Getting Your Garden Ready for Spring

You’ve waited patiently and now spring is almost here! Manitoba tradition holds that the May long weekend is the time to plant, but with spring coming around the corner, there are lots of things you can do to get your yard ready to grow.

If you haven’t got your seedlings ready yet, it’s a good time to get them started. The few extra weeks you gain by starting indoors can give your plants the advantage they need to thrive in Manitoba’s often all too brief summer season.

Check in on your compost. If you were composting all winter, your frozen scraps will have turned into a messy muck with the spring thaw. Turning it and adding some dried leaves will prevent rot, smells and keep away pests. If the pile has thawed but seems too dry, try turning it and adding water (and maybe more food scraps). If you weren’t adding new material over the winter, it is time to turn it and see if there is anything to harvest. Compost that is not ready yet may need to have a little water added.

If you don’t have a compost system, spring is an excellent time to start! Our composting program has lots of great information to help get you started, and by this time next year, you could have your own fertilizer ready for your garden!

Even if you aren’t starting your own garden this year, you can still participate in Manitoba’s bounty. This is a great time of year to sign up for a farm share! Community supported agriculture gives local farmers income security while providing you with quality local produce at a fair price. Don’t miss out on getting your basket of fresh local veggies all through the summer!