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| Indoor seed starting |
Tuesday, February 11, 2020
February is the time the garden begins to wake up, readying itself for the growing season in the Midwest edible garden. There are a few veggies that can be seeded outdoors and many that can be started indoors to give you a jump on harvests. Using season extending strategies can also help you harvest sooner.
Outdoor seeding and planting
There are a few hardy veggies that you can sow outdoors in February. Outdoor seed starting tips
*Spinach seed can be scatter sown and will sprout when the temps are right. Grow spinach-a super nutritious, easy green
*Peas can be tucked into pots and in the garden. My granny would plant as soon as the soil could be worked, even with a little ice still in the soil! Time to plant peas!
*Fava or broad beans can also be planted as soon as the ground can be worked. Grow a European favorite-the fava or broad bean
*This is the time of year that asparagus can be planted as soon as the soil can be worked.
*This is the time of year that asparagus can be planted as soon as the soil can be worked.
*Mache is also a super winter hardy green that can be sown directly in the garden. Growing fabulous lettuce and greens
*At the end of the month, hardened off veggie transplants of cabbage, endive, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, onions, pac choi, rhubarb, radicchio, scallions, shallots and spinach can be planted outside. A spring edible garden
*Many herb plants can also be planted at the end of the month. Chives, fennel, horseradish, parsley and thyme. Start a kitchen herb garden!
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| Early March garden |
Indoor seeds to start
There are many veggies that can be started indoors. The trick to indoor seed starting is to not get too anxious and start seeds way before you can plant them outdoors. Indoor seed starting tips
Seeds to start indoors now are the ones you will plant outdoors at the end of February and beginning of March. Be sure to harden them off (gradually get them used to the outdoor temperatures) before putting in the garden or outdoor pot.
Broccoli, cabbage, celery, leek, radicchio, scallions, fennel, marjoram, parsley, summer savory, endive, kale, kohlrabi, leeks/onions/scallions/shallots/chives (if growing from seed), fennel, cold hardy lettuce, spinach, mustard greens, pac choi, radicchio, and scallions.
Indoor sowing/outdoor planting dates
Planting outdoors
Be sure to harden off any transplants that you grew from seed before planting in the garden or outdoor pot. You'll need to get your transplants used to the outdoor temperatures. I like to plant outdoors when the forecast is for overcast skies and warmer temperatures for a few days.
For your portable greenhouses, you can grab plants from there to also plant in the garden and start more seeds in the greenhouse.
You can also use season extenders like portable greenhouses, row covers and cloches to protect your new transplants and give them a warming boost for growing. The biggest issue with greenhouses and cloches in the spring is they can be 50 degrees warmer inside them than the outdoor air so you have to be diligent in opening them up when the temps start rising into the 40's and 50's on sunny days. Extend the season with protection for plants
Spring garden prep
Before you start planting, be sure your garden is in tip top shape for the growing season. Do a soil test to see what nutrients are needed. Add the nutrients at the beginning of the month so they are available to the plants when they go into the ground.
Be sure to also apply your mulch on top of the fertilizer and minerals you add to the garden. This keeps them from being washed off or in the case of nitrogen, being released into the air. Weed free, self fertilizing, till free garden beds
hIf this is your first time gardening and want to get started but not sure how, try this blog. Easy kitchen garden
Happy gardening!
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