Hello. Me again. Is it too early?

On the back of the seed packets it says "sow as soon as soil is workable", or something like that. My beds are workable now. Is it too early to get some seeds into the ground?

Specifically...
Beets
Carrots
Chives
Cilantro
Kale
Brocolli
Spinich
Leaf Lettuce
Turnips
Swiss Chard

Cheers.

I'll stick my neck out here and say go for it. Others may disagree. Most of what's on your list are cool crops that can handle cool weather. I always plant cool crops early 'cause I'm anxious for spring. I figure if they don't grow, there's plenty of time to plant something else.

Some of the stuff on your list I succession plant. For instance, I'll plant one square of lettuce every weekend for 10-12 weeks.

A lot of us are getting anxious!

Cilantro likes a little warmer weather, but who knows?

I have lettuce, carrots, beets, chard, and spinach in (Western Washington)
I expect I may have to replant beets, chard and spinach again in late April.

Peas are famous for surviving after a crazy-early ground time.

The issue may not be "Will they survive" but "Will they thrive?" Sometimes, without a good start they just never really produce well.

"The issue may not be "Will
they survive" but "Will they thrive?" Sometimes, without a good start
they just never really produce well."

I second that, especially beets.

I was asking this question a few days back - this is my 2nd Spring with SFG. Last year I started at traditional times. And yes, here in Acton, I was confused because the dirt in my boxes is beautifully friable. I know everyone says raised beds of any sort are ready earlier, but I wasn't expecting this! So, to get myself out of Boffer's hair and into the garden where I belong... ....I am starting peas now. If they don't thrive, then the ones I plant in two weeks will, and the ones two weeks after that.....

get out there and git going! Uh oh, I just realized the first major disadvantage of all my Table Top SFG beds.

And my wife loves to garden. I gotta think about this-I'm bummed now...

Dear Boffer,

please reference the emoticon at the bottom of your signature!

(written when his emoticon was banging his head against the brick wall!)

Hey Martha, I'm in Maynard and was thinking of starting peas outside tomorrow.
I'm late but plan to start leeks and mint indoors tomorrow too.

This is also my second year with SFG. We just bought trellis materials and I made a bonehead mistake of buying plumbing pipes instead of electrical conduit so it cost a lot more and is heavier. hopefully it still works!

MsMinchin wrote:hopefully it still works!

It will work, although it may not be as flexible. Electrical pvc is UV resistant; plumbing pvc is not and won't last as long.

martha wrote:Dear Boffer,

please reference the emoticon at the bottom of your signature!

Obviously, the only rational solution at this point, is to cut off all the table legs and set them back on the ground

They tell us that we'll have a frost as late as May 31, but I'm taking the plunge early. I built myself a clear vinyl-covered tenthouse this year and planted 7 sq feet in it with carrots, spinach, bunching onion (scallions), chives, white radishes, all lettuce mix and red radishes.
This morning it was 32 outdoors at six am and at ten it was 45. In my tenthouse it was 60 under gray skies. I covered my rows with row cover at nite.

My tenthouse fits perfectly over one of my 4 b 4 raised beds that are 12" deep. I wanted to try for some extra early crops.
Come visit me at my blog: http://quiltbeagardens.blogspot.com
where I am taking photos or my trials and errors, my experiments, my first time seed starting, and having a grand time.
I'll even include pictures of my flower garden on my blog, and recipes as they are learned.
With using so few seeds trying them early, you can always replant later if need be.
Take a chance.

WOW beautiful blog!!

Deborah ....I'm rainsong

MsMinchin - howdy neighbor!

How are your seeds doing?

I waited a few days because of the monsoon we were having, but the peas are in the ground now. This is my second year SFG (or any-G) and my first year trying to start seedlings indoors. I have learned what 'leggy' means the hard way. I started all kinds of seeds indoors, recognizing that I'm going a little overboard. Leeks, onions, green onions, lavender are doing well, but my broccoli got leggy so I moved them outside and planted them a little deep. This will be a fun experiment...

I'm with you in the going overboard department! How are you doing?

Like tomatoes, you need to transplant broccoli outside nearly up to their first true leaves. They like being buried deep and will be stronger for it. Like toms, they also grow roots all along the buried stem.
Good luck with your great garden.

I'd think with that ocean breeze over the point your town is on you should be ok with your cold weather crops. Sounds like you have a nice collection of veggies to grow. Have a happy season and take pictures for us!