I hope the following information helps to get you off to a productive spring and summer.
If you are into planting by moon phases, The Farmer's Almanac Planting Guide suggests that above ground crops be planted during the light of the moon (new to full). Below ground crops should be planted during the dark of the moon (from the day after it's full to the day before it's new). More or less gravitational pull is the idea behind it.
Here are the Farmer's Almanac's suggestions for planting in March in generally good climate areas. I'm assuming that means us:
March 19th-20th are
favorable for planting seeds which yield above the ground. From the
21st to the 23rd seeds will tend to rot. The
24th and the 25th are the
best days for planting above ground crops, especially peas. But also beans and cucumbers. Plant seedbeds during this time. The
26th through 29th is a barren period, and the
30th to the 31st are good days for planting root vegetables and flowers.
In March, in the Florence area, one can plant early peas and broccoli, early beets, brussels sprouts, cabbage starts, early carrots, early cauliflower starts, early celery, early collards, early kale, leeks, lettuce, onion sets, parsley, parsnips, radishes, swiss chard, and early turnips. Our climate is fairly favorable.
But if you put in tender starts or have small seedlings emerging, you may want to be safe and use crop covers on cold nights until the end of April, at which time we should be done with frosts. There are light (not plastic) crop covers available at all the nurseries. I think each package will cover at least one, and probably two beds. They let in the light and the rain, but keep your soil a bit warmer. I used them last winter on a bed in another location and had greens all winter.
To plant by the
Moon Calendar for areas where the climate is favorable, the following list can be useful for
April, if you have not already planted these in
March:
"April 20101st-3rd. Good days for planting Beets, Carrots, Radishes, Turnips, and other root crops. Also good for Cabbage, Cauliflower, Lettuce, Kale, Celery, and other leafy vegetables. Start seedbeds. 4th-5th. Barren days. Do no planting. 6th-8th. Favorable days for planting Beets, Carrots, Turnips, Radishes, Onions, and other root crops. 9th-10th. Excellent time to kill weeds, Briars, Poison Ivy, and other plant pests. 11th-13th. Favorable days for planting root crops, extra good for vine crops. Set strawberry plants. 14th-15th. Poor planting days. Break ground or cultivate. 16th-17th. Favorable for planting Beans, Corn, Tomato starts, Peppers, and other above ground crops. 18th-19th. Poor days for planting, seeds tend to rot. 20th-21st. Plant tomatoes, beans, peppers, corn, and other above ground crops on these most fruitful days. Plant seedbeds. Start flower gardens. 22nd-25th. Grub out weeds, briars, and other plant pests. 26th-28th. First two days good for planting corn, melons, squash, tomatoes, and other above ground crops. Last day favorable for planting root crops. All days favorable for planting flowers 29th-30th. Good says for planting beets, carrots, radishes, turnips, and other root crops. Also good for cabbage, cauliflower, lettuce, kale, celery, and other leafy vegetables. Start seedbeds."
I would love to find out how this works for our gardeners who use this guide. Feedback would be helpful and interesting.
