Because of their preference for certain temperatures, vegetables fall into two categories: cool season crops (for spring and fall) and warm season crops (for summer). Knowing when to plant is an important step in the success of your garden.
Warm season crops (sometimes called summer crops) include tomatoes, peppers, melons, eggplant, watermelon and corn. These crops tend to take longer to mature and while they can be planted in spring if they are protected from the cooler weather, they won’t thrive until the soil and air temperatures warm up.
Cool season crops will germinate in cold soil and mature in cooler weather and relatively short periods of daylight, which means they are perfect for planting in early spring. Cool season crops include Arugula, Lettuce, Spinach, Chard, Cabbage and Kale.
Many cool season crops can be sown as seed directly into the ground. Beets, radishes, cabbage, kale, lettuce, spinach, will have time to mature before summer gets here.
You can also plant starters now; just be sure you harden them off before you plant them. Starter plants will give you a head start on harvesting. You might consider planting a mix of seeds and starters, to extend your harvest.
All this means you can get an early start on your edible garden by planting cool seasonal crops as soon as the soil is workable. A quick way to check if your garden soil is ready to be worked is to grab a fistful and squeeze it. If it crumbles the soil is workable.
Begin by working two to three inches of organic material into your garden bed. This is called amending the soil. Our high-quality organic soil amendments are produced locally and come bagged for your convenience. For an existing garden, spread two to three inches of organic soil amendments on the surface of your garden bed and work it in. A single bag of Earth Essentials Sheep, Peat and Compost will cover ten square feet, two inches deep.
This is also a good time to add some organic fertilizer. Organic fertilizers will carry the OMRI seal on the bag. OMRI stands for Organic Material Review Institute. Products with the OMRI seal have gone through rigorous testing to assure the ingredients are organic. Place a small amount of organic fertilizer in the bottom of each row or planting hole, so the roots of your new plants can grow into it.
Cool season crops can be planted from seed or from starter plants. If you choose to plant from starts, take the time to acclimate your seedlings by gradually increasing their exposure to the outdoors. Moving your plants from the house or greenhouse directly into the garden without giving them time to adjust will set your plants back weeks due to transplant shock. This slow transition from indoors to the outside is called “hardening off”. Hardening off plants gradually exposes them to outdoor light, wind and temperatures.
The process is easy, but it takes time. On the first day, pick a sheltered, shady spot under a tree or on the patio and leave them there for 3 or 4 hours, then back inside. The second day, move them into the morning sun for 5 or 6 hours, back into shade and leave them out well into the evening. On the third day, move the plants into full sun and leave them there for the day. On the fourth day, full sun and leave your plants out for the night, then plant them on the fifth day.
When it comes time to plant your starts, it’s best to do so early in the morning or on a cloudy day. For an extra boost, add a handful of worm castings to the planting spot. Remove the plant from its container and place it in the soil, being careful to plant it at the same depth it was in the seed container, then water thoroughly.
April’s weather can change quickly, so keep some floating row cover handy just in case the temperatures drop suddenly.
While you’re at it, plant some cool season color to go along with your vegetables.
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