Early Season Gardening: Growing a Lot in a Small Space

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Early Season GardeningGrowing a Lot in a Small
Space
Chuck Marr Horticulture Kansas State Univ.
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Cool vs Warm Season Crops

• Peas
• Onions
• Lettuce
• Cabbage
• Broccoli
• Potatoes
• Beets
• Carrots

• Tomatoes
• Peppers
• Beans
• Sweetcorn
• Melons
• Cucumbers
• Pumpkins
• Eggplant

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Cool Season Vegetables
Very Hardy Hardy or Half-Hardy

• Peas
• Onions
• Cabbage
• Broccoli
• Radish
• Spinach
• Romaine Lettuce

• Cauliflower
• Beets
• Carrots
• Potato
• Lettuce

All grow best in cool weather. Very hardy will
withstand severe freezes and germinate/establish
roots under lower temperatures
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Is it too early to plant a garden now?

• 50 chance of 28 F is April 9
• 50 chance of 24 F on March 31
• 50 chance of 20 F on March 19

Newly emerging cool season seeds/plants 28
F Developed cool season plants 24 F Very hardy
cool season plants 20 F
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Seedlings will not emerge immediately. It will
take several weeks before plants start to develop
from seeds.
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Use soil temperatures as a gauge when to start!
Cool Season 45 F Warm Season
55F Very Warm Season 60F
2-3"depth late morning
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Critical soil temperatures
Below threshold temperatures' 45 F for cool
season or 55 F for warm season Seeds Seeds will
not germinate or germinate very slowly. Cool
season seeds will sit there' until temperature
warms, warm season seeds may rot! Plants Plants
will not establish roots, start to grow, or (in
some cases) not absorb water or nutrients. Cool
season plants will sit there' while warm season
crops may deteriorate.
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Soil temperature is consistent (stable for 3-4
days)
Take soil temperature 2-3 inches deep about 10-11
AM Sandy soil warms up quicker than clay but
sandy soil loses warmth more quickly in cool
conditions Wet soil warms up slower than dry
soil but holds heat better Microclimate
(location around the home makes a
difference)-slope, protected by fences, location
around home or exposure
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Growing Season
90 80 70 60 50 40 30
WARM
COOL
COOL
3rd to 4th week of June
2nd weed of August
March April May June July August September
October November
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Growing Season
90 80 70 60 50 40 30
WARM
COOL
COOL
March April May June July August September
October November
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Asparagus Early (early to mid April), perennial,
and requires little care. Needs full sun, well
drained location.
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Many new hybrid varieties. More productive and
will stand taller in hot weather(California cvs)
California 157 Atlas, Apollo Jersey Knight Jersey
Supreme Jersey King Jersey Giant
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Purple Passion Purple in cool, early
season Large spears Mild, sweet flavor Not as
productive as green varieties. More purple in
early spring.
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Rhubarb Also perennial. Later in season. Needs
well drained, sunny location.
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• Peas
• Can plant very early. Germinate well in cold soil
• Garden Peas
• Snow Peas (Sugar Pod Peas)
• Snap Peas (Sugar Snap Peas)

Double row about 6 inches apart so the vines can
support each other.
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Onions
Onion sets or onion plants Plant early and
water/fertilize well to encourage a lot of spring
growth Plant thick and pull some for salad onioins
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Irish Potatoes
Cut seed 8-10 seed pieces per lb or 1 ½ to 2 oz
in size.
Sprout (root and shoot) develops from bud or eye
in potato piece.
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Cole Crops Cabbage Broccoli Chinese
Cabbage Cauliflower Collards Kale
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Select varieties that are moderately early but
not too early for dense, tight heads but still
will develop before hot weather gets here.
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Specialty cabbage Red varieties Savoy types
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Broccoli Green Comet Packman early (55-60 day
maturing varieties)
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Leaf or Looseleaf lettuce
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Bibb (most popular variety Buttercrunch) is a
semi-heading lettuce. Very tender and mild.
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Romaine or Cos Lettuce. Upright, semi-heading
with a somewhat stronger texture and flavor.
Good to mix with other lettuces
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Crisphead lettuce (often called Iceberg) takes a
long season. Best to start from plants and
transplant early. Hope for a long, cool spring.
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Mesculun
A mixture of greens crops that can be used as
salad greens in early spring or fall.
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Spinach can be planted in the fall or spring.
Fall planted spinach bolts very quickly
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Beets, Carrots and Swiss Chard (Beet relative
grown for its top)
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Dont Forget the Fall Season for Planting a
Second Crop
Cabbage/Broccoli, Potatoes Mid July Beets
Carrots Late July Beans Late
July Head/Buttercrunc Lettuce Early August Leaf
Lettuce and Radishes Mid August Spinach Mid
August
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www.oznet.ksu.edu/horticulture

• Kansas Garden Guide (Order only)
• Vegetable Garden Planting Guide
• Horticulture Tip Sheets- Vegetables
• Search publications on various vegetable topics

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Kansas State Research Extension
Knowledge for Life