Spring Vegetables

They include broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kohlrabi, lettuce, onions, peas, radish, and turnips. Most gardeners prefer to use transplants instead of direct seeding into the garden. Transplants can be spaced more evenly and are more competitive with weeds. The spring crops that preform best when directly seeded into the garden are peas, radish, and turnip.

When planting a transplant into the garden, plant deep enough to completely cover the greenhouse soil with your garden soil. Always water the new plant thoroughly. The water helps ensure good soil contact with the roots. It helps if a very small amount of a water soluble fertilizer is added to the water. Do not over apply the fertilizer to a young, tender plant.

Spring is a great time to improve your garden soil. If it has been over 5 years since you have gotten a soil test, it is recommended that you get a current test done. Lime, if needed, can be applied in the spring. While adding manure to the soil helps improve the organic matter content and fertility, it should be applied at least 120 days prior to harvest to ensure food safety. Be especially careful when using manure on crops you will be eating raw.

To learn more about growing vegetables, attend the Saturday, April 14, workshop on Growing Good Vegetables. This workshop will give you the best and latest information on how to grow the best vegetables in your garden, and we will have a session devoted totally to tomatoes too! In addition, we have a session stressing the importance and benefits of eating healthy right from your own garden.

The 2012 Saturdays Schools will be held at the Anthracite Heritage Museum, Bald Mountain Road, Scranton, PA 18504. Registration and refreshments will be from 9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. and the sessions end at 12:30 p.m. There is a cost of five dollars per person for each workshop.

For more information contact your local extension office. In Lackawanna County call 570-963-6842 or email LackawannaMG@psu.edu.

John Esslinger, Extension Educator
Penn State Extension