virtual gardening clinic:: what ya'll should be doing and planting

in putting these virtual clinics on, i am assuming that the majority of the reading audience are novice or pseudo-novice gardeners.  if my assuming makes an ass out of you and me...sorry.  i am also not covering every vegetable on the planet.  just the ones gardeners in zone 5 mostly grow.
the early warm weather and above normal soil temps has a lot of people scrambling this year.  but, you know what? we can all relax.  if you are new to gardening i firmly believe the best way to set yourself up for success is do what you can with starter plants.  starter plants won't be available at most nurseries for a few weeks, at least.  any nightshade plants, squash, melons, etc.  are at risk of frost anytime before mother's day. i know this weather is making us all excited, though, so let's talk about what you all CAN be doing and planting.

getting the garden ready....
mike tilled 5 garden plots this weekend.  he tilled in compost in almost all of them.  this is the time, if you haven't already, to get those gardens prepped for planting.  if you are doing raised gardens...get them dug, add compost (if needed), till, and build.  decide what sort of fencing you need based on what the critter situation is in your area.  it seems overwhelming to do all the planning and physical labor now, but it will save you time and heartache in the long run.  i made the great decision {for the first time EVER} to add a bit of compost, dig up, and cover my raised gardens with hay last fall. as a result, my kale overwintered and it was super simple to remove the hay and plant this year. 
chicken wire, lumber, stakes, deck screws, a drill, and staple gun can make some major things happen.  if you are doing containers....get them now and fill them up.  most hardware stores and nurseries are stocking the soil needed for growing veggies in containers now. 

getting your seed and starting seed....
some veggies have to or really should grow from seeds.  roots:  carrots, beets, turnips, radishes, and parsnips are some of those veggies.  some say peas and cukes are the same way.  i have had success starting peas and cukes and then transplanting them.  and for container gardeners...this is really the only way.  so right now the soil temp is about 56 degrees meaning that you can plant those root veggie, peas, and greens seeds directly in the ground.  if you haven't bought any seed, but want to grow some of these...now is the time to buy them.  if you have bought them and want to try to start them indoors before planting in a container...now is the time for the peas and greens.  root veggies should be directly planted in the ground.  the warmer veggie seeds like cukes, tomatoes, green beans, eggplant, okra, & peppers can be put in seed trays in a week or two.  even though the weather and soil are warm, i am still subscribing to the "wait until after mother's day" rule for planting these outside.  i have been burned one too many times by hail and frost when i was a little too eager.

if you garden is prepped and ready to go....
if you have a prepped garden or containers and some experience {or a sense of adventure} go ahead and plant the following from seed: swiss chard, kale, lettuces, collards, turnips, carrots, radishes, beets, parsnips, arugula, spinach, peas, onions, potatoes, and broccoli.  broccoli can be fickle when started from seed and not a plant, but it is possible. as a rule, i have found a lot of the brassicas to be fickle but it can be done...the cabbage needs warmer weather and the brussels need long stretches of cool weather {and i would only do a starter plant with these} the rest of these in a properly prepped garden with loose, rich soil should take right off.

here is some more information on what can be planted now....

GREENS
(cooking + salad: lettuces, kale, collards, chard, mesculans, spinach, arugula, etc.)
these can typically be planted in early spring and fall. some like collards, kale, and chard are pretty heat tolerant and will produce most of the growing season. others like arugula, spinach, and lettuces will bolt &/or burn when it gets too hot. some varieties, like spinach, come in a heat tolerant hybrid. i prefer planting greens in containers or raised beds because weeding them can be time intensive when planted in rows the traditional way. however, if you do choose to have a traditional garden then do not forgo planting in straight lines using stakes and twine. this will make hoeing and hand weeding easier. kale, collards, chard, arugula, and spinach are big producers since you can just harvest the outer leaves as needed. most lettuces like buttercrunch and frisee require harvesting the whole head. 4 - 8 hours of direct sun is needed daily, water at least 3 times a week, for most: expect a crop in about 35-60 days, cooking greens can be washed and frozen. all grow well and easily from seed however starter plants are a great was to set a first time gardener up for success.

ROOTS
roots like carrots, radishes, beets, and parsnips need very deep and loose dirt. containers can work, but i like raised beds best and they allow you to really pack them in. if going with a traditional garden do plant in very straight rows to help make weeding easier. not big producers (what you plant is what you get) so if you are planting to store them or love them than do succession planting. plant rows every week during the planting season. early spring and grow. roots produce in 35-65 days typically depending on variety. beets and radishes tolerate part shade. beet and radish greens are edible and delicious. carrots and parsnips need lots of sun. water at least 3 times a week. pickling and canning work great for carrots, beets, and radishes. carrots can easily be frozen, as well. root cellar storage is great for all root varieties.

BRASSICAS
these brassicas: cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, kohlrabi, and brussel sprouts
grow best in the ground since they take awhile to grow, need room, and can become too heavy (i.e. cabbage) for a container. early sping is the time for them to be planted. doing a raised bed is also recommended. raised bed will also allow you to till deep for root brassicas like rutabagas and turnips. brassicas are not typically big producers. cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, and brussel sprouts starter plants are recommend. need 6-8 hrs direct sun. water at least 3 times a week. almost all can be frozen except cabbage. cabbage is wonderful pickled.

PEAS
sugar snap peas grow great in containers or raised beds.  either way plan on training them up a trellis or cage of some sort.  if they lay on themselves they begin to rot and stop producing.  they are super prolific.  they love cool weather, so plant in early spring.  they will tolerate a bit of frost. full sun is needed and water at least three times a week.  can be frozen.

ONIONS
onions grow best in traditional ground gardens or raised beds.  spring is a good time to plant them.  they do not store well, but can be using in canning and i have had success freezing.  they also make good pest deterrents, so feel free to plant among other veggie and flower plants to deter critters from having a snack at your garden. do not over water.  full sun needed.

POTATOES
potatoes grow best in barrels, containers, or tires because weeding them is very time intensive.  do not over water.  store very well in a root cellar.  fun to grow in containers and nothing is quite as delicious as a homegrown potato. full sun needed.

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if you need help getting your garden planned or prepped, contact us for consulting, compost, or tilling.  in any case, i really hope you choose to grow some food this year.  it is so fulfilling and very possible for everyone. happy planting, friends.