What to plant in Cooler Temps - Mickman Brothers Garden Center

Getting the itch to plant, but there’s still danger of frost? No worries! There are still plenty of things that can thrive when soil and air temperatures are cool! Try these cool-season vegetables, flowers, and herbs now while your warm-season crops are happily soaking up the heat inside.

Vegetables:

Buttercrunch Lettuce

•  Any of the cruciferous crops (think broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, kohlrabi, and Brussels sprouts) thrive in cooler temperatures. In fact, frost actually increases the coloring on ornamental varieties of these crops!
•  Lettuce and spinach varieties are typically sweeter and more tender in the cooler temperatures. And they bolt slower than in warmer temps, meaning your harvest will last longer.
•  Peas are a wonderful crop that can take minor frosts with minimal damage to the plants. They are fast to produce, meaning you may be able to plant multiple times throughout the season!
•  Because the edible part is underground, root vegetables such as carrots, radishes, turnips, beets, etc. can take frosts with minimal damage.

Herbs:

Herb Pot

•  Chives are often the first things we all see come up in the spring after the bulbs emerge. They can be chopped back and eaten soon after the plant fills out.
•  Mint is also a perennial that can take a few frosts. However, beware that mint can quickly take over a garden; this can be prevented by planting the mint in it’s container to prevent the roots from spreading underground.
•  Oregano
•  Parsley
•  Sage

Annuals:

•  Pansies and violas. pictured at right, are typically the first plants you see popping up in garden centers. That’s because they are the most cold tolerant annual flower, able to take a solid freeze. You will notice once the weather gets warmer they will start looking long and sickly. Just chop them back and let your other plants take over; once fall comes, they should look as good as they did in the spring.
•  Snapdragons
•  Alyssums
•  Calendula (pot marigold)
•  Lobelia
•  Dianthus
•  Forget-me-nots
•  Nasturtium

If you are planting from seed, be aware that the seedlings are more damaged by frost than plants with true leaves. If have already started your plants indoors or in a hoop house, they need to be hardened off for about two weeks before they are planted in the ground. To do this, simply increase the time the plants spend outside during the day so they can acclimate to the change in temperatures and sunlight.

Good luck and happy planting!!

Alyssa - Garden Center Annuals Manager

www.mickman.com

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