Is It Too Early To Plant?

Wait a few more weeks to plant tomatoes.

It only takes one warm weekend for gardening fever to become an epidemic, making everyone anxious to plant. But is it too early? The answer to this question depends on what you are planting, where you are located, and how much risk you are willing to take.

Cool season crops can be planted before the last frost date, which averages around the end of March for coastal communities and mid April further inland. These crops include lettuce, spinach, radish, and cilantro. For some cool season vegetables like potatoes and garden peas it is actually too late to plants. Warm season crops include tomatoes, peppers, corn, beans, cucumbers, and squash. Wait until after the average last frost date to set these outside. If you are willing to risk losing a few plants you can plant earlier than recommended. Some years this will pay off, others it will not. To learn more read the whole article posted on the Pender Cooperative Extension website: http://pender.ces.ncsu.edu/2013/03/is-it-time-to-plant/