There’s a lot of talk about the updated garden zones due to warming weather. But zones aren’t important to the home gardener. Growing zones tell you which plants are most likely to thrive in your area, especially regarding perennials. This is a much more accurate way to plant your vegetable garden because it is specific to your city. Cool season vegetables thrive in temperatures between 35 and 65 degrees even with a chance of frost. To find when my cool season is I googled “average temperatures in Chickamauga Georgia” and recorded on paper. For me this is around March. I also know that cool season plants can be sown or transplanted into the garden 4-6 weeks BEFORE my last frost. Just google the average last frost in your area and record that on paper. Looking at my last average frost date as April 17th, I count back 4-6 weeks and find this lets me start sowing my seeds, or putting my transplants in the ground around the first or mid March. As you can see, this matches when my “cool season” is.
Cool season vegetables consist of leaves and roots. You’ll notice there aren’t any fruiting vegetables like tomatoes, or peppers in the cool season vegetable list below. Warm season vegetables can be grown after all danger of frost is over.
Cool Season Vegetables Include:
- Leafy Greens:
- Spinach
- Lettuce
- Kale
- Swiss Chard
- Root Vegetables:
- Carrots
- Radishes
- Beets
- Turnips
- Cruciferous Vegetables:
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Brussels Sprouts
- Cabbage
- Alliums:
- Onions
- Garlic
- Leeks
- Peas and Beans:
- Peas
All of these are frost tolerant, but if you see an upcoming freeze in the forecast, you should cover with a frost cloth or 6ml plastic, which is often called agricultural plastic. I keep both in my shed, using the plastic if it is a hard freeze that is unexpected. You don’t want to allow the cloth or plastic to touch the plants, so purchase hoops that you can easily take in and out of the garden. Be sure if using plastic, you uncover the plants when the temperature rises to above freezing again.
Seeds or transplants? You can either purchase transplants at the nursery, or start your own indoors. Want to know a little secret? Check your seed packet. It will tell you if to direct sow, when to sow it, or to transplant. But here is a good rule of thumb. Notice large plants that have a longer growing period should be transplanted.
Sown by Seed:
- Leafy Greens: Lettuce, Spinach, Kale, Swiss Chard.
- Root Vegetables: Carrots, Radishes, Beets.
- Peas: Snow peas and snap peas.
Transplanted:
- Broccoli and Cauliflower: Start seeds indoors and transplant.
- Cabbage: Similar to broccoli and cauliflower, it’s often started indoors and transplanted.
- Brussels Sprouts: Start seeds indoors and transplant.
- Onions and Leeks: Can be started from seeds or sets indoors and then transplanted.
If starting indoors be sure you harden the seedlings off before placing them in the garden.
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- Begin the hardening off process about 7-10 days before you plan to transplant your seedlings.
- Start by placing them outdoors in a shaded, protected area for a few hours each day.
- Increase Exposure:
- Gradually increase the time your seedlings spend outdoors over the course of the week.
- Introduce them to direct sunlight for short periods, increasing the exposure gradually.
If you live in the Chattanooga, Tennessee or North Georgia area, I have created a Planting Guide for you that you can download. Even if you live in other areas, just find your last frost or average temperatures for the months, and adjust to plant cool season vegetables during those times. Just Click on the picture to download and print.
If you are overwhelmed with where to start creating the garden of your dreams, or tired of reading garden advice on sodial media, googling and reading conflicting advice, and watching hours of youtube, I can tell you exactly what to do to have a successful vegetable garden. I have grown many vegetable gardens over the years, made all the mistakes and learned from them. If you live in the Chattanooga or North Georgia area, book a consult at www.GrowingwithGardenchick.com
Let’s meet in your garden area and develop a plan for you to grow successfully and confidently. If you choose, along with a trusted landscaper, I can design and install your garden for you. Don’t wait another year, or waste time and money doing it all wrong. Let’s make your garden dreams come true, together.
Not in Chattanooga but have questions? You can book a “Phone a Garden” consult and get all your garden questions answered.
** I have included links to some of the products I personally have purchased and use in my garden. As an Amazon affiliate, any purchase you make while on the Amazon site will provide me with a small compensation.
Insect netting with hoops
Frost cloth with hoops
Love this one !thank you