Preparing for Your 2025 Garden Season: How to Plan, Order Seeds, and Get Ready for Spring
As the cold weather lingers and the ground remains frozen, it might not feel like gardening season is anywhere near. However, now is the perfect time to start planning for your garden in 2025. If you’re like me, you’re already excited about the flowers, herbs, and vegetables that will soon fill your backyard, and you’re itching to get started. The good news is, although it’s still too early to start seeds here in Zone 5b, prepping and ordering seeds is one of the most exciting parts of the gardening journey.
In this blog post, I’m walking you through the process of choosing what to plant, ordering your seeds (I love Baker Creek | Rare Seeds), and getting ready for the upcoming season. While we won’t be starting our seeds indoors until March, now is the time to plan, research, and get everything ready for the busy months ahead.
Step 1: Start by Deciding What You Want to Grow
The first step in prepping for the 2025 garden season is deciding what to grow. This can be a little overwhelming, especially when there are so many options! But don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. Here’s how to narrow it down:
Consider Your Space
Take a walk around your yard or garden area. Do you have a large plot of land for vegetables? Maybe some sunny spots for flowers or herbs? The size of your garden space will help you determine what you can grow successfully. I started my garden on an apartment patio my very first time! No space is too small!
Vegetables: If you have a larger garden, you can plant a wide variety of vegetables. Popular choices in Zone 5b include tomatoes, peppers, squash, and beans.
Herbs: If you have limited space, consider growing herbs in containers or smaller garden beds. Basil, rosemary, and mint are great options.
Flowers: Perennials like tulips, lavender, and roses are a beautiful addition to any garden, especially in Zone 5b, where winters can be harsh.
Think About What You Eat or Love
Do you have a favorite vegetable that you can’t wait to harvest fresh from your garden? Maybe you want to try growing a particular variety of tomatoes or try your hand at heirloom vegetables. Make a list of what you’re most excited about planting. You can always experiment with new varieties or crops you’ve never grown before.
Consider Your Zone
Since I’m in Zone 5b, I know that my growing season starts later in spring, and I need to take frost dates into account. In Zone 5b, the last frost typically occurs in mid-to-late May, so I need to plan accordingly and make sure I’m ordering seeds that thrive in this climate. For flowers and vegetables, look for varieties that are suited to your zone and have a shorter growing season if you want to ensure success. If you don’t know what growing zone you’re in, Google it!
Step 2: Ordering Seeds – Why I Love Baker Creek | Rare Seeds
Once you’ve decided what you want to grow, it’s time to order your seeds. I’ve been using Baker Creek | Rare Seeds for years now, and I can’t recommend them enough. They offer an amazing selection of non-GMO, open-pollinated, and heirloom seeds that produce the most beautiful and delicious results. Whether you’re looking for vegetables, herbs, or flowers, they have something for everyone.
Catalog Options
Baker Creek offers two catalog options:
Free Catalog: If you’re new to gardening or just like flipping through pages, you can order a free catalog to be mailed to your door. It’s a beautiful print catalog with gorgeous photos of their seeds, which makes choosing varieties even more fun. You can order the free catalog directly from their website.
Full Inventory Catalog: This is my personal favorite! It’s available online and contains the entire inventory of seeds. I love being able to browse through everything they offer, making it easy to plan for the upcoming growing season. The online catalog has search features that allow you to find specific crops, varieties, or even seeds that are best suited to your growing zone.
Ordering Seeds
When you’re ready to order, keep these tips in mind:
Make a List: Write down the varieties you want to grow, and double-check to ensure they are suitable for your Zone 5b climate. Don’t forget to check if they need to be started indoors or can be direct-seeded.
Consider Special Varieties: Baker Creek specializes in rare and heirloom varieties, so this is the perfect opportunity to try something unique, like a rare tomato variety or a colorful flower mix. These seeds often offer the best flavors and higher yields.
Order Early: I always recommend ordering seeds early, especially if you’re eyeing popular varieties that might sell out. The earlier you order, the more time you’ll have to plan and prepare for starting your seeds indoors.
Step 3: Organize Your Seeds and Plan Your Garden Layout
Once your seeds arrive, it’s time to get organized! Here’s how I like to keep things tidy and plan for the upcoming season:
Create a Seed Inventory
I like to keep an inventory of the seeds I’ve ordered. I write down the varieties, the planting requirements, and any other notes (like whether they need to be started indoors or directly sown outside). This helps me stay on track and ensures I don’t forget about any seeds that need special attention. It also helps me to plan for following years down the road.
Plan Your Garden Layout
Take some time to sketch out your garden layout. If you’re growing in raised beds or containers, this is the time to decide what will go where. Consider factors like sun exposure, water needs, and how tall certain plants will grow. For example, I’ll place tall crops like tomatoes toward the back and shorter herbs like basil in the front so that the tall plants don’t shade the shorter plants and limit sun exposure.
Step 4: Prepping for Seed Starting (Coming in March)
While it’s still a bit too early to start seeds here in Zone 5b, now is the perfect time to prepare for the next step: starting your seeds indoors. Come back to the blog in March, when I’ll be sharing a detailed post on how to start seeds indoors for your 2025 garden season. We’ll cover topics like:
Choosing the right containers
Using grow lights or natural light
How to properly transplant seedlings
Tips for maintaining the right temperature and humidity
Stay tuned for my upcoming blog posts in on starting seeds indoors. Happy gardening prep!