"as soon as soil can be worked"

"These seeds"?? :haha: Most seeds are not harmed, even if the top layer of ground freezes, if they have not sprouted. Some things are more tender than others. If your soil is really wet and heavy, the seeds could likely rot before they germinate. (that's what happens to me if I plant too early) In my annual flower garden many seeds over-winter in the ground and sprout in the spring and they same thing happens in some areas of my veggie garden.

Good seed catalogs tell you the soil temperature for best results. Some varieties will sprout but bolt if the soil is too cold, some will bolt if the soil is too warm. "As soon as the soil can be worked" is vague but I'm pretty sure they relate to seeds that do well in cooler soil. I don't think it means when "you have time."

one reason for the earlyesy possible planting is that many garden plants can germinate and grow at much cooler soil temps that most of our common weeds.this gives parsnips and carrots ,peasturnips and such a head start ,even corn will sprout and grow at slightly lower temps than pigweed and lambsquarter

Sit on the ground with your bare butt. If you are comfortable the ground is ready to be planted. (From a local old timer.)

Ken S. in WC TN

Ken Scharabok said:

Sit on the ground with your bare butt. If you are comfortable the ground is ready to be planted. (From a local old timer.)

Ken S. in WC TN

Click to expand...

But I have, ummm, extra, ummm....padding :haha: :haha:

:haha:

LOL Ken, that's exactly what my mum said when I told her I just bought a soil thermometer! You don't want to know where the conversation went after I told her I wanted to know the soil temp 3-6 inches down!