Plant Cool-Season Vegetables

Kale and other vegetables can be planted in cool weather.

By Jenny Peterson

In some parts of the country, the end of February marks the time when cool-weather vegetables can be planted—and if you don't live in those areas, be patient because your time is coming soon. If you're like me and are fairly new to cool-season vegetable gardening, there are some basics that are good to know.

 

What vegetables can be planted?

The list is long for February (and March) planting. If you like salad greens, you're in luck—you can put in transplants of spinach, lettuce, cabbage, kohlrabi, and kale. But don't forget to plant broccoli, asparagus crowns, artichoke crowns, and onion sets. And hold on for chard, Asian greens, and mustard greens; they can be planted in early March. These vegetables love the cool days and are very frost tolerant, so don't worry about losing them if the temperatures dip below zero.

 

How do I know when I can plant?

Always check with your local garden authorities about proper times for your area. It's a good idea to "stagger" your plantings so that all of your spinach doesn't mature at the same time, for example. If you really like greens, choose the ones you want to grow and plant a few new transplants every week throughout the season. That way, you always have something to harvest and eat each week.

 

What kind of pests should I look for?

There are a number to watch out for—cabbage worms, cabbage loopers, army worms, aphids, and mildew to name a few. For worms, try picking them off by hand or sprinkling a little cayenne pepper on the leaves before the cabbage and broccoli heads form. Use a fungicide for mildew issues, and try insecticidal soap for aphids. Because these are edible crops, always check the label for any product you use and be sure to follow all the directions. Some products are not meant to be used on food crops, while others can be used if certain precautions are taken.