Some gardeners live in fear of frost. Even as the days begin to warm, a surprise cold snap could mean the end of the road for precious tomatoes and peppers sown too soon. Growers in a handful of tropical areas may not experience such trepidation, but for most gardeners, the fear of frost is alive and well.
There are cold hardy vegetables that can be planted in your garden before, though. In fact, there may be more of them than you think.
Certain cold-hardy plants can survive a light or moderate frost and prosper even if spring temperatures have not quite stabilized. These plants can thrive in cold soil temperatures, compared to their later season counterparts that need a warmer growing medium.
Carrots, corn, parsnips, spinach, turnips, peas, onions, lettuce and seed potatoes can all be sown directly into the ground once the soil has thawed enough to be workable.
?Plants like carrots and even corn, they are really hard to transplant and they will germinate right into the soil anyway,? said Wendy Wilber, statewide Florida master gardener coordinator at the University of Florida.
Some long-season seedlings can also be planted before the last frost. Broccoli, beets, cabbage, cauliflower and kale can all be started from seed indoors before bringing them out several weeks before your projected frost-free date. Seedlings should be ?hardened off,? or brought outside to face the elements during the day for about a week before you transplant them in order to let the plants acclimate to the elements.
?You?re gradually exposing them to lower temperatures, increased air flow and increased light,? said Kate Garland, horticultural specialist at the University of Maine Cooperative Extension. ?Even a week is helpful.?
If you do not start your plants from seed, you can still purchase seedlings from a nursery to plant before the last frost. Just make sure those plants have been properly hardened off as well.
Some perennial crops can be planted before the last frost-free date as well. ?Things like asparagus and rhubarb and strawberries, and woody plants like blueberries, raspberries and fruit trees do better if they?re planted a little bit early,? Garland said.
