Garden Center at Wasilla #1304

It's time to start thinking of spring. We're here to help you prepare for sprouts poking up, warmer temperatures, and fragrant breezes. Planting seeds indoors near a sunny window means you'll be ready to transplant spring flowers and young veggie plants when the ground thaws and the frosts are through. You might even want to directly plant seeds into the earth.

Plant Hardiness Zones Explained
The first thing to learn when planting spring flowers, vegetables, and other seeds is your planting zone. Every location in the U.S. and its territories is sorted into blocks by climate. Find your zone on the USDA plant hardiness zone map and learn when to plant seeds.

For example, you could plant bell pepper seedlings outdoors in mid-March in Zone 10, but not until the end of May in Zone 4. The plants that'll thrive in your area are in your zone, and all the zones numbered less than that. In other words, a Zone 5 garden can support plants listed as Zones 1–5. The timeframe to direct sow outdoors in your garden is often around a month later than the indoor start date. Read your seed packet for details. If you start seeds a little later than recommended, it's not ideal, but it will even out as time passes.

Gardening in Your Growing Zone
Alaska has a range of growing zones, ranging from Zones 1 and 2 in the coldest regions, to slightly warmer Zones 3 and 4, to the areas on the coast that go all the way up to Zone 8. You’re not going to grow many veggies outside for very long and will need to resort to growing tables, grow lights, and greenhouses to supplement for the cold temperatures and low-angle or lack of sunlight. For the warmer coastal regions in Zones 5–8, consider starting your plants indoors between the middle of January and March. The heart of growing season is from May 15th through the middle of September, so get your indoor starts going on time. When you hit the ground running as soon as the weather warms enough, you can get the most out of those five sunny months.

If you’re planting outdoors, Zone 3 options include greens, root vegetables, and cruciferous veggies. Greenhouses let you expand your range to popular vegetables that need more sun and warmer temperatures, like bell peppers, green beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, and other veggies that usually require a Zone 4 or more. If possible, plant where you can get as much sun as possible on the southern side. Root vegetables and cole crops can go on the opposite side or northwest. There are many tricks to get the best results and yield from your garden, but they vary according to where you live in this vast state. Remember to check out spring flowers, too. For full details, look into specific tips tailored to your region, whether it’s sun-warmed mound gardens or plastic mulch.

Plant Seeds Outside With Direct Sow
Planting seeds with the direct sow method, right into the soil, is another option. There's less planning and tending than growing indoors. If you like to go with the flow, follow the instructions on your seed package and give it a try.

Prepare to deal with whatever hand nature deals you: You might have no germinating seeds. A critter could snack on the seedlings. All the seeds you plant in each hole may sprout, so you'll need to thin them out by only leaving the most robust sprouts. Bugs or garden pests might make a meal out of your seedlings before they take off. But if you're lucky, you'll get strong sprouts that are ready to grow all spring.

Start Seeds Indoors
If you're eager to get growing or would like more control in the care and feeding of seedlings, start your seeds indoors instead. In general, you can plant seeds indoors about a month before you can do it outside. Like direct sow, you push the seeds into the soil as directed on the seed packet, but that's where the similarities end.

You're responsible for giving them quality substitutes for rain and sunlight. Keep your seeds warm with heating mats and grow lights, water them carefully with a spray bottle or watering can, then thin them as they germinate in groups of three. Give them a boost with a gently blowing fan as they lengthen into sprouts if you'd like. Harden them off to get them used to outdoor conditions, then transplant them into your garden when they're big enough.

Transplant Young Plants Into Their New Homes
Carefully take your seedling out of the container. A good way to do this is to turn it sideways or upside-down and gently squeeze the plastic to break the seal. If your transplant grew in the garden, leave plenty of room around the stem and dig deeper than you think with your garden trowel. You don't want to damage the root system. Put the plant in the hole and ensure it's even with the surrounding soil.

Protect Your Garden With Mulch
Finish your garden bed with compost and mulch. Mulch keeps your soil from drying out and controls weeds. Compost enriches the soil so your garden can grow even better. It may help foster larger plants that bear more flowers and fruit. Mulch and compost can be purchased in-store or created at home. The next time you're looking for "mulch near me," stop by the Garden Center to get the perfect amount.

Greet the Spring
Late winter into early spring is an exciting time in the world of gardening. Don't miss a minute of growing season. Prepare to fertilize your lawn, plan your garden and landscaping, and browse our garden center pages to find inspiration on which spring flowers to plant when the weather warms. Shop for the soil, fertilizer, and seeds you need in the aisles of your Wasilla Garden Center, online, or on our mobile app. Let's get growing together.