Now’ the Time to Plant Cool Season Crops

Planting Cool Season Crops: A Spring Awakening 

April offers gardeners a unique opportunity to revive their gardens after the long winter. Planting cool season crops during this time is not only practical, but it also brings a sense of inspiration and renewal. By sowing these crops, gardeners jumpstart the growing season and create the promise of fresh produce that will soon grace their tables.  

From onions and potatoes to leafy greens, planting these crops signals the transition from winter dormancy to the vibrant growth of spring. By sowing these crops now, gardeners jumpstart the growing season and create the promise of fresh produce that will soon grace their tables. Their appearance serves as a reminder of the rewards that come from tending to a garden and encourages gardeners to embrace the new season with enthusiasm.  

Early April along the Front Range is one of those magical transition points in Colorado gardening. The soil is waking up, the sun angle is climbing, and the weather is… well, still unpredictable. But this is exactly when our most reliable cool‑season crops shine. While warm‑season vegetables are weeks away from planting, onions, potatoes, and salad greens are eager to get into the ground now. 

These crops don’t just tolerate cold—they prefer it. And planting them early sets you up for strong harvests long before summer heat arrives. 

Onions: 

Onions are among the first vegetables you can plant outdoors each spring. They shrug off frosty nights and need a long growing season to size up properly. Onion sets for simplicity and reliability while transplants offer earlier maturity 

Onions thrive in loose, well‑drained soil. Before planting, mix in some Earth Essentials Sheep, Peat and compost, add some humate to support moisture retention and nutrient availability. Sets should be planted 1–2 inches apart and plant shallow. For fertilizer, Ammonium Sulfate (21‑0‑0) is reliable, and perfect for leafy onion growth. 

 

Potatoes: A Cool‑Season Classic 

Potatoes are perfectly suited to early April planting. Soil temperatures around 45–50°F are ideal, and the tubers are unfazed by chilly nights underground. Prep your seed potatoes by cutting them into chunks with 1–2 eyes each. Next step is to let the pieces callus for 12 to 24 hours. 

While they callus over, take time to amend the soil with organic such as Earth Essentials Sheep, Peat and Compost. Place the pieces 8-12 inches apart in a trench of sufficient depth to allow 3-5 inches of soil cover. When shoots are 6-8 inches tall, mound soil around the plants leaving the top 3 inches exposed. Continue to hill soil over them as they grow to protect developing tubers from sunlight. 

Best overall fertilizer for potatoes Hi‑Yield Muriate of Potash (0‑0‑60). 

Salad Greens:  

If you want quick success in early spring, salad greens are the answer. They germinate in cool soil, grow fast, and taste better before the heat arrives. Now’s the time to sow looseleaf lettuces, Spinach, and Asian greens. Direct sow in shallow furrows and keep soil consistently moist for even germination. 

Transplants can be substituted for seeds; just be sure you harden them off for a few days before planting them in the garden. 

For spring greens like lettuce, spinach, kale, arugula, and Asian greens, the best fertilizers are nitrogen‑rich, gentle, and fast‑acting. Leafy crops don’t need high phosphorus or potassium — they want steady nitrogen for lush, tender growth. 

Planting onions, potatoes, and salad greens in early April is one of the most rewarding ways to kick off the gardening season. 

These crops thrive in cool weather, handle our weather swings, and give us a head start on fresh, homegrown harvests.