For a comprehensive guide of what to plant this spring see our Spring Planting Guide
Here in Zone 9 as soon as the clock strikes midnight on January 1st and the new year begins my thoughts shift from my winter garden to preparing for the spring garden. The spring garden in Zone 9 offers some of my favorite crops, so its time to start thinking ahead. While the winter is still in full effect for a month I start to get ready by preparing any non-used beds, composting and starting plants indoors.
Soil Prep
The single most important factor in having a successful garden is having good soil. Many areas in Zone 9 do not have good natural soil so we have to amend it and often times just replace it. The winter is the best time to get started on this.
In my raised beds I will work large amounts of finished compost into the top 6” of soil, add a few organic fertilizers (like bone meal and kelp) and cover the bed with a thick layer of mulch (I used dead, chopped leaves for mulch) All of this prep will allow that bed to be fertile in a few short weeks when the spring crops can be first planted.
Composting
Spring and summer crops require good soil with a lot of nutrients. Most crops, once established are fast growing and will suck the nutrients right out of the soil. Having a consistent source of compost will help keep nutrients under control.
The winter is when I compost more than any other time of year. There are many fallen leaves to use, and green sources of compost are readily available. Just make sure to keep the pile turned over frequently and sufficiently moist.
Starting Plants Indoors
January may be to early for many spring crops to be started indoors, but with a sunny window and a soil warmer; tomatoes and peppers can be started. Using flats with a soil warmer under it, I start peppers in mid January and tomatoes in late January. They will both be ready to go out early march!
For a comprehensive guide of what to plant this spring see our Spring Planting Guide
