Malabar spinach is a warm-season leafy crop that can be used as a hot-weather substitute for spinach and lettuce. You can follow an early spring crop of spinach or lettuce with a planting of Malabar spinach. Malabar spinach is a vining plant with thick, succulent, edible leaves. It is often compared to spinach, but it […] More
Mizuna is an Asian leafy green well suited for salads or salad mixes such as mesclun. Mizuna can also be used in stir-fries and soups and added to other dishes at the end of cooking. Mizuna is similar to mustard greens though milder flavored—a bit peppery, tangy, and with a light cabbage flavor. Mizuna is […] More
Follow these cabbage growing quick tips to get cabbage started in your garden. Sowing cabbage seeds In mild-winter regions, sow cabbage from fall to late winter for a spring crop. Sow cabbage seed outdoors 6 to 4 weeks before the last frost. Start seed indoors 12 to 10 weeks before transplanting seedlings to the garden. […] More
Kale is a cool-season crop. Plant kale in early spring and late summer. Take these kale growing tips to the garden: Sowing Kale Sow kale seeds in the garden 5 weeks before to 2 weeks before the last expected frost in spring for a summer crop. If you are in a very cold region you […] More
Curly or curled endive and escarole are cool-weather vegetables; they are varieties of the same plant. Curly endive has curled, ruffled leaves and escarole has smooth leaves. Curly endive is sometimes called frisee. Sow endive or escarole seed in the garden as early as 4 to 6 weeks before the average date of the last […] More
Lettuce grows best in cool weather and sunny locations. Spring, mid-summer, and early fall are the times of year to plant lettuce, but you can grow lettuce in the summer even in warm regions if you choose heat-tolerant and bolt-resistant varieties. There are lettuce cultivars that are ready for picking in 45 days and others […] More
Spinach is a cool-weather crop that grows best when the daytime temperature remains consistently below 75°F–commonly in spring or fall. Young plants will bolt when exposed to temperatures below 40°F, but mature plants can withstand temperatures as low as 20°F. Spinach is ready for picking in about 40 days; for a continuous harvest, sow spinach […] More
Choose cabbage varieties for planting based on the flavor you want to serve–and where you live. There are several varieties of cabbage. Here are the types of cabbage you can grow and the varieties to choose from. Savoy cabbage Savoy cabbage leaves (crinkled leaves) are more pliable than smooth cabbage. They are sweet and mild-flavored, […] More
Spring cabbage—a near misnomer because spring cabbage is commonly planted in autumn—will suffer from a few of the pests and bolting that can plague cabbage planted in spring. Set out cabbage seedlings in fall while the soil and air temperatures are still warm to start plants growing for harvest next spring. Spring cabbage started in […] More
Kale is a versatile autumn and winter vegetable. A good frost will sweeten kale overnight. At the same time, kale can withstand most winters in the garden with no protection. It’s hardy to 10°F. Kale growing tips at: How to Grow Kale. Best kale varieties to grow There are a couple of dozen different varieties […] More
Garden cress also called broadleaf cress–and other cresses: curly cress and watercress–are quick-growing cool-weather vegetables. Cresses grow easily from seed and also can be propagated from stem pieces or cuttings. Cress will sprout on water-soaked paper towels or cotton. Cress Quick Growing Tips Sow cress in the garden early in spring, as early as 4 […] More
Chicory, Belgian endive, and radicchio are cool weather crops. Chicory, Belgian endive, and radicchio are different varieties of the same plant, Cichorium intybus. Chicory, Belgian Endive, and Radicchio Quick Growing Tips Sow chicory seed in the garden as early as 2 to 3 weeks before the average date of the last frost in spring. Grow […] More
Stephen Albert