When should I start a garden if I live in the northeast of America?

Donna: Oh! how wonderful to have a garden! Maybe these will help:

https://www.ufseeds.com/learning/planting-schedules/pennsylvania-vegetable-planting-calendar/

https://www.almanac.com/gardening/planting-calendar/PA

https://phsonline.org/learning/gardening/

I would start my seeds the end of January or February so they are a couple of inches by when it gets warm to put in the ground .

Hello!

Vegetables?

I am in zone 7 and outdoor Nursery plants are generally safe outside around mother’s day. Nursery plants are so much easier than seeds for a beginner at least vegetable wise.

I have two suggestions to offer for your consideration. Depending on how much you wish to plant and yield.

Although I have completed master gardener training, I use a patio planter. I have excellent yield of tomatoes and herbs. It is my personal choice not to plant directly in the soil and have to dedicate an area and fence that area to protect from roaming wildlife .

The other common garden bed is a raised bed planter. There are several recommended links here regarding design and functions.

Perhaps one might help you

https://growingagreenerworld.lpages.co/raisedbedguide/

installing raised vegetable beds, re suggestions for building sides.

https://piedmontmastergardeners.org/article/raised-beds/

http://web.extension.illinois.edu/dmp/eb284/entry_9875/

http://extension.oregonstate.edu/question-of-the-week/raised-bed-lumber-pressure-treated-safe

http://www.hort.vt.edu/HUMAN/pub426020d.html

As to your flower and shrub garden landscaping suggestions I would suggest a personal consultation with your specific planting zone sunlight and soil conditions in mind. Do you want color and blossoms or foliage? Do you want to encourage bee activity ( some of my family members are terrified of bees)

for the best local professional advice......

I would highly suggest contacting your local cooperative extension. These offices are manned by volunteer master gardeners on site there waiting to answer the communities questions that know your local situation quite well.

Master gardeners have plant sales, plant clinics and educational opportunities for residents in their local area.

Master gardeners are required to volunteer back designated hours ( plus continuing education) each year to maintain MG certification -this community outreach and education is their goal. I hope this helps!

Wait until the last frost has passed. Then till up the soil where your garden will be. You can use a pitch fork or a rototiller to accomplish this. Remove any weeds, rocks, branches, and break up any big clumps of dirt. Since this will be your first garden, I suggest adding sand and manure to the soil. Just open the bags and spread it out in the garden soil. The manure will help the plants take root and the sand will help with water retention. And, the last thing to do before planting is running a soaker hose back and forth in your garden. A soaker hose is really just a long hose with pin-prick holes down the entire length. It keeps your plants watered evenly. I could go on and on, but these are the basic steps to get a garden started. Good luck with yours.

Hi Donna - Hello to PA! I grew up in Waynesboro and lived in the Hershey area for years before moving to VA. This is the ultimate and super easy step-by-step guide to determine your plant hardiness zone, your frost dates, and also when to start planting indoors and outdoors. Plus lots of great resources. Hope this helps and happy gardening! Hugs, Holly

https://pinkfortitude.com/sow-and-plant-seeds/

PS - if you want a cute and easy DIY to get your seeds started, we start our seeds in egg cartons. You can get the tutorial here --> https://pinkfortitude.com/start-seeds-in-an-egg-carton/

Here's a post that might help - https://www.almanac.com/gardening/planting-calendar

We don't plant until the end of April on the North East Coast

You can start plants inside in the late winter. You can also have cold frames to protect plants from frost. I would go to a local nursery for advise in your area.

This post might help https://chascrazycreations.com/garden-101/