Start Cool Season Crops Now

Peat pellets ready to plant

Hopefully my last post on seed starting has inspired you to give it a try. My high desert gardening region has many challenges; weather being one of the most important. My blog today will cover cool season plants. They’re plants that can germinate in 40° soil temperatures and are generally unaffected by the frost; while others need temperatures above 65° to germinate and grow. I will cover warm season crops in a later post. 

In general cool season crops are crops that grow best during the cool temperatures of spring and fall. The high desert garden can have weather issues in spring that are not suitable for even the cool season crops. This is when finding ways to cover crops is essential.  Here are two photos that show how to quickly cover crops if the weather turns unfriendly, it seems to happen every spring here. The long water bottle that is cut in half is perfect for short plants, while the cloth cover is great for vines and tall varieties. I always have these ready to go for those spring freezes. 

               

By starting you cool season crop now you should have a plant this is healthy and large enough to safely handle and plant. The root system should be full and thick, like the one in this photo. You should see this nice root system in 4 to 6 weeks time in your seed trays. 
Once they are ready to plant spent 5 to 7 days taking them outside during the day to get them acclimated for their new home in the garden. 

Plant your root crops such as carrots, beets, radish and parsnip directly in the ground. It is next to impossible to move them from a starter medium into the ground without disrupting the root. Plant directly in the garden bed in early spring when the warm temperatures have warmed up the soil. This is usually middle of March.  Start by tilling the soil  8 to 12 inches deep, water if needed. The soil should be moist not dipping wet. Save the fertilizer for later, seeds can’t use those nutrients at this point. Mixing in organic mulch or worm casting will help once your seeds sprout and develop a root system. This is also the time to plant your seed potatoes. 

Some cool season crops:

Lettuce, cabbage, kale, broccoli, peas, brussel sprouts, mustard, arugula, spinach, potatoes, carrots, potatoes, asparagus, beets, onions, shallots, parsnip and horseradish.

If you are looking for a reliable seed 

company have a look at the Botanical Interests Seed Company site. They have all you need along with experts to help.

 https://botanicalinterests.com/