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May 13, 2026 - Late Spring Pros and Cons

Gardeners can reap some benefits from a late spring.

Every year, most gardeners are left guessing (and hoping) what the coming growing season will be like. Will it be hot and dry, cold and wet, or some combination of these factors? What it will likely never be is “normal”, which is a poorly defined, and rarely observed, phenomenon. In the opinion of horticulturist, Robert Spencer, the reality is that it is likely this absence of normal that makes gardening both challenging and interesting. Spencer says, “the unpredictability of seasons creates a scenario where you are constantly pushed to creatively problem-solve a constantly changing series of events, using a range of tools.” It’s fun.

In many cases, we are eager for spring, and the growing season, to start. However, much like this year, we are often gifted with a series of false starts before spring truly arrives, mostly on the normal schedule of late May.

Despite the frustration that comes from having a later start, there are advantages to starting a bit later. First of all, many of the early emerging pests can be knocked out of action by the same weather that temporarily benches us on the sidelines. These challenging spring times are actually very advantageous for Prairie gardeners, as it reduces the pest risk factors significantly. So, lean into this advantage, rather than being frustrated by it.

Second, there can be a significant amount of moisture that can arrive before we’ve planted, which can replenish dry and depleted soil, supplying much needed water to the new and developing plants. Spencer says, “wet soil can slow us down, but if we work with it, rather than against it, we can glean more benefits than negatives.” He suggests that you consider preparing your soil somewhat in the fall, or switching to a reduced tillage system, where finely rototilled soils are not common, but plants can be introduced to lightly disturbed soils. Incorporate more fall-seeded crops, or at least ensure that you remove some of the spring workload somewhat.

On top of the spring moisture is the potential for less to be available later on, so include more practices that capture, trap, or conserve the moisture that arrives in a later spring. Add organic mulches to the soil surface, build your soil organic matter up, and utilize a range of rooting depths to use up those deeper reserves.

A late spring is actually a major threat to our growing crops, especially things that are spring flowering, where we get one shot to get a crop started. So, encouraging things to stay a bit cooler can help things to stay dormant just a bit longer, avoiding waking up just to be frozen by the nefarious late spring frost. Much like our moisture conservation practices hold water, they also keep things cooler, which can slow the awakening of the crops.

A late spring start can certainly mean you have an overall shorter season. As such, we can (and probably must) implement practices that speed up in-season growth, to compensate. Use transplants for longer maturing crops, which you can start indoors some time before things smarten up outdoors. Use covers, either floating fabric, or clear plastic with supports, to warm the air around the crop, speeding up growth and regaining some of the lost time. This can work for annual and perennial crops, depending on their size. You can also use these techniques and tools in the fall, to protect a later maturing crop and stretch time at the back end of the season.

All crops will benefit from some additional TLC, regardless of when things start. A late start means you will definitely need to pay closer attention to what the crops need. Spencer says, “if things are late starting, take advantage of the extra time and use it for planning and preparing yourself. If you can’t be working, be planning.”

A late spring is something you cannot control, but you can find positives in it. So, plan, prepare for the worst, and then go out and be successful.