Jumping the gun on this season but...

[countrysunshine]

Last year it was 80° in March. We had a drought that lasted all summer. My husband has this belief that we shouldn't plant a garden until right before Memorial day because we lost stuff to frost one year.

Last year was such a bust I am thinking about starting some cool weather plants in the next couple weeks. I lost this year's batch of kraut and I could use a couple of batches next year. Also, looking at ordering strawberries to replace the dead ones.

I am zone 5. Anyone besides me jumping the gun like this?

[mary,tx]

I always start early, but I'm Zone 8. If you are talking frost and not hard freezes late, you can always watch the weather and cover things on cold overnights. That's what I do. But then I don't spend a whole lot of money on seed, and replant if I need to.

[OkieDavid]

Zone 8 here. I plan to have seeds in the ground in late March and plants in the ground around the first week or so in April.

I'll be starting seeds inside around the second week of Feb here.

[EDDIE BUCK]

Here where I live in zone 8,if you don't jump the gun when planting, that early summer heat will get you most years.Just plant early and try to be ready with plenty of row covers to wrap things up from the start, so the veggies will be ready to harvest just before mother nature plays her cruel hand.Most years I,ll win

[Melissa]

I almost always start planting something mid-March, as long as I don't have to move snow to do it. All of the cool weather crops will thrive if planted in March or April. I do hold off on setting out tomatoes, peppers and sweet potatoes- cool weather does them no favors.

[Awnry Abe]

We will start early, but are prepared to protect vs. frost. And like Melissa, not the hot weather stuff. But at least the early season stuff is safe, and last year you get many, many get more plantings in.

[unregistered65598]

I am also zone 5 and I am not even considering starting anything. Might be because the garden is under 2 ft of snow and we're supposed to get 8 to 12 inches more LOL. But we start our cold weather stuff the 2nd week of april.

[dkhern]

i can plant cold weather early. but we and have frost as late as end of april. i can plant and take chance or wait. doesnt really matter because even if i plant earily and avoid a frost the nights are still cool enough that the plants dont grow much. i have neighbors who plant early and cover if necessary some wait later we all will be picking around 4 oof july.

[jwal10]

I planted peas in a south facing raised bed yesterday. It has a hoop on it. We might get a little snow tomorrow. Peas will grow well if protected from a hard freeze....James

[Just Little Me]

Our local plant group will be winter sowing this Saturday. Our last forst date is the second week of April. I always push the date with covers.

[Kazahleenah]

Originally Posted by countrysunshine

Last year it was 80° in March. We had a drought that lasted all summer. My husband has this belief that we shouldn't plant a garden until right before Memorial day because we lost stuff to frost one year.

Last year was such a bust I am thinking about starting some cool weather plants in the next couple weeks. I lost this year's batch of kraut and I could use a couple of batches next year. Also, looking at ordering strawberries to replace the dead ones.

I am zone 5. Anyone besides me jumping the gun like this?

Zone 5?? I grew up in zone 5 and there's still the worst of the snow, ice and freezing temps to come yet (February).

[countrysunshine]

I know. Last frost date here is May 10. I think. Maybe three or four years ago I started flowers in January and had the biggest annuals. I was thinking of starting those and broccoli and cabbage. I have a greenhouse tent thing. My husband hates for me to use it because he says it looks tacky. But I may again this year. Maybe all the snow or the emptying shelves make me anxious.

[Whisperwindkat]

Zone 8 here and I learned several years ago to ignore the recommendations of not planting til after Easter. I start at the end of January and continue until April. Summer crops start going in the ground at the end of February and with this non-winter we have had they might go in sooner. January and we are still mid-60s. On the few nights we have had a light frost I could easily cover seedlings. If I don't start now then it will be too hot especially for any cool crops.

[janetn]

Zone 5 here - I jumped the gun a few years back and lived to regret it. Didnt help that DH kept tellin me I was planting to early - when my plants got frozen he had one of those cat that swallowed the mouse looks on his face too. I try real real hard to be patient now. Losing a bunch of plants is really heartbreaking and discouraging.

We are having another weird winter here in Michigan - the snow total for us is about 9 inches - 30 inches below normal. This weekend its supposed to get into the 50's. The first two weeks in January are usually our coldest of the year - Im talking below zero! The week after next goes back to normal so I dont know what to think, I do hope we dont have another drought! Ive got plan ABC and D if we do though, last year taught me a lot.

[Callieslamb]

I wouldn't yet in zone 5. Early March is the first I'd consider planting anything and then with double layers of plastic for tunnels. I know I'll do it then - but I'm zone 6 in Mi.

[BlueberryChick]

It's hard not to think spring with temps headed to the upper 70's this weekend! In SC, lows in the 20's and highs in the 40's are more the norm for January.

[countrysunshine]

Just to be clear. I am not talking about planting seeds outside in the ground. I am talking about starting my seedlings in the house.

If we have another warm spring and the ground warms up I could have them in the ground early and use mini hoop houses if I had to. I think if I used my tomato cages wrapped in clear plastic (I have tons) that would work easily on a temporary basis.

[Judy in IN]

TODAY, I am flinging cow poop and straw over a prospective melon patch. I expect another dry year, so am planning to mulch heavily and water.

I do have seeds, but won't start planting until late March. Zone 5.

[ronbre]

weather channel has said that the drought is expected to continue in SOME parts of the country again this year..not sure about yours..and as for the frosts..you can always cover things like your cabbages ..they shouldn't freeze anyway