One of our most commonly asked questions as it warms up early in the spring is “What can I put out in my veggie garden?” The answer is not as clear-cut as you’d think! For your tomatoes and peppers, we always stick to our MINIMUM May 15th rule; however, there are tons of veggies we call cold crops, or as I like to say, “Cool crops, like it in the 60s.” These guys are available as early as the beginning of March and can be planted in your vegetable garden or containers as early as mid-April. Our Van Wilgen Grown selection of cool crops includes favorites like broccoli, cabbage, kale, arugula, and many other lettuces, as well as a few cold-tolerant herbs, like parsley, sage, lavender, rosemary, and oh the list goes on! As usual, all of our herbs and veggies are organically grown and potted in our biodegradable peat fiber pots. Come on down and we’ll be glad to help you along with your real “cool” herbs and veggies! Don’t forget… there are two cool seasons for your cold crops! Experiment in the spring to find your favorites, and come back for round two in the fall! Remember tomatoes, eggplant, cucumbers, peppers, basil, and all the fun stuff DO NOT like to be cool… they love it hot and even a couple of nights below 50 degrees can reduce their yield by 50%… this is an instance when the early bird doesn’t get the worm!

herbs

COOL: Early tO MID Spring/FALL

Sage, Dill, Lavender, Mint, Parsley, Rosemary, Catnip, Coriander, Cilantro

Now is the time to get your herbs going outdoors! Many herbs can be safely planted between March & May.

HOT: LATE SPRING/SUMMER

Basil, Oregano, Mint, Thyme, Chives, Lemongrass

Some herbs love the heat! These are just a few examples.

veggies

Cool: Early Spring/FALL

Brussel Sprouts, Broccoli, Beans, Carrots, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Kale, Lettuce, Onions, Potatoes, Parsnips, Arugula, Rhubarb

Cool-season vegetables grow best when temperatures range between 40 and 75 degrees. These crops often are those that develop edible roots, stems, leaves, or buds such as potatoes, broccoli, and spinach.

Hot: Late Spring/summer

Beets, Tomatoes, Butternut Squash, Bok Choy, Corn, Cantaloupe, Cucumbers, Celery, Eggplant, Kohlrabi, Pumpkin, Peppers, Squash, Zucchini

Warm-season vegetables: these tender crops are killed by frost and won’t perform well if temperatures drop below 50 degrees. Don’t plant before the soil and air temperatures have warmed up in spring or early summer because the seeds and plants simply won’t grow.