LOUISVILLE, Ky. — It is the first full day of spring and with that means it might be time to get your gardening going.

Paula Henson with Above the Dirt Garden Shop says now is the time start your gardens. “So, right in the beginning of April, you can start planting your hearty perennials, your shrubs, your trees, your fruit trees. They can go in the ground as soon as it’s workable, which it is right now,” said Henson. 

There’s a common belief that you have to wait until Derby Day to start your garden. Henson tells us that’s not always the case.

“There is a red cabbage and all of these different types can go outside in your vegetable garden right now. Now you would want to wait for tomato plants and red peppers. That’s when Derby comes into play. That’s when you put those out because they are not frost tolerant. They are frost sensitive,” said Henson. 

And knowing when to plant is just as important as knowing when to water vegetables.

“It’s going to be every day. Once it gets really hot outside, you might be watering two or three times a day,” said Henson. 

With watering, it’s important to have proper drainage.

“A hanging basket like this, I’m going to deeply and meaningfully water it. Every time I water it all the way until it starts dripping out of the bottom,” said Henson. 

You might be tempted to take your house plants outside this spring. However, Henson says to wait until it is 50 degrees at night because most houseplants are considered tropical plants and need the warmth.