It’s planting season in the garden, and I’m still waiting for last week’s seeds to come out of the ground. The soil temperature in February is very cold, and it takes more time for the seeds to germinate. Last week’s seeds, peas and carrots can’t be started indoors… so when we plant those in the garden at the end of winter, we have no choice but to wait. This week we will solve the problem of slow germination by planting transplants. These are seedlings that are already growing that we started at home in December.
There are many cool season vegetables that can be added to the garden as transplants in February. Seedlings planted today start slowly, then grow faster with warmer weather, and mature in March and April. One of the reasons to plant these vegetables so early is because they prefer a cooler climate and are a target of insects that will devour these plants in May and June.
Plants such as arugula, cabbage, cilantro, collard greens, dill, kale, lettuce, mustard and spinach are best added to the garden as transplants until the soil temperature warms up. Some of the plants we are adding this week are already in the garden. We planted winter greens in the fall and enjoyed them all winter. If you do not have the seedlings on hand, and do not want to pay for them, we can also sow these seeds directly in the garden in March when the soil warms up.
Our smaller plants, like arugula and kale, should be planted 4-6 inches apart. Larger plants such as collards, cabbage, dill and mustard should be planted 12 inches apart. These seedlings will be able to handle frost or a light chill, and by this point in February, our coldest winter weather is likely behind us. Look for these seedlings to take off once we start getting warmer weather.
Cilantro is an easy to grow cool season herb. It can grow in the fall or spring, but it quickly dies and goes to seed once the weather warms. Cilantro loses much of its flavor when the plant begins to bolt. The lean leaves have very little flavor compared to the fat leaves. It is best to pick the leaves before the plant starts to bolt. Plant cilantro plants 6-12 inches apart.
Collard greens should be a staple in any Carolina garden. While collards will grow year-round in the Carolinas, they really do best in the cool season. They grow slower in cooler weather and are less likely to bolt. In addition, there are caterpillars that will eat the collards in the summer. These pests are limited in cooler weather.
Collards should be planted about a foot apart in rows 18-36 inches apart. Keep the soil watered until the seedlings are established.
Since our weather in the cool season is not always cool, it is important to find a variety that is resistant to bolting. When the weather warms up after a long cool period, the plant can grow very quickly, and can go to seed. Most crops are bred to avoid this, but it can be useful to ensure before planting.
Collard greens are ready to harvest 60-80 days after planting.
Kale will grow more slowly in the cool climate of winter, and can be kept in the garden throughout the winter. The plant can withstand frost, and while it can be nipped in a very cold climate, the cold tends to soften the leaves. The larger, outer leaves can be picked one at a time, so you can pick a few and keep the inner part of the plant growing to maintain production.
Kale plants are quite large, and the plants need space. Plan to have the plants grow about a foot apart from each other.
Lettuce is an easy to grow cool season vegetable. Some winter lettuce can stay in the garden for the whole winter, but if it is cold enough, the lettuce can be damaged. Since the coldest of winter is probably behind us, this is a good time to add lettuce to the garden for spring. Plant transplants in rows 6 to 10 inches apart. Lettuce prefers to grow in temperatures of the 50s and 60s and grows well in March. When temperatures are regularly above 75 degrees, lettuce can develop a bitter taste and can grow too quickly. Lettuce takes 55-75 days to grow, so lettuce planted now will be harvested in April…hopefully before it gets too hot.
There are many varieties of lettuce to choose from, but there are two main types of lettuce…head lettuce or leaf lettuce. A head of lettuce is best when you harvest the whole plant at once. Leaf lettuce can be harvested one leaf at a time and you can harvest the lettuce as needed. The lettuce is best eaten as soon as possible, because it can go quickly. It can be cold, but it usually doesn’t last more than two weeks.
