Hola de nuevo! Maybe I'm over-thinking things, but I'm a bit confused on what I can still start inside now that it's mid-March, and what I should direct sow. Peas and favas went in the ground a week ago. Will directly seed radishes, beets and the like, soon. But how about lettuce, chard, kale, winter & summer squash, broccoli, cauliflower? I have seed-starting trays, seedling heat mats, and will be trying out an indoor greenhouse shelving unit with lighting for the first time this year. Is it too late to start those inside?
HI Catherine - know & remember this: THE ONLY REASON YOU START SEEDS INDOORS IS TO GET A JUMP ON THE SEASON. Sometimes we HAVE to do this because in the Pac NW, we don't have a long season to direct-sow tomatoes, for instance. So those will ALWAYS need to be started indoors. Other times, we start seeds indoors because we want a jump on the season. Think about this - RIGHT NOW (March 18th), you can direct sow peas and favas. You can also transplant a pea or fava plant start. So - what will mature faster? A seed that was just planted or a 4-week old start that was sown indoors in early February?
To answer your specific plant questions - there are some plants that can be planted in late winter, throughout spring and into summer. Lettuces, chard, kale, broccoli and cauliflower behave like this. They do ok in all seasons! Beets & radishes should ALWAYS be directly sown, as root crops do better when not transplanted. Root crops can be planted mid-March through July, anytime. Summer squash gets directly sown into the ground in May/June. You may also grow summer squash starts indoors to get a jump on the season about 4 weeks before you'll plant out, so let's say in mid-April. And winter squash gets direct sown in July. Again if you want a jump on the season, you would start those indoors in June. Making more sense?!
Hi Garden Guru! Will you be schooling us on when it's the right time to start various veg seedlings? I have a ton of seeds, and am chomping at the bit, but it's probably way too early to start anything right now. I already have a heated seedling mat, and am considering investing in grow lights this year. ~Gracias
Hello Back, Garden Guru! Yes, I will be. Did you see the recent post on tomatoes/peppers? Those go first anywhere from end of Feb onward, depending on the variety you have. There is a link to my fave grow light and notes on grow lights, too. Let me know if you're looking for any other particular seedling - these are typically the most sought after - and I'm SUPER OPEN to writing about anything upon request! Thanks for sharing AND subscribing. ~ i gracias a ti
Hola de nuevo! Maybe I'm over-thinking things, but I'm a bit confused on what I can still start inside now that it's mid-March, and what I should direct sow. Peas and favas went in the ground a week ago. Will directly seed radishes, beets and the like, soon. But how about lettuce, chard, kale, winter & summer squash, broccoli, cauliflower? I have seed-starting trays, seedling heat mats, and will be trying out an indoor greenhouse shelving unit with lighting for the first time this year. Is it too late to start those inside?
HI Catherine - know & remember this: THE ONLY REASON YOU START SEEDS INDOORS IS TO GET A JUMP ON THE SEASON. Sometimes we HAVE to do this because in the Pac NW, we don't have a long season to direct-sow tomatoes, for instance. So those will ALWAYS need to be started indoors. Other times, we start seeds indoors because we want a jump on the season. Think about this - RIGHT NOW (March 18th), you can direct sow peas and favas. You can also transplant a pea or fava plant start. So - what will mature faster? A seed that was just planted or a 4-week old start that was sown indoors in early February?
That is the only reason we grow starts indoors. I will continue making lists like this one: https://newsletter.amy-pennington.com/p/february-garden-projects where I specifically call out plants that can be outside vs plants that MUST be indoors.
To answer your specific plant questions - there are some plants that can be planted in late winter, throughout spring and into summer. Lettuces, chard, kale, broccoli and cauliflower behave like this. They do ok in all seasons! Beets & radishes should ALWAYS be directly sown, as root crops do better when not transplanted. Root crops can be planted mid-March through July, anytime. Summer squash gets directly sown into the ground in May/June. You may also grow summer squash starts indoors to get a jump on the season about 4 weeks before you'll plant out, so let's say in mid-April. And winter squash gets direct sown in July. Again if you want a jump on the season, you would start those indoors in June. Making more sense?!
Hi Garden Guru! Will you be schooling us on when it's the right time to start various veg seedlings? I have a ton of seeds, and am chomping at the bit, but it's probably way too early to start anything right now. I already have a heated seedling mat, and am considering investing in grow lights this year. ~Gracias
Hello Back, Garden Guru! Yes, I will be. Did you see the recent post on tomatoes/peppers? Those go first anywhere from end of Feb onward, depending on the variety you have. There is a link to my fave grow light and notes on grow lights, too. Let me know if you're looking for any other particular seedling - these are typically the most sought after - and I'm SUPER OPEN to writing about anything upon request! Thanks for sharing AND subscribing. ~ i gracias a ti