Hey everyone! I'm a bit of a newbie when it comes to gardening, even though I had some experience growing up with my dad. My husband and I moved into our first home last year, and while I didn't really feel motivated to garden then, this year I'm ready to dive in! I got some gardening gear and a V-shaped planter for my birthday and I'm eager to start.
For those of you familiar with the Pacific Northwest, when do you usually start your seeds? I found out that the last frost date in my area is April 20th according to the Almanac, which feels a bit late to me. How early should I start my seeds indoors before moving them outside?
Also, I have two cats and a toddler running around, so keeping the plants indoors while they grow might be tricky. There's a window in my cold garage that gets some sun—would that work for the seedlings?
I'd appreciate any other tips you might have too. Thanks a bunch!
3 Answers
Hey there! Depending on where exactly you are in the PNW, like if you're in Portland or further north, different plants have different ideal starting times. I'm in zone 8b, and typically I start my peppers in mid to late February and tomatoes in early March. Right now, I'm also starting flowers like marigolds and coleus.
If you want to plant tomatoes outside, I usually do that in early to mid May, waiting until the weather warms up. You might have to buy some pepper starts from a nursery this year, but you should still be okay to start your tomatoes! If you’re setting up in your garage, consider getting some LED shop lights and maybe a heat mat to help them grow better. In my experience, they can be a bit slower without optimal conditions, but they will still grow! And you can definitely plant peas and green onions outside right now if you're west of the Cascades!
A window in the garage might not provide enough light for your seedlings to thrive. Make sure to check the seed packets for how many weeks before the last frost you should be planting. Peppers and tomatoes, in particular, do well with some bottom heat. You can start cold-tolerant veggies like carrots and lettuce a bit earlier, but for now, I recommend checking out your local nursery for starter plants. Even experienced gardeners like me sometimes buy starters instead of growing everything from seed. Don't be discouraged if things don’t go perfectly—gardening is all about learning from the experience!
Thanks for the info! I’ll find somewhere indoors that my daughter and cats can’t reach. I agree with getting starters, especially for tomatoes—my dad does that every year. I’ll watch some YouTube videos to get more insights on timing; I wasn’t sure if I should wait until after the frost to start.
If your last frost isn't until May, starting in April is totally fine! Just take the process slow at first, especially since it's your first year. When things warm up, explore local growers to see what plants catch your eye. Think about what you'd like to grow—flowers, veggies, or herbs—and buy a few within your budget to see what works for your space. Each year you can build up your gardening setup, like heat mats and grow lights. And remember, even if some plants don’t make it, that’s part of learning! Don’t give up; just keep having fun with it! Good luck!
Thank you so much for all the great advice! I got a lot of seeds and plants for my birthday, and I'm excited to start! I know it took my dad a while to settle into a routine too, so I’m not worried about things going wrong. I’m just thrilled to have a new hobby besides sourdough as a stay-at-home mom!
OMG, thank you so much! I just checked the map and I think I'm in zone 8a! I have a table in my garage, so I’m considering getting a heating mat and light. I bought one of those 72 pack starter pods, so this seems like a good option for me. Can't wait to get going on the peppers, tomatoes, and garlic chives I was gifted!