Spring Gardening

Once soil is warm it is time to plant.

Vegetables that the home gardener should plant as early as possible include English peas and snow peas.

Seeds of some vegetable varieties can be planted as soon as the soil temperatures begin to warm up in the spring. Most cool season vegetable seed will germinate after the soil reaches 40 degrees. But improved germination will occur as the soil warms to 50 degrees. Weather reports can be consulted to determine what soil temperatures have been recorded for that period.

Check soil for moisture.

Even though earliness may be important, do not work or plow the garden if the soil is wet. One way to determine if the soil is too wet is to squeeze a handful of soil. If the soil packs into a tight, sticky ball then it is too wet and tillage should be put off until the soil dries out. If the soil crumbles fairly easily after it has been squeezed it is all right to plow.

Some seed men call snow peas "edible podded peas." There are several vegetables that can be grown in the early spring garden and usually these can be safely planted when the soil has warmed up to 50 degrees.

These include broccoli plants, cabbage plants, endive, kohlrabi, lettuce, onion sets, parsley, radishes, spinach, and turnips. Irish potatoes can be planted in the Middle Georgia area about 4 weeks before the last spring frost date or about the last week in February.

The Red skin Irish potatoes, such as red Pontiac, are considerably earlier than the white skin potatoes. It is suggested that some of the red skinned varieties be planted for early potatoes and a white skinned potato, such as Kennebec, be planted later in the season and for storage.

Plant early vegetables on small scale.

Very early planting of any vegetable should be made on a small scale since the risk from cold weather is greater. Larger planting can then be made after the soil warms up and the weather becomes more favorable.

For more information on spring gardening contact your local County Extension Office.