What to Plant?
Visit any garden store or seed-and-feed these days, and see racks of chard, kale or broccoli seedlings. Nearby are racks of tomatoes, beans and green peppers for transplant.
What’s a gardener to do? Cool season plantings or those requiring warm soil? Keep in mind that average last day of frost in our area is around April 15. So now’s the time to get that chard or kale into your garden. But tomatoes or beans? Best to wait a while to plant warm-season lovers, despite the above-normal temperatures we’ve experienced in the past days. Although tomatoes seedlings can be transplanted into soil with a temperature of around 55 degrees, growth will be slow at best. And remember: March and April weather in our area is notoriously unpredictable. Good gardening!
– Carol Hassell