Tender crops may be started earlier in spring if a gardening area slopes so as to cause light night drainage winds which are a frost preventative. South-sloping terrain generally warms more quickly in spring and may be less susceptible to frost; these same conditions, and sunny locations, will give the warmest soil in spring which aids seed germination and contributes toward early garden development. Natural large water bodies of the high plains and mountain sections have close-by climates which may be mild. Gardening can be carried on in these areas which may not be possible a few miles away.

Some gardener modification of the local climate may be practiced to prevent frost and to make water available to plants. Sprinkling crops in the spring is an effective way to prevent night frosts. Using hot caps or other cover, or down-the-row irrigation, can give some protective warmth. If a season is known to be a little too short for a crop, the plant may be started in a greenhouse, then put in the garden. These cultural practices for extending the growing season can be effective for several different fruits and vegetables.

Crops requiring more moisture than Supplied naturally in the region may be grown by careful mulching and fine cultivation of the soil to conserve available soil moisture. Plants started at the earliest possible date in spring may produce a crop with natural moisture before the full strength of the summer's drought. Irrigation is, of course, the best way to produce a crop in a dry area. In most parts of the Northwest which have little summer precipitation, streams provide a good water source, or wells of adequate capacity can be dug.

The Pacific northwest area has grayish-brown soils that are leached by the abundant winter rains. These require some additives at times to give the best garden production.

Eastern Oregon, southern Idaho and Utah have extensive areas of grayish soils of the and West with some alluvial soils. This soil calls for much irrigating. Northern Idaho, western Montana, and much of Wyoming and Colorado have variations of the gray soils of the and West and the brown soils of the semiarid grasslands. Soils of the mountain slopes may be thin and also leached by abundant rainfall. Valleys and creek bottoms are usually most productive.

The high tablelands and foothills of eastern Montana, eastern Wyoming and eastern Colorado, as well as western North and South Dakota, western Nebraska and western Kansas, have brown soils of semiarid grasslands. There are some poorly formed and underdeveloped soils. The brown soils are quite productive with the application of water and with good cultural practices.

The Great Plains area of the eastern Dakotas, Minnesota, eastern Nebraska and Kansas have dark prairie soils. These are generally fine soils and some are nearly black. Drainage must be assured in the black soils for good production. This area produces well with natural precipitation, but some irrigating may help.

Transplanted seedlings of frost-sensitive crops must be kept warm during chillier weeks of planting season. One way to do this is by using hot caps, which are warmed by sun. They can be commercial types, as in top photo, or home-made, as seen by use of paper bags in lower photo.

Paper bags