The growing season is upon us. People are out raking, cleaning debris from their yards, and getting ready to garden.
Some of the cool season crops are ready to be planted. Things like broccoli, cauliflower, onions, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce and mustard greens, radishes, carrots and beets—they can all be planted now. Tom says the next 7 to 10 days are critical in terms of establishing good cool season produce. If you plant too late in the season, the above crops will “bolt” and they won’t taste quite as good.
If you’re interested, the dark purple varieties of vegetables have been proven to contain more antioxidants and nutrients. You can even plant dark purple tomatoes if you’d like. Many of the local greenhouses and garden centers are currently opening their doors. Check out the seed racks and see what they have to offer.
Here’s a pro tip from Tom: Mother’s Day is a great opportunity to shop at your local greenhouse for your mother’s favorite plants and gardening needs. You might even take her along and make an afternoon of it. Instead of bringing flowers to mom, bring mom to the flowers!
Getting back to early season gardening, now is the perfect time to add compost to your soil. You need a good organic matter base and adding compost will do the trick.
Warm season crops, like tomatoes and peppers, cucumbers and squash, will have to wait until late May or early June.
Tom Kasper is a master gardener and the past president of the Duluth garden-flower society. Tips for Hardy Gardeners can be heard every other Tuesday morning on Northland Morning.
