In my last post I touched on cool and warm season veggies. Now for which is which.

Cool season veggies can be put in now, either by directly sowing seeds in the ground, or by setting out seedlings that you can purchase at the garden centers, nurseries, and catalog sources. If you plant seedlings, protecting those tiny plants with a row cover during cold nights is a good idea. If setting seeds, get those babies in the ground. Either way, prepare the beds and space the rows according to the package instructions. Also check the days-to-maturity and select plant types and cultivars  according to the anticipated length of your cool growing season.

COOL SEASON VEGGIES A-Z

• Arugula, chard, kale, collards, bok choy, other greens and lettuces
• Beets
• Broccoli and other Brassica family veggies (sometimes called cole crops) brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower. This group is much bigger than I thought- also kohlrabi, Pak choi (Bok choy,) rutabaga and turnips.
• Carrots 
• Fennel
• Onions
• Radishes
• Peas- snap and snow peas
• Potatoes
• Spinach

Cool season herbs include dill, coriander/ cilantro, and tarragon. Cool season annuals include violas and pansies, snapdragons, sweet william (dianthus barbatus,) nasturtium, lobelia, larkspur, sweet pea flowers (Lathyrus odoratus,) and some petunias.

After planting, be sure to keep plants and seed beds moist, but not soggy. That can be a little tricky during spring due to plentiful rainfall that normally occurs. Watering may not be necessary except when plants and seeds are initially put in the ground. Watch out for rabbits and squirrels, as they be hungry too. Row covers offer some protection from critters.

Spring garden tending is typically not very much work. So be ready to enjoy your garden goodies. To extend your harvest of greens, lettuces, and the like, cut leaves off the plants instead of pulling them out of the ground. That can keep the salad bowl full for weeks on end.

Happy planting!

Photos from Burpee.com, a great resource of seeds, plant and information.