Late March is a great time to start planting cool season vegetables. Cool season crops prefer cool daytime temperatures of 60 to 80 degrees, and down to 40 degrees at night.
Semi-Hardy vegetables such as beets, carrots, cauliflower, parsley, parsnips, potatoes and Swiss chard are less tolerant of a frost, and may need some additional protection. Using mulch, Season Extenders and covering with row covers will help protect veggies from low temperatures. The most cold-hardy, such as broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, onions, lettuce, peas, radish, spinach and turnips, can withstand a frost.
Cool-season crops will stop producing when temperatures are high in the summertime, but keep in mind you can plant another round of crops in late summer for a fall harvest!
We have an extensive selection of cool season veggie seeds from great companies like Beauty Beyond Belief, Botanical Interests, High Mowing Organic Seeds, Renee’s Garden, Seed Savers Exchange, and Territorial Seed Company.
We will also receive several varieties of cool season vegetable starts in late March or early April. Please check back for availability.
Originally published on March 1st, 2018. Updated on March 28th, 2024.