1. Start seeds indoors.

By starting annuals and perennials from seed indoors, you will you have big, healthy transplants ready for the garden when the weather warms up. And you'll get to experience spring in the dead of winter, indoors.

2. Choose cold-tolerant varieties
Choosing the right plant varieties can make a significant difference, because some varieties are specially suited to early- or late-season production. There are some varieties of broccoli, for instance, that thrive in cold spring soils, but go to seed quickly once warm weather arrives. There are other varieties that will tolerate heat, and still others that thrive in the low light conditions and cold temperatures of late fall. You can find descriptions of heat and cold tolerant varieties in most seed catalogs.

3. Take advantage of microclimates
Not all parts of your yard and garden are created equal. Depending on a variety of factors, like sun and wind, parts of your yard will be much warmer than others. When you are choosing a location for your early spring garden, look for an area that is protected from wind and gets plenty of sunshine.

Avoid areas that are at the bottom of a slope because cold air sinks. The ideal location is high on a gentle slope that faces south, southeast and is protected from cold, drying wind. If there's a prevailing wind direction, putting up a fence on that side of the garden may be a good idea.

4. Warm the soil.
Cold soil can be even harder on young plants than cold air. If you protect your garden over the winter with a thick layer of mulch, be sure to pull the mulch off the planting beds in early spring to expose the soil to the sun. Covering cold spring soil with black plastic, such as IRT Mulch, can also boost soil temperature by several degrees. The plastic can be left on all season or removed prior to planting.

Raised beds are another way to warm the soil more quickly. We have also found that we are more manageable in our raised beds. 

5. Cover your plants.
Provide your plants with a sheltered growing environment that minimizes stress. When transplanting your seedlings, try to keep them covered with a horticultural fabric, cloches or cold frames for the first couple of weeks. Seedlings grown under the shelter of garden fabric or cloches will often put on twice as much growth as control plants.

Horticultural fabrics are made of spun polyester or polypropylene and are sun-, air-, and water-permeable, which means excess heat can escape and rainwater can pass through. Garden Quilt will protect plants to temperatures as low as 24 degrees F (if the soil is warmed first).

Individual plants can also be protected with Hot Caps, Solar Bells or Pop-Up Cloches. They will warm the soil and protect the plant. Cold Frames create a protected growing environment close to the ground. 

6. Install a greenhouse.
A greenhouse is the ultimate season-extending tool, enabling you to grow vegetables and flowers year round.

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