Cucumbers in flower.


Cabbages on the other hand like cool weather when they mature and can be sown as late as July. Root vegetables such as carrots and potatoes grow best when the weather is cool in spring and again in fall.


vest. Among these are salad greens such as lettuce. Herbs such as basil and cilantro are ready for harvest in about four weeks, so plant several crops a couple of weeks apart to ensure a continual harvest of the best tasting leaves. Cold weather crops include kale, lettuce, peas, potatoes, spinach and Swiss chard. Leafy vegetables such as Swiss chard and


mustard greens taste better when harvested for their young leaves. Harvest outer leaves of chard when they are four to eight inches tall. Most varieties produce between 22 and 26 leaves. You can continue this harvest as new leaves emerge and grow. Harvest kale right after the first frost for the best flavor. Peas can be planted when the soil is still


quite cool, but not cold. They take about two months to mature so if you want to plant a second crop, do so in late June or early July to harvest before the first frost. Beans should be planted when the soil


reaches about 15 degrees C. You can cointinue to sow until early July for a con- tinual harvest. Pick beans often to ensure


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that the plant will continue to produce. One way to speed germination of vegetables


and flowers that require a warmer soil tem- perature is to cover the soil with black plastic. There is also a specialty product that allows in- frared rays to pass through to warm the soil but will not let in visible light. This product deters weeds. Melon, eggplant, corn, pepper, squash and pepper seeds will benefit from this. Cabbages on the other hand like cool


weather when they mature and can be sown as late as July. Root vegetables such as carrots and potatoes grow best when the weather is cool in spring and again in fall. Sow carrots directly in the soil from mid-April on when the soil temperature reaches 12.7 C. Potatoes can be put in when you plant peas and the soil tempera- ture is about 7.2 C. To learn exactly how to plant your seeds,


you should rely on the information written on the seed packet by your seed supplier. Their instructions will be specific to the va- riety you are planning to grow. `


Taking soil temperature Use a probe thermometer, available at


garden supply stores. Insert the thermometer two inches


(five cm) into the soil for early season and small, seeded vegetables including beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, car- rots, cauliflower, kale, leeks, lettuce, on- ions, parsnips, peas, radishes, spinach, Swiss chard and turnips. Insert the thermometer four inches (10


cm) for warm season vegetables such as tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, cucumbers, squash, corn and melons. Take the temperature at the same time


each day for several days in a row and av- erage them out. The best time to take the temperature is mid-day. Start thinking about planting cool sea-


son crops when soil temperature averages at least 45 degrees F (7 degrees C) and warm season crops when the average is 60 degrees F (15 degrees C) or more.


Foodie 2012 • 21


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