WHAT CAN BE PLANTED NOW?

Dandelions announce that is warm enough to plant potatoes, arugula, broccoli, cabbage, kale, cauliflower, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, onions, spinach, and strawberry plants along with hardy herbs & perennials.  You can seed beets, carrots, radishes, spinach, cilantro, and dill.  Observe the farmers and plant sweet corn when they are  

                                                                           planting field corn, usually the end of April.   

IMPORTANT TIPS:

1. "Double-check" mother nature and get a soil thermometer.  Seeds do best if the soil is at least 55 degrees.  Even if the air temp reaches 70, the soil isn't necessarily warm.

2. Harden off hardy perennials and spring vegetable plants mentioned above, for 10-14 days before you plant them in the ground.  When temps are in the 50s, set them outside for the afternoon protected from full sun & wind, then bring them indoors by supper.  Each day, leave them out a little longer and place them in more sun and wind, until they are left outside overnight.  Of course, keep them inside if a freeze, (low 30s) is expected, especially the first week.

3.  MOST IMPORTANTLY!

Check soil moisture by scooping up a handful of soil.  Squeeze it.  If you can squish out drops of water, try again tomorrow.  If it forms a ball but crumbles easily, that's usually a green light to plant.