Signs of spring mean one thing for gardeners: time to plant the first seeds of the year. With warm temperatures during the day and colder temps at night, cool-season vegetables are perfect for this time of year, including radishes, lettuces, spinach, beets, and any kind of peas and carrots. Here are some tips to help sow your seeds:

• Plant seeds in succession for when they’ll be ready. For example, some radishes mature in 14 days, while beets take 60 days.
• Clear the planting area, removing sod or weeds and debris that may have settled from winter.
• Plant on a cool, cloudy day if possible.
• Mulch at the base of seedlings to help insulate them from the cold.
• Planting near a structure that breaks the wind increases the ground temperature.
• Water as needed, depending on how rainy or dry the weather is.
• Check the label on your plants for recommended spacing. For best results, do not reduce the distance  – the plants will get larger than you might think!

Find more gardening tips at utgardens.tennessee.edu.

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