| When is the Best Time to Plant? |
an introspective series of articles about raised gardening
The age old question, when should I plant?
As spring arrives the question arises at to the best time to begin planting
the vegetable garden, particularly since the weather seems to be
increasingly unpredictable.
As an experiment it was decided to plant our raised garden bed located in
zone 7 in northern Georgia earlier than normal. Since the seed packets
contain hundreds of seeds, far more than could ever expected to be
consumed, it wasn't considered to be excessive replanting several times.
Carrots, beets, iceberg lettuce, romaine lettuce and bush beans were
selected for the experiment. The first seeds were planted during an
unexpected warm spell in January and they failed to germinate. A second
attempt was made in February after a cloche (mini greenhouse covering)
was added to the garden again, there was no germination. The third and
final planting took place March 9th and soon seedlings began to appear.
With the added protection of the cloche when frost was predicted, the
garden has flourished.
The experiment has allowed the garden to have an almost two month jump
on gardens that are planted according to zone charts but is very
dependent on the need for a cloche when frost is in the offing.
Vegetables such as cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage and collards were
expressly omitted from these plantings since we had planted a very
successful winter garden last fall and discovered that these types of plants
thrived beautifully in the total absence of insect problems. more . . .
Vegetables that require that they be planted only with the arrival of warm
weather and the threat of frost is over, include corn and tomatoes.
It has been found to be useful to keep a record of the dates of each
planting and to note when temperature went below freezing and to what
degree so that improvements can be made each season. Next Chapter
As spring arrives the question arises at to the best time to begin planting
the vegetable garden, particularly since the weather seems to be
increasingly unpredictable.
As an experiment it was decided to plant our raised garden bed located in
zone 7 in northern Georgia earlier than normal. Since the seed packets
contain hundreds of seeds, far more than could ever expected to be
consumed, it wasn't considered to be excessive replanting several times.
Carrots, beets, iceberg lettuce, romaine lettuce and bush beans were
selected for the experiment. The first seeds were planted during an
unexpected warm spell in January and they failed to germinate. A second
attempt was made in February after a cloche (mini greenhouse covering)
was added to the garden again, there was no germination. The third and
final planting took place March 9th and soon seedlings began to appear.
With the added protection of the cloche when frost was predicted, the
garden has flourished.
The experiment has allowed the garden to have an almost two month jump
on gardens that are planted according to zone charts but is very
dependent on the need for a cloche when frost is in the offing.
Vegetables such as cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage and collards were
expressly omitted from these plantings since we had planted a very
successful winter garden last fall and discovered that these types of plants
thrived beautifully in the total absence of insect problems. more . . .
Vegetables that require that they be planted only with the arrival of warm
weather and the threat of frost is over, include corn and tomatoes.
It has been found to be useful to keep a record of the dates of each
planting and to note when temperature went below freezing and to what
degree so that improvements can be made each season. Next Chapter
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A CLOCHE can be implemented
using PVC pipe covered by clear
plastic ground cloth as effective
protection against frost.
using PVC pipe covered by clear
plastic ground cloth as effective
protection against frost.
Rather than fighting the "battle of the
bugs" in the spring, cabbage,
cauliflower, collards and broccoli
thrive best when planted in late
August and grown as winter gardens.
bugs" in the spring, cabbage,
cauliflower, collards and broccoli
thrive best when planted in late
August and grown as winter gardens.
The experimental garden planted in
early March is maturing in late April.
Visible are beets to the left, lettuce in
the middle and bush beans on the
right. Note that this garden is growing
on pavement. more . . .
early March is maturing in late April.
Visible are beets to the left, lettuce in
the middle and bush beans on the
right. Note that this garden is growing
on pavement. more . . .