By Jennifer Jahn
NKyTribune staff writer
“It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold, when it is summer in the light and winter in the shade.” — Charles Dickens
Northern Kentucky residents know that feeling well. After months of winter, warmer days signal that gardening season is approaching. Before turning over soil or planting seeds, however, early spring is the ideal time to make a plan.
One of the first things gardeners should consider is their hardiness zone. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Northern Kentucky falls in Zone 6b. Knowing this matters because it helps gardeners choose perennials that will thrive locally, plan around frost dates, and avoid spending money on plants that may not survive the region’s climate.
Before heading outside with a shovel, gardeners may want to start with a few basic preparations:
• Take inventory of tools and supplies
• Make a list of crops or flowers to grow
• Sketch a garden layout
• Conduct a soil test, and add fertilizer and lime according to U.K. test result recommendations
When to plant
In Northern Kentucky, many experienced gardeners wait until after Mother’s Day to plant outdoors.
While spring temperatures can feel warm earlier in the season, the risk of frost can continue through late April or early May, which can damage or kill young plants.
That does not mean gardeners have to wait idly. Early spring offers several opportunities to prepare.
March
March is a good time to prune fruit trees, berry bushes, and other woody ornamentals. Gardeners can also repot houseplants if needed and give them fresh fertilizer. Early in the month, seeds for eggplant, peppers, and tomatoes can be started indoors.
April
April brings more outdoor activity. Annual flower seeds can be scattered in flower borders, and gardeners can begin tracking rainfall with a rain gauge. Most gardens need about one inch of rainfall per week from April through September.
Several cool-season crops can also be sown outdoors during this time, including asparagus, beets, carrots, Swiss chard, kohlrabi, leaf lettuce, mustard greens, parsnips, peas, radishes, spinach, and turnips.
By the second or third week of April, gardeners can begin hardening off frost-tender plants that were started indoors. This process gradually introduces vegetables, herbs, and flowers to outdoor conditions.
May
By May, attention turns to the final frost date. Checking the local forecast becomes important as gardeners prepare to move tender seedlings outdoors and begin planting in earnest.
What grows well in Northern Kentucky
Northern Kentucky has a growing season of roughly 180 days. While that is shorter than regions such as Southern California, which can see growing seasons of 270 days or more, local conditions still support a wide variety of plants.
Gardeners often find success with a mix of shrubs, flowers, and food crops.
Popular landscape plants include:
• Arborvitae
• Butterfly bush
• Catmint
• Elderberry
• Hosta
• Hydrangea
Vegetables and fruits commonly grown in the region include:
• Tomatoes
• Peppers
• Leafy greens
• Carrots
• Beans
• Berries
• Fruit trees
• Sweet potatoes
• Pumpkins
When choosing what to plant, many gardeners recommend focusing on crops that families will actually use in meals.
Planning, planting, and maintaining a garden can take time and effort, but many find the rewards worthwhile. Gardening provides physical activity, time outdoors, and an opportunity for families to work together. In many communities, home gardens also lead to sharing fresh produce with neighbors and strengthening local connections as the growing season begins.
One last reminder: Health experts say gardening is a great exercise for general good health.
For more grower resources, check out the University of Kentucky Department of Horticulture.