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I have a question that books seem to go around for direct seeding, or maybe i am just not getting it. For vegetable that say as soon as the soil can be worked? what exactly does this mean. I can work my soil now but we could still have quite a few frosts. for things like carrotts, onions, radish etc what is a safe time to planta nd should i cover it with a tarp at night?? thanks for any help
Usually it's cool weather crops that say to plant as soon as the soil can be worked. We will get alot of cold nights yet, but I plant things early: carrots, peas, beets, radishes, potatoes and onions. If it's going to be a hard frost, then I cover it with leaves, grass, whatever I have. Potatoes can re-bound from a frosting. Cabbage will go in soon by direct seeding. It does better for me here to do it that way.
---------------------------------------- Everything that blooms and grows, the garden angel scatters and sows...in the land of corn and pigs...gardensandquiltsatyahoodotcom
Posts: 2469 | Location: Zone 4-5, North Central Iowa | Registered: April 12, 2002
If there is not a rain problem then Mumsey is 100% correct.
However, “when the soil can be worked” can also mean when the spring rains have died down to the point that you don’t just make mud then you try to work in the garden. In several parts of the country it is still to wet to plant even after the last frost.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ LAUS DEO, Where ever I go, there I am. ..... major at nwi dot net ..... Zone 6a, Eastern Washington, sagebrush high desert, Columbia plateau.
Posts: 2593 | Location: Eastern Washington State, zone 6a. | Registered: December 13, 2004
Most spring veggies can be sown when there are still frosts happening. Peas, lettuce, etc. Check the labels on the packets. If they say "As soon as the ground can be worked" then it's just the same as Major and Mumsey have told you. Hi Nick!
it has been really rainy here lately so i will wait a bit, should i cover them with burlap/ something else if its gonna rain alot or frost hard?? thanks you guys..
by the way if you disregard loamlumps comments you will be doing yourself a disservice HI
Once your seeds are in the ground unless the rain is coming down so hard it will wash the seeds away you donÂ’t need to cover them with anything to protect them from the rain. Just plant them at what ever depth it says on the seed packs and they should be fine from any future rain.
However, you may need to cover them at night if there will be a hard freeze. A light frost should not be a problem either, just like loamlump said.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ LAUS DEO, Where ever I go, there I am. ..... major at nwi dot net ..... Zone 6a, Eastern Washington, sagebrush high desert, Columbia plateau.
Posts: 2593 | Location: Eastern Washington State, zone 6a. | Registered: December 13, 2004
Your britches fit you fine, sweetyheart--and your advice suits the growing climate your dealing with as well as the plants you're growing.
If someone has a problem with what works for you then they've simply forgotten that there are some pretty significant differences in climate throughout the Northern Hemisphere and between different varieties within the same species.
Ignore all obnoxious commentary...it isn't worth your time or peace of mind. :x
__________________________ {=^;^=} Living the good life amid the wildlife.
Posts: 881 | Location: Out in the sticks in Zone 6/Southwestern KY | Registered: November 27, 2004
We had a chilly nite (below freezing) predicted here in S Central IA for Fri nite and I was worried about the strawberry plants I had just transplanted into the garden. But I didn't do anything. Too windy to keep straw in place. I'm not sure exactly how cold it got but, they looked just fine this afternoon, so I guess they're hardy little buggers! Sort of fits in w/the topic of planting when it's still cool out.
The whole world is a narrow bridge; the important thing is not to be afraid.
Posts: 298 | Location: USDA zone 5 South Central Iowa. | Registered: February 11, 2002
