Northeast Gardeners: is it Time to Plant Some Cole Crops?

Spring is finally here and it's that time when your front lawn is no longer covered with snow. This is where the sun shines most often and where spring birds such as robins and morning doves frequent for food. A little ways from the house the garden area awaits the digging and scratching of the soil that has long been dormant. With the average temperature ranging in the 40s and 50s, and a week has passed since the beginning of spring equinox, it is not too early to plant something. There are cold tolerant plants that can be started in the ground just as soon as, for the most part, when the soil can be worked.

Just remember that springtime calls for rain. A heavy downpour can reorganize the placement of seeds, or damage young seedlings, but otherwise let nature do its work and hope for the best. If the thought of hard work might be wasted is a concern, preparation is the key to success. It is recommended that floating rows, a covering for plants can be constructed to protect your investment. Other problem such as the neighborhood cat or your own are known to dig the areas that have just been planted, but can easily be kept at bay by having a good fence around the garden area. Don't fret since they often dig in the same area, leaving the rest of your plants undisturbed enough for eating.

While spinach and other plants of leafy salad variety are being directly sown into the ground, now is the time to start cauliflower and brussels sprouts indoor. A greenhouse is another fine choice if one can afford it. It's worth it if winter gardening is in your plan. Brussels sprouts for example requires a minimum of 100 days to develop any fruits, thus getting it started ahead indoor, extends the growing season for northeast regions, where summer is short. Keep in mind that some vegetables might not deal well with transplanting shock; so starting those seeds in peat pellets or jiffy pots is ideal. Your states cooperative extension's website has plenty of free helpful gardening tips and services such as soil analysis for a fee.

Spinach is high in iron easy to grow and is healthy. Consider slow to bolt cultivars, which means longer harvesting time without them going to seeds. Spinach needs freezing to aid in hastening the germination process, so this would be an excellent plant to put into the ground now. Watering is important but not so much after they are fully developed. Like other fruitless leafy green vegetables, sun requirement is very few hours and will do well in part shade section of the garden. Other plants to consider are swiss chard, collards, mustard greens, lettuce, cabbage, kale, and beets. Carrots and peas prefer more sun similar to broccoli, brussels sprouts, and cauliflower, but the latter group planting time begins the first week of May.

Most of the plants mentioned here will surely do well if they get the attention that they need. The basics of their needs consist mainly of watering and weeding. Some require more water than others. Weeding would be less of a problem by adding mulches or reusable weed barrier cloth. Opt for plants that can withstand extreme temperature fluctuation. Swiss chard is heat tolerant. Kale is hardy at freezing temperature, which is known to enhance its flavor.

For best results add organic compost or aged manure to the soil prior to planting any crops. The best time to amend soil is the fall. Winter and time make better compost that is friendlier for plants. Another alternative is to grow cover crop such as winter rye. Other green manure, which can be grown along the garden crops, is clover.

Of course the easiest garden is the perennial one, that will come up year after year.

Sources:

http://extension.unh.edu/FHGEC/GrwGreen.htm

http://www.littlegreenhouse.com/guide.shtml

http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/DG0436.html