Planting Time - Cold Weather Crops

If you're new to gardening you're surely excited to start planting. But it's good to know what and when to start sowing seeds and starts.

Many gardeners have already been working hard at their plots and there are little sprouts of green everywhere.

When it comes to vegetables there are some that grow best in the cooler weather of spring, commonly referred to as cold weather crops, and some that prefer the warmth of summer.

Here's a handy list of some plants and seeds you'll want to get in as soon as possible and some you should hold off on for a little bit yet.

Seeds and starts you can be planting now if you haven't already because they love, love, love the coolness of spring:

• lettuces, spinach, kale, swiss chard, collards, leeks, kohlrabi
• peas
• beets
• carrots
• radish
• turnips
• broccoli
• brussel sprouts
• cabbage
• cauliflower
• onions
• garlic
• shallots
• celery

The majority of the above can easily handle a light frost, although you might want to cover delicate seedlings on a night with a frost warning.

Newspaper, frost blankets (a white mesh material made specifically to protect plants from frost), plastic containers, etc. can be used. 

Although we've had some incredibly warm weather already, be patient with plants that require warm weather, such as:

• tomatoes
• peppers
• squashes
• melons
• cucumbers
• corn
• eggplants
• pumpkins
• green beans (see note below)

While they may grow and seem fine... cold nights could cause your plants to delay production or have decreased productions.

Most likely you've purchased some these plants already (and if you haven't you might want to seek them out as they will quickly sell out as warmer weather approaches), be sure to put them outside on nice days to start to harden them off (acclimate them to outside temperatures) prior to planting.  Warmer nights they can be left out, but if temperatures drop at night into the 40's and 50's you'll want to bring them inside (a garage is fine) to protect them.

Now, as for green beans.... technically, they are a warm weather crop. But you'll find most gardeners have already started sowing seeds to get a jump start (me included). Warm soil temperatures (60 or above) are needed to germinate most seeds... and with the warm weather bursts we've been having, these seeds are probably off and growing. Just be aware of the night time temperatures, if it's going to dip down into those 40-50's or they are calling for frost, be sure to cover the seedlings that have emerged.

Still not sure when to plant?  Read your seed packets or the handy tag that comes with the little pots of started plants for the best time to plant.

If instructions state to plant after danger of frost, you'll want to wait until at least mid to late May to put them in the ground.  Or take measures to keep them warm, such as planting under a frost blanket or plastic jugs (cut off the bottom, be sure to remove them or remove the cap on warm days to let heat escape).

Still not sure?  Visit other gardeners and don't be afraid to introduce yourself and ask for guidance. Remember we are a community garden and fostering relationships with other gardeners will ensure success for all as well as make the gardening experience even more gratifying.

Now get out there and plant, plant, plant!