Ready, Set, Go! The planting season is on us. Well, the early planting season is beginning in my part of the world. It is still way to early to plant things like tomatoes and peppers outside. However, there are a number of early season crops to plant now.
Some plants like the warming days with chilly nights. We are still dropping into the lower 30’s with frost most nights. So finding the right plants that can handle those frosty mornings is important. Here is my list of plants that can handle the ‘still chilly’ night time temperatures.
Cool Season Garden Plants
- Broccoli, Cauliflower, Cabbage and Brussels Sprouts
- Spinach and Kale
- Peas, all varieties
- Lettuce
- Chard
- Root Vegetables: Potatoes, Carrots, Beets and Parsnips
- Radishes
- Onions
- Rhubarb (perennial)
- Asparagus (perennial)
- Dill and Cilantro (herbs)
If your soil temperature is above 40 degrees and your nighttime temps are not too far below freezing then you can get started. Most of these can be started from seeds. Some however will do better if you purchase them as starts. Those broccoli family vegetables and the onions will do best if you plant them as seedlings or bulbs in the case of onions.
Some gardeners will also use protective row covers over their early season crops. Especially if the temperatures will drop below the upper 20’s. For our garden we tend to wait until the temperatures are close to the freezing point and not too far below.
The nice thing about getting started early is that these cool season crops will be on their way out by the time you need to plant tomatoes, peppers and squash. So starting now to plant your garden will give you more room to grow a variety of crops later, even if your garden is not that large. If your garden beds are not ready for planting yet, just clear and prep one bed to get started with these cool season vegetables. You can also use containers, such as my salad bowls, to plant the spinach and lettuces. Here are the steps to getting your garden beds ready.
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3 Steps to Preparing your Garden Beds
- Dig up the ground. You want to loosen the soil and break up any chunks. Checking the pH level and moisture content is a good idea.
- Add a layer of compost or manure. Till this into your soil. You will want to do this several weeks before planting if you are using the manure. The manure needs time to break down. Otherwise it could burn the roots of your plants as they form.
- Water the soil before you plant. Make sure that your soil is holding water well. If it is not absorbing or it is draining too quickly you might need to add additional amendments such as peat moss to your soil.
Now you are ready to plant those cool weather crops. Getting an early start means vegetables will be on your table sooner.