Springtime Vegetable Planting

As a springtime snow gracefully fell on my garden beds today my mind drifted to the vegetables I had just planted.  The snow mixed with rain, was a welcome sight for my vegetable garden.  Some of you may be asking, what kind of vegetables can be planted with such bizarre weather occurrences?

Actually, there are quite a few cool season vegetables that can be planted right now.  Though, our last frost date is not until around May 15th, cool season vegetables can be planted in the garden now.  Cool season vegetables are ideally suited for the cool weather we are experiencing now.  The cool season vegetables are frost-tolerant and their seeds germinate in cool soil temperatures. 

Some of the vegetables that can be planted now, either by seed or transplants, are: broccoli, cauliflower,peas, lettuce, spinach, turnips, onions and cabbage.  These vegetables adore the cool weather and tend to bolt (produce a flower stalk prematurely) when the temperatures get too warm. 

With our short growing season here I like to get a jump on the growing season by either starting some plants by seed or buying transplants.  Broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower should be started indoors 4-6 weeks indoors, prior to the planting date.

It is not unusual to get a killing frost after planting your cool season vegetables, so if one is predicted provide them with some protection.  I use a number of different methods to protect my plants, from covering them with straw, plastic milk cartons or glass cloches ( bell jar). 

Protecting your plants as they are maturing will pay dividends when it is time to harvest and enjoy the wonderful fresh taste of your own home grown vegetables.  Growing your own vegetables not only saves you money, you know how they were grown and it provides you with a sense of self satisfaction.

 

Rich Young

Master Gardener