For all the hardcore veggie gardeners out there you probably already know that March is a good time to get started on the veggie garden. But first-timers might not realize that there are really two seasons to plant veggies — I suppose a third in the fall — and that we can’t just plant everything all at one time.
March and April is what we call the “cool season.” It’s time to plant root crops like potatoes, carrots, onions and radishes, and leaf crops like lettuce, spinach, cabbage, broccoli and peas.
All of these crops demand a cool soil and cool air temperatures to perform their best. When it starts to get too warm they will mature rapidly and go to seed. Anyone that has grown spinach knows how fast spinach can send up a flower stalk (we call this bolting) and becomes inedible.
It is the soil temperature that really separates cool season crops from the next group called warm season crops. (A soil thermometer will help you discover your soil temperature.) Warm season veggies are those that get planted in May and June when the soil — hopefully — has warmed up to above 55 degrees.
Getting the soil prepared as soon as possible by tilling and working in plenty of compost and organic fertilizer will help get air into the soil and consequently warm things up.
Raised beds are superb for warming up soil early because the sun will not only shine on the soil surface but also the sides of the beds. Gardeners can also put black plastic over a garden bed in the winter to keep water out, the weeds from germinating and the heat in. We can talk more about these tricks when we get into warm season veggies in May.
Fortunately for cool season veggies we are not as concerned about soil temperature as with tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers — all of which will rot if planted now. For planting this time of year the most important tasks are getting rid of winter weeds, amending the beds with fresh compost and incorporating some slow release organic fertilizer. Then it’s just a matter of deciding if we want to plant seeds or transplants.
Most root crops like carrots and radishes can only be planted from seed, while others like beets can be purchased already sprouted. If you have planted seeds in the past and found that they are too close together try using a seed tape or disc that has the seeds pre-spaced. Botanical Interest Seed Company sells several varieties in these tapes and discs and it makes life easier.
For crops like cabbage and broccoli, it makes more sense to buy a half dozen transplants rather than mess around with a pack of seeds since most of us don’t need four dozen plants.
Learn more about cool season veggies at a class at 10 a.m. Saturday at Sunnyside Nursery. Veggie gardeners Mary Ann and Andy Sudkamp will be teaching. You can also purchase the consummate manual for veggie gardening called the Maritime Northwest Garden Guide. It is produced by Seattle Tilth and is an excellent resource.
Here’s to a productive gardening season.
Steve Smith is owner of Sunnyside Nursery in Marysville and can be reached online at info@sunnysidenursery.net.
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