I can't even work my soil yet, much less plant anything.

tj

I wouldn't be able to either if not for raised beds.

I have been tempted to scatter a bunch of poppy seeds, but haven't yet-maybe tomorrow, because we are grilling out and then it will really seem summery :)

Not me...I'm chicken! LOL!!

Kat

I sprinkled some spinach seeds last Saturday--March 17--a record for me. It's too wet to "plant" but sprinkling I think is OK!

Becky

It's complete muck here although I was surprised how much was thawed. I sprinkled some poppy seed in one area. I did have fairly decent success one year in lettuce broadcasted early. Let us know how it goes!
Linda

I have raised beds too, and planted spinach yesterday. The soil is perfect, was covered with shredded leaves before winter and the worms, omg!!! Billions of them.

Most years, I can't get an early garden in, due to wet ground. The soil here in the Fox Valley is very fertile, but it is also heavy, and dries out slowly. My garden is quite large (over 10,000 square feet) so raised beds wouldn't work for me... I'm more of a small-scale farmer than a large-scale gardener. ;-)

But at times like this, I wish that I had a few raised beds, especially as I read some of the comments above. It might be worthwhile to put just a couple in, for those early spring peas, and to give an extra head-start for some of the long-season peppers & pole beans. Maybe next year!

Yes, lettuce, spinach, broccoli, and potatoes. My soil is very sandy (I'm about 1/4 mile from the lake in Sheboygan) and so was workable and not too cold. I ran out to Menards for about 400 lbs of manure and worked a couple of bags into the soil before planting. Also my strawberries have greened up nicely. Hope I didn't jump the gun too much, but the nice weather just made me want to get going!

Mike

During the "warm" days at Christmas time, I sifted the raised beds I wanted to plant in early. Around the 1st week in March, I put in a prearranged group of seeds (anything that sprouts in cool weather)in those beds. I figure I'm cutting out the middle step using winter sowing ideas.

If we had the projected rain, the seeds probably would be up by now. However, I am still waiting. A loose mulch of straw might be a good idea, till we get some real rain.

Until then, I am moving many plants before they start growing with enthusiasm. ..............GL

Not to scare anyone, but next week is showing a nice cold shot into S Wi... Should be some freezing nights (mid 20's?), hopefully no lower. Haven't seeded anything, I think once next weeks cold shot gets out of here, i'm going for it. My peach tree buds are really swelling, but hopefully tonite/tomorrow's cool down will tell it to slow down!

My square foot garden beds were perfect last week so I planted some peas and spinach. I've been moving and dividing out some perennials this week before they get growing much. Rudbeckia anyone?

I jumped! On 3-27, earliest ever, I planted snow peas, 2 kinds of lettuce, and 3 kinds of radishes. No big deal if they rot in the ground and I have to replant. Strawberry leaves are growing and something is eating them! It's not cutworms, big poops like a caterpillar. I pulled away straw looking for the #$!%&! critter but couldn't find it.

Well, the predictable has happened and its sub freezing ;-)

Next week when the winds and bitter temps go away we will have to check on things and see what survived and what needs replanting.

Yep. I went to Milaegers last weekend and potted up some pansies for my patio. I do this every year and they usually get snowed on, then recover. It was 20 last night and they look pretty crunchy. I'm not so sure this time...

I think anybody jumping the gun this year got shot. ;-) This cold snap is even killing plants in the deep South.

Yup, I am thinking we may have to skip cool season plants this year and just move right into the warm season stuff.

That's life.

I started some radishes and lettuce in my unheated greenhouse. Then I figured what the heck, and threw some radish seeds in the ground. They won't even be up before this cold snap is over so hopefully they'll be ok.

So strawberrys should have leaves by now?? I Knew mine were dead! They were in container and sat outside all winter. Last winter kept them in garage and they did fine...toobad..ohwell. I'm starting planting tomorrow in the garden ...carrots/beets/peas/etc... Looks like spring starts this weekend...