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  • Local stores like Atwoods carry seeds for many varieties of cool weather vegetables including onions, carrots and peas as pictured here. Photo by Rowynn Ricks

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March 18, 2010

It's time to plant cool season vegetables

Michelle Seeber Woodward News

Woodward, Okla. — Now that mid-March has arrived, it’s time for gardeners to start planting their cool season vegetables.

The different types of vegetables for the cool season include broccoli, cabbage, carrots, lettuce, onions, peas, spinach, turnips, asparagus, cauliflower and rhubarb,  according to Dana Bay, OSU extension educator.

A cool season vegetable is one that thrives best under cool conditions when the average temperature is 70 degrees or less versus a warm season vegetable which likes temperatures of 70 degrees to 90 degrees, she said.

“For your cool season vegetables, soil temperature needs to be at least 40 degrees,” Bay said, noting “mid-March is typically when we reach that threshold, and we have reached that threshold.”

But, she noted there is still danger of a hard freeze, which could damage some plants.

“The average last date of a hard freeze in this part of the state is mid to the end of March,” Bay said. “That’s ... getting down to 28 degrees.”

“Some cool season crops are more hearty than others, and can usually stand a light frost,” she explained “But that does not mean you won’t get something in the ground and have an April hard freeze that may cause some problems.”

Bay noted a freeze can be harmful because the seed has sprouted and the plant has broken through the surface.

However, she said, “for the most  part all of the cool vegetables I mentioned would be hearty. I didn’t really name off anything that is too susceptible.”

In terms of soil for a vegetable garden, “you want to ... determine what kind you have and go from there,” Bay said. “Soil with lots of organic matter is best. Because (this area has) a lot of sandy or clay soils, you may want to incorporate organic material into the garden.”

“You can buy  (organic matter) from your local stores that have lawn and garden supplies,” she said, noting “sometimes you might be able to (get) it from a neighbor that has a ranch to get some cattle manured soil.”

She noted organic content is important because as it decomposes, it improves nutrient availability for plants and also improves soil aeration and drainage, which helps sandy soils stay moist.

Since many plants also require fertilizer, the soil should be tested to determine what is needed, she said.

"The very best way to determine fertilizer needs is to conduct a soil sample,” Bay said. “It will let you know how much phosphorus, nitrogen and other nutrients you need. Those routine tests are available through our office.”

For more information about gardening, Bay can be reached at (580) 256-2200. Gardeners may also visit the OSU Cooperative Extension website for the Oklahoma Garden Planning Guide at http://osufacts.okstate.edu. 

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