Spring checklist

As soil warms and animals kick into gear. This list is a starting point. Timing depends on your frost dates, climate and animals, so adjust with your county extension office.

• Check fences, gates and shelters for winter damage
• Review your zone, frost-date and soil-temperature notes from your extension office
• Plan or revisit your garden layout and seed order
• Look over animal housing, ventilation and bedding
• Schedule vet visits and any required testing with your vet

Guides for this season

• Farmers Market Vendor Requirements
• Intern and Apprentice Agreements for Farms
• Water Drainage and Runoff Responsibilities
• Flood Preparedness for Small Farms
• Cover Crop Termination Methods
• No-Till Gardening Basics
• Mulching Systems for Small Farms
• Green Manures and Soil Fertility
• Rain Barrel Safety and Maintenance
• Drip Irrigation Planning
• Drainage Solutions for Wet Areas
• Weed Identification for Homesteaders
• Integrated Weed Management
• Poisonous Plants for Livestock
• Invasive Species Control on Small Farms
• Soil Compaction Prevention
• Using Mulch to Conserve Water
• Managing Runoff from Barns and Pens
• Fertilizer Calculations for Small Areas
• Understanding N-P-K Labels
• Organic Fertilizer Options
• Bed Preparation for Vegetables
• Raised Bed Soil Mixes
• Container Soil Mixes
• Potting Mix vs. Garden Soil
• Wind Erosion Control
• Gravel Road Maintenance
• Planning a Vegetable Garden by Season
• Crop Selection for Small Spaces
• Raised Beds vs. In-Ground Gardens
• Container Gardening Basics
• Transplanting Seedlings Safely
• Hardening Off Seedlings
• Direct Sowing Basics
• Companion Planting: Evidence and Limits
• Trellising Vegetables
• Vertical Gardening
• Weed Control in Vegetable Gardens
• Fertilizing Vegetables by Stage
• Pea Growing Basics
• Root Crop Growing Basics
• Leafy Green Growing Basics
• Brassica Growing Basics
• Potato Growing Basics
• Salad Garden Planning
• Herb Garden Basics
• Season Extension with Row Cover
• Fruit Tree Planting Basics
• Berry Patch Basics
• Strawberry Growing Basics
• Bramble Growing Basics
• Grape Growing Basics
• Pollinator Gardens for Food Production
• Slug and Snail Control
• Row Cover for Pest Control
• Mushroom Growing Basics
• Forage Gardening for Small Farms
• Growing Culinary Herbs for Market
• Cut Flower Gardening Basics
• Flower Garden for Pollinators