While many gardeners in the Rogue Valley treat Mother’s Day as the traditional start of planting season, experts say waiting until May can mean missing a prime growing window.

Master Gardener Lynn Kunstman said the Mother’s Day guideline applies mainly to warm-season crops such as tomatoes and peppers, which cannot tolerate frost. March, however, falls within the shoulder season, when many cold-hardy vegetables grow well.

“Broccoli, Brussels sprouts ... cabbage, collard greens, kale — all of those are very, very cold resistant,” Kunstman says. Many of these plants originate in Northern Europe and prefer cooler temperatures. If planted too late, they can "bolt," or go to seed, when summer heat arrives.

Gardeners who missed the traditional fall window for planting garlic may still have a chance if they act quickly.

“If you’re going to do it, I would do it right away,” Kunstman said, adding that even missed bulbs from last year can be separated and replanted.

March is also a good time to direct-seed vegetables such as carrots, peas, radishes and spinach.

Kunstman said a successful spring garden also depends on encouraging beneficial insects. Rather than relying on sprays, she recommends planting “insectary plants” such as sweet alyssum and dill alongside vegetables. The flowers attract predatory insects that help control pests.

“All the good guys will come if you provide them some flower forage in your garden,” Kunstman said.

For those looking to expand their knowledge or pick up starts, the Jackson County Master Gardener Spring Fair returns to the Expo on May 2nd and 3rd.

• Geoffrey Riley, host
• Lynn Kunstman, master gardener

• The Jackson County Master Gardener Spring Fair will take place May 2–3 at the Jackson County Expo in Central Point.

Geoffrey Riley and Master Gardener Lynn Kunstman offer insights for gardeners in their button-up-for-winter segment. They discuss the final harvest of food gardens before frost sets in, how to get a garden ready for winter, and how to make moves now that give you, and the environment, more biodiversity later.

Geoffrey Riley and Master Gardener Lynn Kunstman offer insights for gardeners in their button-up-for-winter segment. They discuss the final harvest of food gardens before frost sets in, how to get a garden ready for winter, and how to make moves now that give you, and the environment, more biodiversity later.

Geoffrey Riley and Master Gardener Lynn Kunstman talk about making the transition from summer crops to fall crops, and what kinds of soil amendments can help the health and productivity of your garden. Also, Jackson County Master Gardeners are hosting a Native Plant Sale on Sept. 27th.

Garden for Life co-hosts Geoffrey Riley and Lynn Kunstman talk about how to protect plants from the summer heat, while beginning to take in the harvest of the garden.

Co-hosts Geoffrey Riley and Lynn Kunstman talk about steps to improve soil quality WITHOUT tilling the garden, and how to encourage the good bugs to show up and eat the damaging bugs.

Garden for Life co-hosts Geoffrey Riley and Lynn Kunstman offer tips for gardening in early summer. This episode is all about tending to new plants that are starting to grow, and keeping an eye on things like soil temperature and good watering techniques.

Former Jefferson Exchange host Geoffrey Riley and Jackson County Master Gardener Lynn Kunstman discuss the 2025 Spring Garden Fair and late-spring gardening tips.

August started rather like July: hot, very hot. If you keep a garden, do not be surprised if your plants respond to the heat by snoozing. It takes a lot of energy for a tomato plant to set fruit in really hot weather, just for one example. We take up other issues of gardening at this time of year, in a new edition of Garden for Life.

Grace Florjancic, who coordinates the Master Gardener program in Jackson County, returns for more answers to our questions about how to make things grow well, and what to do when they don't. The segment is recorded, but includes questions listeners sent previously. Get your question in now for the next segment, by dashing off a note to: [email protected].

We're right around the time of year when it's unlikely that a garden (at least in the Medford area) will be visited by frost overnight. Just the same, it may take a while for the soil to warm up. The insects require a bit less preheating, it turns out.

These and other gardening issues are part of our resumption of the Garden for Life podcast. Sitting in for Lynn Kunstman this time is Grace Florjancic, who is the Master Gardener training coordinator at Southern Oregon Research and Extension Center near Medford. We talk about things gardeners should consider doing as things warm up, and what they might have been doing a few weeks back.