For area newbies and garden beginners, use this Gardening in Asheville 101 guide to determine what and when to plant, best local nurseries, and special events to attend – from Asheville locals.
When Tom and I first moved to Western North Carolina (WNC), we had no idea where to start with our home vegetable garden. Although CT natives with Italian gardening grandparents (if you know, you know), we didn’t even attempt a garden with the Central Florida heat. Now, add in black bears, sinister bunnies, hungry deer, and bugs that swarm our mountain oasis. We see snails, slugs, and dog vomit slime. A pop-up hailstorm can be devastating.
It has taken a lot of trial and error (plus sweat and tears…and $$$), along with popped off flower tops and loads of dead things, to get a delicious harvest. Tom once said to me, “Isn’t gardening supposed to be fun and relaxing?” Sure, bro; sure.
This guide includes what we have learned over the years to help you start a garden in Asheville. ✨ These tips will not be for experienced gardening pros. ✨ All photos and experiences are our own from our home garden. 💜 Christine
Must-Know Basics To Start A Garden In Asheville
Have you ever arrived at a garden nursery, looked out over the plants, and suddenly realized you have no idea where to start? 🙋🏻♀️ There’s no one around to ask, and you find yourself frantically internet searching how, what, and when to plant in Asheville – but have no cell service because it’s the mountains.
If you are just getting started, these are the top things to know about gardening in Asheville:
- Hardiness Zones: North Carolina plant hardiness zones range from 5b to 8b. Asheville is Zone 7. Most local nurseries have plants clearly labeled for Zone 7. Other parts of Western North Carolina fall in Zones 5 and 6.
- What Is That Neon Slime?: It is easy to grow “dog vomit slime” (trust me, here); while not harmful, but quite funky-looking, this brightly colored mold tends to like moist mulch and leaf debris. It easily washes away with the hose. Your plants are not destroyed.
- How Bad Are The Bugs & Critters?: Don’t get me wrong. I love insects and nature, but they are plentiful, destroying herbs, flowers, and vegetables overnight. Depending on your gardening style and environmental values, consider ways to protect your plants. I moved my herbs to the top deck in a planter. Most flowers on the ground level won’t survive either with our critter population.
- When To Start: Because of random frosts – and we always seem to get a late frost in May – hail, and unpredictable mountain weather, I start gardening in Asheville early to mid-May. Think Mother’s Day. April outdoor planting is risky business.
- What To Plant: Tomatoes and squash are our easiest starter crops to grow, followed by eggplant and cucumbers.
- Watering: It’s easy to overwater as well as underwater. Watch those bottom leaves.
- More Help: Asheville GreenWorks will teach you about native, pollinator-friendly practices, plants, and certification, if that’s your jam.
Our Biggest Tip:
🐻 Leave the basement door unlocked for when your resident black bear sneaks up on you…
What Plants To Grow In Your Garden
While we live minutes from Downtown, I feel like Snow White. Just replace the apple with wine. Our yard is home to black bear families, bobcats, foxes, coyotes, raccoons, bunnies, snakes, and birds. We love it, but don’t let all that cuteness fool you; our garden is under constant threat.
If you are a beginner, I suggest trial and error. Our first year gardening in Asheville, I managed beefsteak, cherry, and plum tomatoes. The bunnies devoured our flowers (I gave up; only fruits and veggies now), and we moved herbs off the ground level – bugs!
These days, I’m going big with a variety of tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, eggplant, and (attempting) asparagus. We have beautiful rose bushes. I bought Purple Haze and Salvia deck planters for the hummingbirds. Our top-deck herb garden is filled with chives, fennel, cilantro, basil, and oregano. We’ve grown mint and dill, but you know how mint grows like a weed.
I love Daddy Pete’s Raised Bed Mix from Reems for topsoil. We also hired and highly recommend Totem Rocks and Landscaping, who redid what has now become our raised garden beds. They did all of our front yard landscaping, including plants, front door walkway, stone stairs to the backyard, and our garden walkway.
When & What To Start Outdoor Planting In Asheville
I highly recommend starting all outdoor gardening in early May, although others begin in late April. Our elevation is a bit higher than other parts of Asheville. Mother’s Day is a great reference. Please know I don’t start with indoor (or outdoor) seeds. Basic b* gardener right here.
A quick vegetable garden cheatsheet:
- Spring: tomatoes, eggplant, herbs, summer peas, roses, zucchini
- Late Spring into Late Summer: beans, squashes, pumpkins, cucumbers, gourds, sunflowers, peppers, carrots, beets, lettuces, radishes, turnips
- Fall into Early Winter: kale (late August), collards, garlic, onion, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, spinach
NC State has a thorough Asheville planting calendar here. I typically trust what is being sold at the local nurseries and go with the flow. This is for fun and juicy tomatoes.
Where To Buy Gardening Supplies, Plants, & Seeds
We have two favorite nurseries near Asheville, and we buy all of our gardening supplies from them:
- Reems Creek Nursery – Weaverville; 15-20 minutes by car; I most love them for flowers and rose bushes
- Painters Greenhouse – Old Fort; 40 minutes by car; they have the best and heartiest starter plants
Both have everything you need, including terrific native plants, annuals and perennials, trees, shrubs, seeds, flowers, planters, topsoil, fertilizers, mulch, and garden supplies. We suggest walking around before grabbing a cart and familiarizing yourself with the lay of the land. Staff members are extremely helpful, and both grow wildly busy on peak growing weekends.
I’ve also gotten replacement herbs and tomatoes at EarthFare, which were some of the best we’ve had.
Spend more time in these gorgeous mountain towns: I love Old Fort for mountain biking, Catawba Falls, and lunch at Hillman Beer. Seeker is a sweet coffee shop. Weaverville has so much to do, including quirky fun restaurants, Lake Louise, and hopping breweries.
Western North Carolina Gardening Events
These are just a few popular gardening events near Asheville for supplies, plants, tips, and fun:
- Growing in the Mountains (mid-April)
- Asheville Herb Festival (end of April)
- Asheville Botanical Gardens Native Plant Sale (May & September)
- Hendersonville Garden Jubilee (Memorial Day Weekend)
We also love Biltmore’s blooms, Asheville Botanical Gardens, and The NC Arboretum for inspiration.
If you are visiting Biltmore Estate for those gorgeous gardens, be sure to read my local guide as a passholder filled with the best things to do.
✨ Extra Budget-Friendly Gardening Tools
Every year, I find my Asheville garden getting bigger and bigger. I’m always ordering last-minute tools and trying new things, especially to reign in those tomatoes. While we buy almost all of our supplies locally, a few garden products I order online include:
- Plant Cages: I like these easy-to-build plant cages for tomatoes and eggplant. They are just the right size and sturdy. I also use stakes and trellises purchased locally. They seem to help “scare” off critters, too.
- Reusable Velcro Garden Ties: These ties are a lifesaver! I’ve used string, but I like how these cut, stick, hold up my plants, and re-stick for multiple uses.
- Cucumber Trellis For Raised Beds: We’ve modified the size of our cucumber trellis (also now used for asparagus), which was a pain in the butt. However, this trellis saved my cucumbers, and they started growing like wild. It’s not the most fun to put together (so many parts!), but it’s worth it for the price.
As a basic/simple gardener craving fruits, vegetables, and herbs, I hope this basic gardening guide helps get you started. I would love to know your gardening tips, favorite things to grow, and what you’d add in the comments.