False Spring Is Over—Now the Real Work Begins
Spring showed up early this year—or at least it looked like it did.
February was warm. Sunny days with temperatures getting into the 80s. Things started to wake up. It felt like we might be in for an early season. A few brave plants even made an appearance, and it was tempting to get ahead of things.
Then March and April reminded us where we live—even if we never did get much snow.
Cold mornings, late frosts, and just enough uncertainty to make you regret getting a head start with seeds in the ground and a few vegetables in pots. After more than 20 years here, I should know better than to plant anything serious too early. In northern Nevada, that’s not unusual. Spring doesn’t arrive on schedule—it negotiates.
Now May is here, and it finally looks like the season might settle in. We’re starting to see stretches where overnight temperatures stay out of the freezing range.
So the question becomes: what should we be doing now?
What You Can Plant Now
Early May is when things begin to open up—but still with a bit of caution.
Vegetables
This is the time to start putting in your warm-season plants, especially if you’re willing to keep an eye on the weather:
- Tomatoes (still watch the nighttime lows)
- Peppers (same story—don’t rush too far ahead)
- Cucumbers and eggplant (cautiously)
- Zucchini and other squash
- Green beans
- Some even go for peas, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts—but I tend to skip these
Cooler-weather crops can still work if you’re just getting started:
- Lettuce
- Spinach
- Kale
- Radishes
I actually put some of these into pots back in March, and they’ve done fairly well since they handle cool weather pretty well. They won’t last long once the heat arrives, but they produce quickly for a few weeks before things really warm up.
Herbs
Herbs tend to be a bit more forgiving:
- Basil (now or very soon)
- Parsley
- Oregano
- Chives
- Thyme
- Dill (watch this one—it’s sensitive to cold)
Basil is the only one that really dislikes cold nights, so if temperatures dip, give it a little protection or bring it into the kitchen for a week or so..
Rosemary and sage aren’t included here since they typically stay in year after year and just need a bit of trimming in the spring.
As a general approach, consider planting herbs in two or three waves a couple of weeks apart. That way, everything doesn’t mature at once and you get a longer harvest window.
Flowers
This is where things get more fun—and where personal preference really comes into play.
- Petunias
- Pansies
- Violas
- Marigolds
- Geraniums
Most of these annuals will do well now and add instant color. Marigolds, zinnias, cosmos, and dahlias in particular are worth planting now if you want strong color later in the summer.
What Needs to Be Done
Even if you’re not planting everything yet, this is the time to get things ready.
- Soil preparation – loosen it up, add compost (which seems to be on sale everywhere right now)
- Fertilizing – give plants a good start
- Irrigation check – make sure everything actually works before you need it
- Mulching – helps retain moisture as things warm up
Water is always part of the equation here. Things dry out faster than you expect—especially with wind.
A Few Northern Nevada Realities
This is where local experience matters more than any planting guide.
- Late frost is still possible in early May (as we were reminded with the hard freeze in late April)
- Wind can do more damage than cold
- Dry air pulls moisture out of soil quickly
- What works one year may not work the next
In other words, don’t assume anything is settled just because the calendar says May. Check your watering and protect sensitive plants from strong winds.
A Practical Approach
If you want to be cautious—and most of us should be—you can stagger things a bit.
Plant some now.
Hold some back for a week or two.
That way, if the weather turns on you, you haven’t lost everything. And your harvest is spread out as well.
A Final Thought
Spring here isn’t a clean transition.
It’s a process.
Things start, stop, and start again. Some plants make it, some don’t. Some seeds germinate, some don’t, and some get picked up by birds. Early growth can be very tempting to rabbits and squirrels, so protecting your plantings with covers or fencing can make a difference.
Every year is a little different, so flexibility helps.
But this is the point where the season begins to feel real again.
The days are longer. The soil is warming up. And for the first time in a while, it feels like things might actually grow.
(Some of my early seeds, which I had mostly given up on, are finally starting to show signs of life.)
