Cold Weather Gardening

SPRING!! Am I ever ready. It’s been a cold winter, with lots of snow, but spring is just around the corner. It may be a bit early to start planting (at least outside), but it is the perfect time to start planning.

If you like to start your own tomatoes, peppers etc. in the house, it’s definitely time to get the grow lamp out, and start checking the packets for sprouting times. You want to get the seeds into the peat pots in time for them to be ready to plant after the last frost – usually around the middle to end of May here in the northeast corner of Ohio (believe it or not the middle of May is only 8 weeks away, folks!).

Personally, I’m not big on starting my own plants. I’ve tried it in the past and always end up with spindly, pale looking plants (likely because I’ve never invested in a heated greenhouse or a grow light). I truly admire those that can and do. Me, I’ll stick with getting my plants for the garden at the Market – CCGM’s growers are far more talented than I at nurturing hardy, healthy plants for the home gardener!

However, cold weather crops are a wonder to me. I love those early spring mixes and peas. I’m thrilled when the asparagus first nudge out their little green heads, and the rhubarb begins to show its colors. These are the first sign of the wonderful food to come during the local growing season!

As soon as the ground can be worked, it’s time to start planting. Peas, broccoli, cabbage, lettuce (I’m big on the spring mixes, but we also have our favorite greens), arugula, onions, spinach, potatoes, . . . there are so many veggies that don’t mind the chill in the air of a northeastern Ohio spring. And it is so cheering to go out and watch your early plantings sprout and grow – even when there’s still some snow on the ground!

Here is a link to an OSU Extension blurb on growing cold weather crops:

http://bygl.osu.edu/index.php/bygl-newsletters/hort-shorts/44-april-17-2008/108-planting-cool-season-vegetables

If you have never done so before, I hope you will find the joy of getting an early start to the vegetable growing season in Ohio. Seeds are in at the Market, and if you need any advice on getting started, feel free to ask – that’s what we’re there for! It’s also time to get in your bare-root orders – trees, blueberries, strawberries, asparagus, rhubarb – we only get in a limited supply, so now is the time to reserves yours!

What veggies do you plant early? Do you enjoy the cold weather gardening? And for those of you with the green thumbs, any hints or tips on starting your own tomatoes, peppers and other warm weather crops inside?

Please share – and don’t forget to THINK SPRING!