Last
week’s snow has melted away and it’s time to get back to gardening outside. The good
news is that there is a lot of moisture in this last snowfall, something we
really needed. So when the ground clears and dries up in the garden,
which vegetables can we plant from late March into April? We can plant many cool weather
vegetable seeds directly in the ground.
Beets, broccoli, cabbage, kale,
lettuce, peas, spinach, turnips like the cooler spring temperatures and can be
planted from seed now.
You can also plant broccoli, cabbage, kale and spinach from starts now, just be sure you harden
them off before you plant them.
Onions and garlic can also be planted now.
Onions are planted from seed, sets and plants.
Garlic is planted from
individual cloves. Potatoes should be planted later in April. Egg-sized seed
potatoes can be planted whole. Larger seed potatoes can be cut in half or
quartered and then planted.
Make sure you have at least one set of
"eyes" on each piece you plant. Always select certified seed
potatoes. Supermarket potatoes are treated to prevent them from sprouting. This
is the time to plant perennial vegetables, including rhubarb and asparagus.
Rhubarb and asparagus are available as bare-root crowns. Don't harvest rhubarb or asparagus during their
first season. This will allow the plant to establish. Rhubarb and asparagus can
produce for 10 years or more, so pick a spot in the garden where they won't be
disturbed for many seasons.
Before planting your seeds, starts or crowns, amend
your soil with compost, peat moss and/or coconut coir. Take the bags home, dump
into a pile, mix it all together and add
to your vegetable garden.
Add some fertilizer to your soil while you're
planting. Put some in the bottom of each row or planting hole, so the roots of
your new plants can grow into it.
While you're at it, plant some pansies and
violas for color.
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