Hi ya,

I put in seed about 2 weeks ago before we got real cold. Experimenting to see how early things might come up, I direct sowed, broccoli, cauliflower, turnips, beets, spinach, lettuce.

In my cold frame I have broccoli, cauliflower, excarole and spinach already making second set of leaves. Today I put out in a second cold frame, 6 varieties of tomatos and 5 varieties of basil. I also set up some plastic muffin containers with chives, purple cauliflower, carnations, marigolds, poppies.

I will be putting in peas on Thursday and more spinach and lettuce. I built a special raised bed for carrots which will also be going in on Thursday with some radishes.

I usually direct sow beets around the 15th of March to the 15th of April if we stay above freezing and the soil is workable. Fortunately, our soil did freeze but not very deeply cause I noticed today it was loosening up already and this was the first fairly warm day. We probably hit 45 today. Looking forward to 65 on Thursday.

I usually direct sow cabbage, brocc, cauliflower, turnips and rutabagas in mid March.

Can't wait! Whaaahooo!

Susan in Stokes County, NC

Well I got the brocoli, onions, and cabbage in today. I also took a chance and put beet seeds in. Never grown beets before either.

For cold weather crops do you change watering frequency?

That is my experience with watering. With Spring, most cold crops dont need much additional watering. If we have a real dry Spring then you might want to give some extra water.

Putting in carrots and peas tomorrow. Maybe some additional spinach and lettuces.

Susan in NC