So, you’ve decided to grow your own garden. If you live in Michigan here are some helpful hints. Happy gardening!
When to Plant a Michigan Garden
Michigan has a relatively short growing season. Because of this, certain vegetables do not do well in a Michigan garden grown from seed. For these vegetables, it is necessary to get a head start on the growing season by starting seeds indoors or purchasing and transplanting seedlings from garden centers to a Michigan garden. Start seeds indoors about 8 weeks prior to planting time. It is necessary to harden seedlings before planting them in a Michigan garden. To harden seedlings for successful planting in a Michigan garden, simply leave them outside near the garden location for a few days. This allows them to acclimate to their new environment before enduring the stress of transplanting.
Here is a timetable to help you plant a Michigan garden. In January order your seed catalogs.This can easily be accomplished by doing an Internet search for seed companies or looking at the ads in gardening magazines and sending for the catalogs. Asking for suggestions from friends who garden is also helpful. Why begin in January? It takes time to receive the catalogs, decide what vegetables to plant, plan out the garden, and browse the available catalogs. Order seeds in February or March. If you are buying seeds from retail stores or garden centers, these are usually available beginning in early April. Begin preparing your soil in late March or early April. You want the soil to be dry enough to work with, so wait until after the heavy spring rains have passed. Then give the soil enough time to dry out a little. Don’t make the mistake of planting when the weather turns nice. Michigan can have some very heavy frosts well into May. Plant by the expected last frost dates, not the weather.
What to Plant: Cool Season Vegetables in a Michigan Garden
Begin planting cool season vegetables in a Michigan garden in late April. Cool season vegetables include beets, broccoli, calendula, cabbage, cauliflower, carrots, chives, collards, kale, kohlrabi, head and leaf lettuce, mustard greens, onions, peas, potatoes, radishes, spinach, swiss chard, turnip greens, and turnips. Cool season vegetables require cool soil and air temperatures in order to germinate, grow, and reach maturity properly. They can also tolerate some frost, although not the heavy frost of an early Michigan spring. These vegetables can be sown directly into garden soil in April before the last frost date.
What to Plant: Warm Season Vegetables in a Michigan Garden
Begin planting warm season vegetables in a Michigan garden in late May, after the danger of frost has passed. Warm season vegetables require warm soil and air temperatures in order to germinate, grow, and reach maturity properly. Warm season vegetables include beans, cantaloupe, corn, cucumber, eggplant, okra, sweet and hot peppers, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, squash, tomatoes, and watermelon. The actual date of planting is different from year to year. Michigan weather is notoriously finicky in the spring. One year it may be safe to plant by Mother’s Day. The next year, you may not be able to safely plant until almost June. When choosing warm season vegetables, choose varieties that mature in 90-110 days or less. Most warm season vegetables do best in a Michigan garden when transplanted from seedlings.
Michigan Garden Planting Zones
Michigan contains four planting zones: zones 3, 4, 5, and 6. Your Michigan garden planting zone depends on the part of Michigan in which you are gardening. The planting zone that you are in will determine when you should begin your seeds, transplant seedlings outdoors, and what vegetable varieties you can successfully plant. Finding your zone is not difficult. Most seed catalogs have color coded maps that show planting zones. There are also many websites that show detailed planting zone maps of each state. There is a very nice map of Michigan planting zones at the Gardening Know How website. Planting zones are determined by the USDA by using the coldest winter temperatures an area experiences, not by the length of the growing season or summer temperatures.
Where to Plant a Michigan Garden
There are several things to take into consideration when planting a Michigan garden. Make sure your garden is located close to a water source. The soil needs to be safe and free from lead and other toxic substances. You can have your soil tested inexpensively if you are unsure of your garden soil’s safety. Plant your garden in a sunny level spot. A good rule of thumb is that a Michigan garden needs at least six hours of sunlight per day. Avoid low lying areas that could become water logged or swampy.
Maintenance of a Michigan Garden
Proper regular maintenance of a Michigan garden can ensure a successful vegetable crop. Certain vegetables such as carrots and radishes need to have their seedlings thinned after they sprout to increase the harvest. Weed your Michigan garden at least every third day. Your Michigan garden should be watered every day unless it has rained. It is best to water in the morning before the hottest part of the day. This allows the excess water to evaporate during the day. If you water in the evening, water may sit in the soil and can cause root rot and attract bugs and other pests. Mulching your Michigan garden can help to keep weeds in check and helps the soil retain moisture.
Be on the lookout for insects. If there are any signs of infestation don’t wait to act. Harmful insecticides do not have to be used. There are many natural and organic ways to get rid of pests. This link provides some great information about organic pest control. Proper maintenance of a Michigan garden (spacing, weeding, and fertilizing) can go a long way to preventing disease and pests. Fertilizing a Michigan garden is crucial to a successful crop. Granular or water soluble fertilizer will work equally well. A 15-15-15 or 20-20-20 fertilizer is a good all purpose choice for a Michigan garden. Either of these fertilizers will provide equal amounts of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. Miracle Grow makes a great line of fertilizers for a home vegetable garden.
Helpful Michigan Garden Websites
Home Vegetable Gardening
Michigan State University Extension: Gardening in Michigan
Main Street Seed & Supply Company: Planning & Starting Your Vegetable Garden
Organic Pest Control
I Love Plants
Recommended Michigan Garden Books
The Michigan Gardening Guide by Jerry Minnich
Guide to Michigan Vegetable Gardening by James A Fizzell
Companion: An Insider’s Guide to Gardening in the Great Lakes State by Rita C. Henehan
Sources
Michigan State University Extension: Gardening in Michigan
Main Street Seed & Supply Company: Planning & Starting Your Vegetable Garden
