counting backward from your average last spring frost date.

Check out my Seed Starting Calendar Template (see snippet below) if you’re looking for a very simple way to map out when you should start your seeds indoors.

This automated template allows you to map out your entire spring/summer garden - from the earliest slow-growers like onions and celery to the heat-lovers you sow directly into the soil.

To use the template, find your Average Last Frost Date (e.g., April 15th) by doing a Google Search and enter this date into last frost date field on the template. The specific dates for each weekly milestone (e.g., 16 weeks, 10 weeks, etc.) are automatically calculated based on the last frost date. You can print and affix it next to your seed starting area for quick reference.

If you’d like to download my Free Seed Starting Calendar Template, sign-up below and join the “TigreBlume In The Garden” community to get your copy!

Additionally, check out my blog post for more tips on how to use this template: https://www.tigreblumeinthegarden.com/blog-posts/seed-starting-demystified.

• Conduct an inventory of all indoor seed starting supplies to determine if you need to purchase replacements or additional items. Focus on essential components, including:

• Seed Starting Mix

• Seed Starting Trays/Pots

• Grow Lights/Replacement Bulbs

• Plant Fertilizers

• Soil Amendments (e.g., vermiculite or perlite)

• Start determining which seeds you intend to start indoors and begin organizing them into categories (e.g., 12 weeks before last frost date, 10 weeks before last frost date, etc.) for quick and easy access.

  Check out my blog post for more tips on how to group your seeds by start date to make the seed start process more efficient: https://www.tigreblumeinthegarden.com/blog-posts/seed-starting-demystified.

If you typically source tubers or bulbs from online sellers for spring/summer planting, now is the time to start browsing.

• Preliminary Selection: Review online inventories and catalogs to decide what you want to plant in your space this spring or summer. Bookmark your favorites or start a preliminary shopping list.

• Plan Ahead for Sales: Many large online sellers begin running significant promotional sales and deals as early as January. Getting your purchase list ready now ensures a smoother online experience and allows you to capitalize on these early-season discounts when they become available.