Get Planting in Vermont with a Visit to these Fabulous Garden Centers, Farms, and Markets

They say that Vermont has six months of winter and six months of bad sledding, but anyone who has lived and gardened through a Vermont summer knows that this is all in jest. There is simply no better place to get your hands dirty than in Vermont’s fertile valleys, rolling hills, and charming mountains. One thing Vermont gardeners can all agree on — if you’re going to plant a garden in Vermont you’ve got to do it fast and furiously.

At the Mountain Top Inn & Resort, we enjoy the allure of Vermont’s lush growing season. Our summers here are short and we have to make the most of them. We’d love to point you in the direction of some fabulous farms, nurseries, and markets where the flourishing veggies, flowers, herbs, and shrubs are all waiting at the ready for you to get them in the ground.

Frost Hill Farm Peony Nursery

Peonies love Vermont’s cold winters and cool spring temperatures. They have been grown in Vermont for hundreds of years, and individual plants will last a lifetime or longer if properly cared for. Frost Hill Farm in Belmont has been selling a huge selection (300 varieties) of potted peonies for more than 30 years. This year, it’s more important than ever to start your collection of unique peonies. 2015 will be the last year that potted plants are available. Starting in 2016, Frost Hill Farm will be expanding their cut-flower business at the expense of their potted plants.

Garden Time Greenhouses and Garden Center

Located just west of the Mountain Top Inn & Resort in Rutland, Vermont, Garden Time has a huge variety of annuals, perennials, vegetable starts, and house plants. Vermonters are often looking to max out their colorful flower beds with bright and long-lasting annuals. Favorites include tall “state fair” zinnias, lush and prolific snapdragons, and cheerful impatiens to brighten up every shady corner.

Vermont Farmer’s Market

Actually three markets, two in Rutland and one in Fair Haven. You can visit the Rutland City Market on Saturday mornings or Wednesday afternoons. The Fair Haven market is held on Friday afternoons. Of course you will find all the Vermont goodies that you know and love — veggies, fruits, eggs, cheese, meats, and bread, but the Vermont Farmer’s Market is also your one stop shop for unique Vermont-grown plants. Farmers from all over central Vermont travel to market with beautiful veggie starts, perennials, annuals, and herbs, making your own garden projects more like delightful adventures.

If you want to make the most of our short Vermont summers, there’s no better way to do it than by getting your hands dirty on a warm and sunshiny day. Make every moment count with a trip to Vermont’s incredible farms, greenhouses, nurseries, and farmer’s markets for plants that will thrive in your Vermont garden and put a smile on your face.