Hurry up and wait. It is the gardener’s mantra this time of year. Sunny days and temps in the 60s and occasionally the 70s have all those veggie gardeners out there chomping at the bit to start planting.
But the smart gardener is patient. However, there are things that a gardener can start doing to get ready for warmer weather.
For those fortunate enough to have a greenhouse, it is not too early to be starting seeds for your spring and summer gardens. I usually plant tomato, pepper, and herb seeds in early to mid-March. Of course, the spring vegetable seeds such as broccoli, cabbage, lettuce, kale, and cauliflower can be planted at the same time. I put those spring vegetables in the ground outside by late March. Each of these can take temperatures down to about 25 degrees without damage. You take a little bit of a chance this early, but you can always cover them if you see that temperatures are going to go below 25 degrees.
Keep in mind that your greenhouse will need to be heated. While it might feel warm enough during the day, it will cool down significantly at night. Also, if you have heating pads for under your seed trays, it will make the seeds sprout much faster.
I usually wait until late March to plant other especially cold-sensitive summer vegetable seeds in the greenhouse. These include all types of squash and cucumbers. They sprout much more quickly than many other seeds, so there is no rush to get those in the soil.
After you have planted your seeds, it is a good time to prepare your soil. If you garden in boxes, simply turning over the soil is probably all you will have to do. If you plant directly in the ground, tilling the soil will make it much easier to plant your seedlings when it is time and this allows the roots of your plants to grow deeper in the softer soil.
It is a good idea to have your soil tested for pH levels and fertilizer needs. I usually do this in the fall, but it can be done in late winter/early spring as well. A pH level of 6.0, or slightly higher, is best for most vegetables. North Carolina State University will do soil testing for only $5 – or free part of the year. Testing kits are available at the county cooperative extension service. Our soil here is acidic, so do not be surprised if your sample results indicate the need to add lime to the soil to raise the pH level.
One vegetable you can put in the ground outside during March is potatoes. They can take a couple weeks to sprout, so having them underground outside will not hurt them and allows the roots to start growing. And even if they sprout and get burned by the cold, they will come back.
When to put the summer vegetable plants outside in the garden is a topic of contention for many folks here in the mountains. The old-timers locally will swear by Mother’s Day being the earliest you should be putting cold sensitive plants out in your garden. That is certainly a safe time, but mid-May is a little late for those of us impatient to dig in the soil.
At our house, I will start watching long-term weather forecasts by mid-April. If the forecasts show above-average temperatures through early May, I will plant the summer garden knowing that I might have to cover it once or twice if the temperatures go too low. With the warmer weather we have been having the past few years, I have planted around April 24-27. So far, my plants have not been burned.
Putting some of your summer plants out early and keeping some in the greenhouse can give you an earlier date for picking your first veggies. At the same time, this strategy still keeps some vegetable plants safely in reserve, in case you have to start over. I look at it this way: seeds are cheap. Plus, you can be eating those luscious summer squash while others are waiting for buds to appear.