What seeds have (can?) you direct sow in 5A so far?

14 years ago

Hi - I've been anxiously waiting to direct sow seeds - but we have had tons and tons of rain in zone 5A (and some frosts as well). It is supposed to stop raining on Thursday & Friday this week - and then resume again for the weekend and beyond (as of now).

Last week I had a short window and threw in a few Sugar Snap Peas, Leaf Lettuce and Spinach. I'd like to throw in some more this week if I can (or will the rain just wash them all away)?

On my seed list are: Sugar Snaps, Little Marvel Peas, Beans (Pole & Bush), Spinach, Lettuce, Beets, Radishes, Carrots, Green Onions, Baby Watermelon, Baby Pumpkin, Corn. I also have onion sets, rhubarb, asparagus and potatoes to plant. Can all but the Watermelon, Pumpkins and corn be planted now? Should I bother with all this rain or wait? I don't have any covers or anything to keep things warm/protected.

I will be buying transplants for tomatoes, all pepper varieties I'm planting, broccoli, cucumber and strawberries. I'm planning on dropping these in the ground in early May (hopefully!).

Thanks for your help!

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Comments (7)

bumble_doodle
14 years ago
We've been plagued by rain/cold temps here, too. So far I've direct sowed snow peas, beets, radishes, pak choi, romaine lettuce and spinach. Seed potatoes have also been planted but I'm a bit nervous - it's been raining ever since I put them out. Garlic planted last fall is about 4" tall.

I have tiny leaves on the radishes, lettuce and pak choi and will wait to plant 'warmer crops' in mid-May. Those would include beans, peppers (seedlings started in Jan.), squash, melons, and tomatoes.

Good luck!
User
14 years ago
I have radishes, carrots [barely], lettuce, spinach, peas, snap peas all coming up from late March and early April plantings - before all the rain started. I snuck out there yesterday and threw in some bush beans, which may or may not work out, but if not I have more seeds.
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silverwind
14 years ago
Up in the north 'burbs here, near the state border. :)

So far (including getting through that last frost) I've got chard up, snap peas, lettuces, radishes and carrots. Our rhubarb has been up and growing for well over a month now. Onions are going in as soon as I finish clearing the d*** grass weeds out of their space.
I have a hopeful 'next round' of peas I set to sprout just yesterday, and I'll be chitting the potatoes this week for a slightly later planting.

Nothing is covered and it's windy to boot where they're at, so I'd guess you haven't got any worries on those, at least! G'luck!!
heirloomjunkie
14 years ago
Silverwind, I'm worried about my potatoes too. I just bought them but can't plant them because where they are going is just flooded. How long does it take to chit them?
User
14 years ago
Since I have a regular drainage problem, I grow my potatoes in a raised sort of bin. I planted them in March, and so far they seem happy, tho the sprouts haven't yet poked out of the straw covering them.
tdscpa
14 years ago
Ha Ha Ha Ha! I still have a few of my tomato plants from last year standing up in cages I have not gotten removed yet! Took out a dozen yesterday, still have eight tomato cages to clean out Wednesday, plus my bean trellis and cucumber cage!

Can't imagine when I can till. My re-bar stakes for the tomato cages I pulled out today had mud stuck to them all the way down to 18" below ground level.

And this is a drought! Sure glad I don't have a flood, like the other half of the country. (Except that part (Texas)? that is on fire.)

It's always something!
nygardener
14 years ago
Yes, I'd put in everything but the melons, corn, and pumpkins. Your timings for the transplants sound right.

The peas, lettuce, spinach, etc. I planted in mid-April have been slow to emerge, but they're starting to come up now. I'd sow now while it's dry, let the rain hydrate the seeds, give them a little extra time to sprout, and they'll be fine. All those cool-weather seedlings can take a little frost.