Vegetables to plant now

By Joanne K., Pitt County EMGV

Seed Packet. Raphanus raphanistrum subsp. sativus Radish

Our warmer than usual winter has gardeners itching to start planting their vegetable gardens. Visions of freshly picked greens, ears of corn, and tomatoes tickle the tastebuds with the promise of wonderful flavors to come.

It’s  time to put in those cool season crops that thrive in the low temperatures and humidity of early spring. Also, there is less pressure now from potential pests that may attack your crops.

In February and March, the following crops can be put into the ground from seeds and transplants.

From Seed—arugula, beets, carrots, Chinese cabbage, cilantro, dill, fennel, kale, lettuce (head and leaf), mustard, onions, parsley, peas (bush, field, and vining), radishes, spinach, sweet corn, Swiss chard, turnips.

 From Transplants—broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, collards, kale, lettuce (head and leaf), onions (green), parsley, Swiss chard.

Although you may see tomato and pepper plants for sale now, it's very risky to plant them so early because a late cold spell could kill your plants or, at minimum, stunt their growth. Tomato and pepper plants require warm weather to thrive.

Petroselinum crispum Flat Leaf Italian Parsley

But if you can't resist the allure of an early harvest and decide you must transplant your tomatoes now, be prepared to cover them if a frost warning is issued.

It’s best to buy and plant your tomato and pepper transplants after March 30, Eastern NC's last average frost date. If you want to grow your own pepper and tomato transplants, start the seeds 6 to 8 weeks before their recommended transplant date, which is April 15 for both plants.

While all of these vegetables and herbs can be planted directly in the ground, you may prefer to grow them in a container garden if you have limited space or prefer the ease of maintaining a container garden. 

When planting in pots, be sure to use potting soil rather than garden soil, which will compact and drain poorly.

Potting soil also reduces the chances of weeds and soil-borne diseases.

Most potting soils incorporate fertilizers, which will get your plants or seeds off to a great start.

Brassica oleracea (Acephala Group) Kale

For transplants, read the labels for planting information. For seeds, read the back of the seed packet for planting instructions, including when to sow, planting depth, seed and row spacing, days until plants emerge, and thinning recommendations.

If it doesn't rain, water seeds and transplants until established and then water as needed. While most vegetables need full sun, many greens can grow in high shade.

Vegetables planted from seed should be thinned when plants have one or two pairs of true leaves. Thinning allows the remaining plants to grow bigger.

For more information on planting vegetables and on the number of days to harvest, distance between plants, and additional planting dates for them, go to:

https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/eastern-north-carolina-planting-calendar-for-annual-vegetables-fruits-and-herbs

Planting your own greens and veggies guarantees you'll enjoy the freshest produce this spring and summer, and you may even lower your grocery bill a bit!

Photos: J. Kollar