Easy Early Spring Choices to Grow from Seed -

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Here in northeast Oklahoma fruit trees, bare root roses and seed racks are showing up in stores. That's our signal to start the early spring vegetables and spring flwoers that do not tolerate the heat of early summer.

If you are dreaming of spring, there are some plants you can get going with in February.

Cool weather flowers such as alyssum and calendula are easy to start from seed. Early season vegetables include green beans, beets, radishes, snow peas and everything in the brassicas and cole family.

If you are new to seed starting pick up a handy book such as "Starting Seeds" by Barbara Elllis. It's small enough to fit into the pocket of your garden apron and has all the basics plus some fun things to try. Published by Storey Books http://storey.com/, $9 list price and $4 at online booksellers.

When deciding whether to start seeds indoors with heat or outside in a cold frame or in milk jugs, check a germination resource such as http://www.hardyplants.com/A.htm or http://tomclothier.hort.net/index.html

Early Vegetables that are easy to start from seed

Beans, Italian flat, bush beans, runner beans pole beans though not ornamental beans yet.
 
Greens: Cabbage, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Brussels Sprouts, Cima de Rappa, Brocollini, Spinach, Lettuce, Chard, Kale, Arugula,
 
Radishes - red, long white, etc.
 
Beets - round, cylindrical, etc. 
 
Snow Peas

Carrots

Turnip, Kohlrabi

Sets: Onions and Potatoes
 
 Cool weather Flowers that are easy to start from seed
 
Alyssum flowers in cool weather during spring and summer.
Calendula or Pot Marigold
Calendula or Pot Marigold makes nice bouquets and can be added to salads. They also bring early pollinators to the garden.
 
There is a nice chart here http://veggieharvest.com/calendars/zone-7.html

The OK State Univeristy planting guide has a complete list at
http://pods.dasnr.okstate.edu/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-1092/HLA-6004web.pdf

Comments

Unknown said…
I love this time of year, because even though it's still chilly in Upstate SC, the greenhouse is full of seedlings for my little heirloom plant business. There's nothing better than the smell of transplanting 10 varieties of basil--my hands smell like summer! Enjoy your seed sowing!
February 20, 2013 at 11:00 AM
Molly Day said…
Hi Julie - Another shipment of seeds just arrived at our house yesterday.

I always order twice as many varieties and twice as many seeds as we can possibley use.

Then, I order plugs from the Tulsa Master Gardener's fund raiser.

Tell us more about your heirloom plants!
February 26, 2013 at 6:20 AM
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