Time to plant cold vegetables

Yippee! It's spring and time to plant. Some vegetables are cold-hardy and seed can be sown as soon as the soil can be worked. These crops include broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and cabbage. They produce better during the cold part of year than in the heat of summer. Parsley, peas, rhubarb, horseradish, spinach, turnips and onions also like the cold weather. Asparagus crowns can also be planted. Additionally, kale, lettuce and many greens are cold-tolerant.

From April 1 to May 1, sow vegetables seeds such as beets, parsnips, radishes and Swiss chard. Plant carrots from April 1 through June. Stagger the sowing dates to ensure a long harvest. You can also plant Chinese cabbage at this time, although it does best when planted in the late summer.

If sowing seed doesn't interest you, plant seedlings of broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage and cauliflower from April 15 to mid-May. That's also a good time to plant potatoes. After May 10, in the warmer areas of Northern Nevada, it is usually safe to plant green beans, sweet corn and celery plants. Unless you provide them with protection from the cold, wait until late May to plant the most tender vegetables, including lima beans, cucumbers, eggplant, melons, okra, peppers, squash and tomatoes. All of these planting dates are variable, depending on the weather. Although the average last frost date is May 15, our area may have freezes until June.

No matter what or when you plant, soil makes or breaks the garden. Vegetable beds require plenty of organic matter to support good growth and production. This means adding 3 to 6 inches of organic matter to a depth of 10 to 12 inches, mixing it in thoroughly.

Fall is actually the best time for soil preparation because the organic matter can decompose through the winter. To work the soil now, add compost, leaf mold, humus or well-aged manures. In addition to organic matter, add two to three pounds of a 6-12-12 or similar fertilizer, and mix it in to a depth of 6 inches. This will provide your vegetables with the initial nutrients they need for growth. Avoid working soggy soils. Not only is it hard on your back, but the clods of soil will be less likely to break down to allow a good mix of organic matter for optimal root development. As gardeners, we wait for spring, and suddenly it is upon us. Hurrah!

For more information on gardening, contact me, 887-2252 or skellyj@unce.unr.edu, or your local University of Nevada Cooperative Extension office. Check out many useful horticulture publications at www.unce.unr.edu. "Ask a Master Gardener" by e-mailing mastegardeners@unce.unr.edu.

-- JoAnne Skelly is the Carson City/Storey County Extension Educator for University of Nevada Cooperative Extension.