When gardeners start thinking about growing vegetables their first thoughts are beans, tomatoes and peppers. Seedlings of both peppers and tomatoes are tempting when we see them on the store shelves, but temperatures are still too low for these types of plants to do well. Take advantage of early spring weather and plant vegetables that grow better in cooler temperatures. Spring’s mild weather will keep most pests at bay, allowing vegetables to thrive with a lower risk of damage.
Just like the warm weather vegetables, most cool weather varieties are started from seed indoors. This is timed to put the seedlings into the garden about two months before the last frost arrives. Warm the soil with a plastic cover before you plant the seedlings, or use a cold frame to protect them from spring winds and late cold spells.
The cabbage family includes cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and kale, all of which produce white or yellow flowers when the plant goes to seed. They germinate in about a week and can be placed into a protected garden bed about a month before your last frost date. If the weather is still cool, add a row cover or cloche to the plants to keep them warm. In warm areas you can grow these vegetables in your fall garden too.
The allium family’s main members are onions, garlic, shallots, and leeks. Members of this family take a long time to mature. Onion and shallot sets can be put into the garden about a month before your last frost date, as well as seeded in the garden for a fall crop. They can also be planted in fall to emerge late winter for an early spring harvest.
There are numerous varieties of cool weather lettuce and mesclun mixes that thrive in spring gardens. Spicy mustards and colorful greens can all be started indoors about 2 months before the last frost. Put the seedlings out about a month before the last frost and cover with a cloth on cool nights. Seeds can also be sown for a longer harvest. Try planting some seeds in late summer too for a fall harvest.
Most of the cool weather vegetables can tolerate a light frost, but keep a cloth handy for sudden cold days and late frosts. Extending the season with cool weather vegetables will keep your dinner table full of fresh nutritious vegetables for at least a few weeks longer.
Originally posted at: Lafayette Real Estate News
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