Annual Charity Event in the Botanical Haven: The Critical Test of Endurance and Fundraising

Cold Climate Gardening Survival Guide 🎉 Hey there, fellow gardeners! Let's talk about how to conquer the challenges of a cold climate garden, especially those tricky spring days. With a bit of ingenuity and these simple methods, you can extend your growing season and bring in a bountiful harvest 🥕🌽 FarmVille style... even if you're not in a sunny California!! ☔️🌨️

Run, Don’t Walk, to the Growing Season

Why put off till tomorrow what you can do today? Extending the growing season means a longer harvesting period, plus more time for those summer heatwaves to roll on by 🔥🌮. Gardeners in cold climates know, the earlier you start, the more you'll reap (and hopefully, eat!) at the end. Check out our spring indoor seed starting schedule and planting schedule to learn more about jumping on the gardening bandwagon ASAP 🤘🏽.

Embrace the Cold Spring Challenge, Y'all

Think holding off on planting till after the last frost is your safest bet? Think again! If you're feeling like a wildflower or a thorn bush and ready to rally for an early start, you're not alone. Here's why cold climate gardeners are all about the cold spring challenge 💘🌵:

Prolong the growing season: With just about 100 frost-free days, every little extra day counts! Covering plants from frost while they're small and young means they can establish themselves and grow strong before the first heatwave hits 🌞.
Avoid pest problems: Get a jumpstart before the bugs wake up and invade your garden, and you'll be one step ahead of the game 🦎🕷️.
Plant a fall garden: Who says you can't garden in the fall? Plus, many cold-weather crops actually prefer cooler temperatures! Think salad greens, peas, onions, and among the cabbage family 🥦🥔🧅.

Make Like a Local and Create Microclimates, Darling

So, you want to become a cold climate gardening expert like the locals, eh? Step one: utilize microclimates! Microclimates are just pockets of weather that differ from the surrounding area, and they're your secret weapon for creating nicer growing conditions for your plants 🌱. Head on over to our blog on Microclimates in a Northern Climate to learn more about cultivating your very own relaxing microclimatic retreat 🌴💆🏽‍♀️.

Frost Blankets: Your Trusted Co-Conspirator in Cheating Frost

Want to outsmart Mother Nature? Enter stage left: the frost blanket 🌾🌽🌺! These lightweight, easy to use blankets are chemical-free, easy to use, and can help protect your plants from those pesky spring frosts 🌫️. Here's your play-by-play for using frost blankets like a pro:

Lay the frost blanket over your plants while they're still young and growing, and leave it on till the threat of frost is gone for good.
You can also cut them into smaller pieces to cover individual plants 🧵🌿.
Frost blankets are versatile and can be used in greenhouses, cold frames, and even alongside glass jars to provide extra warmth and frost protection 🍒🌱.

Glass Jars: A Garden Gadget that'll Make You Say, "Oh, Snap!"

Glass jars? In the garden? Trust us, it works! These simple, inexpensive gadgets are excellent for starting seedlings, both inside and out. Here's how to make the most out of your glass jar garden experiment:

Choose a jar size according to your plant needs and cover it with the lid 🕵️‍♀️.
Place the jar where you'd like to start your seeds, ensuring there's adequate sunlight and good drainage ☀️🌱.
Ah-haa! Water your seeds and watch them pop up 🌱🌱🌱
Leave the jar on the plant till you see it's time to harden off your seedlings ☀️🌞

Put Your DIY Skills to the Test with Row Tunnels or Greenhouses

Get ready to roll up your sleeves and use those green-thumb skills to build a row tunnel or a greenhouse! These baby-makers will allow you to garden year-round, and they're great for spreading out those cold-weather crops and nasty frost problems 🏰🌱. Here's a quick rundown to help you on your way to creating fabulous new additions to your garden!

Row Tunnels:

Create your own greenhouse tunnel system using 1/2” PEX pipe that you cut into 7-foot lengths and a 1 1/2 foot long rebar to anchor them down 🔨🕳️.
Use boards and plastic to cover the pipes, or purchase fleece tunnel garden cloches 🌿🌵.
Be careful to leave the ends open to provide good air circulation (and avoid that suffocation feeling 😨).

Greenhouses:

Build a greenhouse using clear plastic (or other materials like glass or polycarbonate) that allows sunlight to reach your plants 🌱🌿.
Don't forget to add a heat exchanger with a simple car radiator to keep the greenhouse warm during those chilly nights 🌽🍅.

You can find a more detailed tutorial on our blog, so we won't get too deep in the greenhouse weeds 😴🌾.

Whew! That was a lot to take in, but we hope this guide has inspired you to get out there and shake things up in your garden 🌿🌵. Let us know your best tips for battling cold and frost in spring, and remember to share the green thumb love 🌱💞. Happy gardening, my friends! 🌞☀️🌸.

Mwah, xoxo! 💋💓

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Annual Charity Event in the Botanical Haven: The Critical Test of Endurance and Fundraising