Daytime temps here are usually above 60, occasionally low 70's. Night time temps in the low 30s, but seldom ices the bird fountain. I haven't tested it, but I imagine morning soil temp is low 30's, warming to maybe 50 by late afternoon. Daytime temps will gradually increase, last overnight freeze mid-March or so. Always possible to get one later than that, of course.
I have a couple dozen cauliflower and broccoli plants set out that are doing nicely, now that I've solved the critter problem we had (mice). A worn out old tomato plant in the GH gives us about a quart a week (just enough for Cindy's snacks), a new plant has fruit that will ripen in a couple of weeks, and several new seedlings will be ready to plant in March.
But the purpose of this post is to find out what else I can do at this time of year. At what soil temperature will sweet peas germinate? If I get them growing early enough, I can get a crop before the heat does them in.
What can be seeded successfully in cold soil?
What can be seeded inside and transplanted, in addition to broccoli and cauliflower?
Thanks,
Frank
(edited for typos)
This message was edited Jan 8, 2010 12:35 PM
Seeding and germination in cold soil?
I found this link for you. It gives the temperatures that various seeds need to germinate. Check the list for vegetables that germinate at lower temperatures that you might be able to at least start in the greenhouse. Different lettuces and greens, radishes, onions and beets come to mind.
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/hil/hil-8703.html
It is my understanding that if you plant the seeds and the soil temperature isn't right, the seeds will just take longer to germinate. You could cover the soil with black plastic for a week or so, to warm up the soil some.
I've had good success planting the following as soon as the soil can be worked in the spring here in central Indiana (zone 5b):
any lettuce
all members of the cole family (cabbage, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, etc.)
Swiss chard
spinach
onions, leeks, shallots (sets and seeds)
beets
peas
potatoes
radishes
I would imagine you could plant /seed many of these directly in the ground outside in your area now.
This message was edited Jan 8, 2010 4:48 PM
Hi Frank...
Here's a chart I found a while ago when asking myself the same question - lol...
http://tomclothier.hort.net/page11.html
If you google seed germination temperature or seed germination soil temperature a lot of good info comes up...
Most seeds will germinate at most temps, eventually. Of course we don't want to wait weeks, so we try for optimum conditions. The only seed I have personally found that won't germinate in cold soil are beans - the seeds rot;o( Best for cool soils are your brassicas, carrots and greens (lettuce, chard, spinach, etc.)...
I can plant peas from Sept-Feb and they always germinate, so I don't think peas are too sensitive to cooler soils (40°-50°). I do know the blooms are frost tender.
I personally prefer to direct seed all my veggies using the low desert planting calendar as a guideline:
http://www.yourguidetogreen.com/TheUrbanFarm/wp-content/uploads/Planting_Calendar.pdf
However, I normally do start the following inside either for primary crop transplants or as back up in case my direct seeded ones don't come up:
tomatoes
peppers
broccoli
cauliflower
basil
cucumbers
Happy Gardening!!
Kelly
Good info, folks. Thanks.
The soil temp late afternoon was just at 60 degrees, so there are more choices than I'd thought. Sweet peas and spinach get sown in the bed tomorrow, and bell peppers in seed flats in the house.
Frank
Do you mean sweet peas, as in the flowers or veggies. The flowers are cold hardy I plant them here and they have never frozen, they dislike the heat more then the cold.
Oh 60°? Lotsa goodies you can plant then!
Be careful with term "sweet peas". Sweet peas (Lathyrus odoratus) are toxic and since the pods somewhat resemble Pisum sativum, those unfamiliar with edible plants are sometimes tempted to eat them. If you are referring to Pisum sativum, please use the term English pea or garden pea.
Yeah, I meant the veggies.