The old wives’ adage “March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb” was certainly not the case this year. March came in like a lion and pretty much roared the whole month, ending with sleet and more snow. The whole month I kept thinking, “Well at least we will have some nice weather at the end of March.” Alas, it was not to be.
The wet cold March weather has certainly made gardening challenging this year. When I was visiting our family in Portland last week, my son suggested that discussing how to garden in such soggy and cold conditions would make a good blog post. I had to agree.
Setting aside the perennials and bulbs that either made it through the cold and rain or didn’t, let’s talk about vegetable gardens. And I am going to say that if you have a heated greenhouse, none of these suggestions are for you, you lucky people. These tips are for those of us who – for whatever reasons – do not have the luxury of gardening all year long.
The seed packets always tell you the dates the seeds should be started indoors. Some will also suggest sewing directly into the garden. If you did start those seeds indoors in January or February, your biggest challenge will be keeping them from getting too leggy and tall before the weather warms enough to put them outside. (Which at this point, may be late May!)
The most important thing to remember when planting vegetable seeds is not the air temperature, but the soil temperatures. Soil temperatures can be measured with – what else? – a soil thermometer. These can be found in most good garden centers for around $10-$15 and will be worth the investment in no time. Each type of veggie has its minimum soil temperature where the seeds will germinate and thrive. Planting too soon will cause the seeds and whatever roots they have thrown to stop growing. In soggy soils, this will also cause them to rot and there goes any hope of a good crop.
For example, peas and onions like cooler minimum soil temps of between 34 ̊ and 36 ̊, and potatoes and carrots will do well with soil temps between 39 ̊ to 41 ̊. But tomatoes need at least 50 ̊ to 55 ̊ to grow, and peppers need it even warmer at 55 ̊ to 60 ̊. And to be safe, I would take a soil thermometer reading every day for about 5 days to make sure the temperatures are staying at the desired levels before putting the seeds or seedlings in the ground.
Also to keep in mind before planting outdoors, is that the garden soil must be easily worked and by that I mean dry. That may not be easy, especially this year, but placing clear plastic over the beds when rain is expected may help the soil dry faster. It will also help warm the soil in case we get some sun. Don’t use black plastic, though, as - although it will keep the garden dry and warm - it tends to heat up so much that it kills all the living organisms in the soil that the plants need to grow.
There are also minimum air temperatures needed to grow vegetables. Tomatoes need at least 50̊ but do best when the air temps reach between 60 ̊ and 80̊ and won’t set fruit until the night temperatures reach 55 ̊. Peas and potatoes are okay in cooler air temperatures, from about 42̊, but peppers and eggplants need consistent temps of 60 ̊ with optimum temps of 70 ̊ to 80 ̊, which is why I leave our pepper growing to the experts in the nurseries.
If you have not already started those seeds inside, it’s still not too late. You can pre-sprout seeds by putting them between two pieces of damp paper towels and then into a plastic bag. Keep them in a warm place until the seeds germinate, which can be from two days to two weeks, depending on the crop. This information should also be on the seed packets. Once the outdoor soil has warmed, you can then place the sprouted seedlings into the ground, being careful not to damage the fragile first roots.
In the effort of full disclosure, I generally do not plant vegetable or flower seeds in my garden. I do not have a heated greenhouse nor the patience to raise seeds. And I also do not have enough heat in my gardens to grow vegetables because we live so close to the Bay. But that is why I like to support farmers' markets in Tillamook County.
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