60 degree days have already arrived even though the next day the temperatures fell back into the 30's, but spring is definitely on its way. Even my tulips are up out of the ground a few inches and it won't be long before the tulips will be in bloom.
Not only does the thought of spring flowers make me excited but the ability to get my vegetable garden back up and running and often I received questions of when can I get my garden started, what can I plant in the spring time?
First thing is to know when your last average frost- date is and then we can plan from there. For our area our last average frost date is around April 15-25th depending on your exact location. Based on that information here are guidelines for when you can sow cool-season vegetables for early spring planting as well as whether or not they should be planted as a seed or transplant.
Very Hardy (Plant 4-6 weeks before last average frost date)
| SEED | TRANSPLANT |
| Kale | Asparagus |
| Kolhrabi | Broccoli |
| Leaf lettuce | Cabbage |
| Pea | Horseradish |
| Rutabaga | Onion (set or plant) |
| Salsify | Potato |
| Spinach | Rhubarb |
| Turnip |
Frost-Tolerant (Plant 2-3 weeks before last average frost date)
| SEED | TRANSPLANT |
| Beet | Cauliflower |
| Carrot | Chinese Cabbage |
| Chard | |
| Mustard | |
| Parsnip | |
| Radish |
For more information about getting your garden started in the spring contact your local extension office or sign up for one of our upcoming Lunch and Learns – All About Vegetable Gardens from Noon – 1 pm at the following offices:
- Brown County – March 18, 2016
- Hancock County – March 21, 2016
- Schuyler County – March 23, 2016
- Pike County – March 24, 2016
- Adams County – March 25, 2016
For more information or to register contact your local Extension office or visit our website at http://web.extension.illinois.edu/abhps/ .