Cool Season Vegetable and Herb Seeding

With the arrival of a little snow along the Front Range we can put away the outdoor hoses until the next warm spell and get to the matters at hand. Instead of dreaming and focusing on spring I thought for five seconds about cleaning out a basement closet. But when I walked in to the room my gumption went away in three seconds, maybe next week. The important matters are any indoor related garden activity which may include seed starting, keeping the houseplants happy, making a new terrarium or succulent dish or registering for an up coming class or seminar. Are you keeping your thumbs green?

Seed starting - 

Indoor seed starting in January is for plants that need a few more weeks to grow to transplant size that will go and grow outside in their best planting window. The list is short for vegetables that need 10-14 weeks - asparagus seeds (not crowns), artichoke, onions, leeks, celery and celeriac. For indoor seeding tips, click HERE.

The more common cool season vegetables including broccoli, Brussels' sprouts, and cauliflower can be transplanted outside starting in March through early May or so (weather and soil conditions permitting, or if using cold frames). These plants need anywhere from 4 to 6 weeks from seed to transplant size. Plus they'll need a week or so to harden off. They can be started indoors by seed in February or March. These plants can also be purchased as transplants in garden centers later in March and April. 

I'll post the ornamental annual seeding chart in the very next blog, some need 12-14 weeks as well.  

Chart below -

• Days to emerge means the average range of when the seeds will sprout whether seeded indoors or outdoors. 
• Some cool season vegetables prefer being directly seeded outside in soil and not started inside, like arugula and other fast growing leafy greens.
• Some vegetables can be seeded indoors for transplanting later outdoors or directly seeded outside like kohlrabi and kale. 
• Using May 15 as the average last spring frost date.