Spring will soon be here! You want to be ready to start planting as soon as the warm weather comes and get ready for a season of growth. Whether you are an experienced gardener or just getting your feet wet, planting for the season can be an enjoyable and fulfilling experience. Here is a guide with tips on how to get started. Use the Odla Mer Customized Planting Calendar to help you plan your planting season.

Choose Your Seeds Wisely

The first step in planting for the season is to select your seeds. Choose seeds that are suited to your climate and soil type, as well as any specific needs like sun exposure, water requirements, and temperature preferences. If you’re not sure what kind of seeds you need, consult with a local nursery or gardening center or reach out to Odla Mer plant experts and the community for advice.

Prepare Your Soil

Once you’ve chosen your seeds, it’s time to prepare your soil.

For indoor sowing

We recommend you go for a good seed-started soil mix that is lightweight, moisture-retaining soil that is also well-draining. Before sowing, most of the seeds prefer that the soil is evenly moist. You should place the soil in a large bowl, sprinkle it with water, and mix to moisten it evenly. Then sow the seeds based on the direction from your seed packet or Odla Mer premium sowing tips.

For outdoor sowing

Make sure you turn over your soil so it is free from debris and weeds before you plant, and add compost or manure if needed to enrich it further. It is very important to feed the soil rather than the plant.

Soil preparation will give your plants the best chance at survival once they are planted. It is also important to check the pH level of your soil so that it is balanced; this will ensure that nutrients are available for your plants throughout their growing period.

Hardening-off

Hardening, or "hardening off," is the process of allowing a plant that has been grown in a secure indoor or greenhouse environment to the harsh outdoor conditions of fluctuating spring temperatures, wind, and full sun exposure. A gradual introduction of these outdoor conditions will cause the plant growth to become much firmer and harder. They will accumulate carbohydrates, trigger more root development, reduce the amount of freeze-prone water in the plant, and thicken its cell walls.

Transplanting or sowing directly outdoors

Now that your soil is prepped, it’s time to plant outside! If you have sown indoors, make sure that you have hardened off the plant before the planting day. Odla Mer planting calendar indicates which plants need hardening off and when to do it. Depending on the plants, the hardening period is from 1-3 weeks.

Make sure each seed has enough space between them when placing them in the ground, as overcrowding can lead to stunted growth. Usually, the seed packets indicate the planting distance required between the different plants for good growth.

Water regularly after planting so that the seeds don’t dry out before they have had a chance to sprout—generally speaking, soaking every 2-3 days should be enough during the early spring months. Finally, keep an eye on pests or other issues such as disease throughout their growing process; addressing these issues quickly can make all the difference between success and failure when it comes to gardening! As a precautionary method, it is recommended to cover the seeds or young plants with nets or hoops.

Planting for the season can become overwhelming with the planning and research needed to identify the right kind of plants for your own garden's environment. With the help of the Odla Mer planting calendar, we make planning and caring for your plants very easy.

Odla Mer continuously gives you tips about soil, plants and smart alerts on the regular maintenance required throughout the growing period so you can look forward to a successful harvest in the fall!

Happy planting!

Image and article sources:

Images from Unsplash (photo by Tom Jur) and Canva

Link to information about Hardening-off

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