Few gardening activities are as satisfying as planting an early-season garden. In just a few weeks after planting, you’ll be able to harvest greens to help celebrate the start of another gardening season.

Root crops, cole crops and leafy greens prefer spring’s chill and can withstand light to moderate frosts and nighttime temperatures in the 40s. Peas and carrots are part of a group of tasty early-season vegetables that can stand cooler temperatures.

If the garden bed is still too wet to plant, you can plant in containers or a raised bed. Raised planting beds are naturally warmer, and you won’t have to trample on delicate soil. 

Cool-weather gardening can begin 4-6 weeks before the average date of the last killing frost. Check with your county’s Extension to find the average for your area, or you can use the weed test. If weeds have started growing, it’s a good sign your greens will start growing, too.

If you’re planting from seed, dig a furrow in the raised bed and plant seeds ½ to 1-inch deep and several inches apart, depending on the vegetable. Cover lightly with soil, pat the soil and keep consistently moist. If necessary, thin seedlings after they’ve grown about 2-3 inches tall.

You can also plant cool-season crops as transplants. Garden centers are typically stocked with broccoli plants, cabbage plants, onion sets and potatoes.

Plan for planting more vegetables starting 2-4 weeks before the frost-free date. These vegetables include carrots, Swiss chard, spinach, radishes, turnips, beets, lettuce, parsnips, and mustard greens. Plant another round of seeds at four-week intervals, to ensure a continuous supply.

Because spring weather is unsettled, watch the weather forecast for temperatures that drop below freezing. Cover plants with buckets, milk jugs, containers or old blankets to protect plants. Remove coverings each morning to rewarm the soil. 

Some vegetable gardeners take advantage of early season gardening to add perennial vegetables to their gardens, too. Plant horseradish, asparagus, chives and rhubarb now for many seasons of spring gardening. 

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Plant Covers Freeze Protection 10 ft x 30 ft Floating Row Cover 0.9oz/yd²

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Lightweight and Breathable MATERIAL Good for protecting Plant: the plant frost cover material is 0.74 oz/sq non-woven polypropylene fabric, which is lightweight, breathable, and durable. The plant blanket frost protection allows sunlight reach the plants, perfect for protecting plants from the damage of freeze or frost. Wide Application In your Garden Work. The plant row cover not only can work as a barrier against frost, but also can be a great tool for germination and good for rapid seedling growth. By using the fabric plant covers over your plant, you can start the plant earlier in the spring and extending the growing season of your plants. How to Use the Plant Covers: you can cover the plant covers for freeze over your the plants loosely directly and then secure the plant frost blanket with soil, stones or staples. You can also support the floating row covers with a hoop, make enough room for plants to breath and grow. You could also cut the plant covers into different sizes for different purposes.

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Berry & Bird Rabbiting Spade, Trenching Shovel

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Ideal Tool for All Gardeners Use: Our heavy duty trenching shovel is designed by a professional gardening tool designer. Lifetime Durability: This heavy duty drain spade is made of high-quality stainless steel, it is very strong and durable, even if it is used for high-strength work, it will not bend. Ergonomic Wood Handle: The handle of this planting spade is made of ash hardwood harvested from FSC-certified forests and has an ergonomically streamlined design, making it very suitable for everyone's hands. Multi-Use: This digging shovel is generally used for digging trenches, digging holes, transplanting, edging, moving compost, cutting thick turf and furrowing. The sharp blade allows you to cut, scoop, dig, lift and dice in hard soil.

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Corona E-Grip Trowel

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Handle Material: Aluminum. Handle Length: 14-1/2 in. Overall Length: 14.5 in. Head Material: Aluminum. Handle Color: Red.

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