submitted by Lucas Holman, Wilson County UT Horticulture Extension Agent
In Tennessee I truly think we can have something active in the garden 12 months of the year. Just a few days ago we had 4” of snow on the ground. After the snow had melted, I went out and harvested cabbage that was buried in the snow. Gardening doesn’t have to end when frost wipes out the warm season vegetables in October. Planning the garden should be always be in the back of your mind since you can still prepare during the ugly months of winter. The end of January is an excellent time to start some seeds inside, especially those cool season vegetables that prefer to be transplanted. Many of the cool season vegetables that we grow can be planted at the end of February or the beginning of March. If it is a leafy green they are generally directly sown by seed. If it forms a head such as broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower, then it needs to be transplanted. This is the time to start those transplants inside for the cool season vegetables that form a head.
The first step is acquiring the supplies such as containers, soil, and seeds. Finding the right spot in the house can be tricky due to light and heat. All seedlings need some type of supplemental light. Seedlings that are started near a window can good or bad. The seedlings grown near windows tend to be leggy and the temperature isn’t always consistent. If you purchase supplemental lighting, then it should be placed between 8-10” above the tray. Leave the light on for 12 hours per day and allow the plant to rest for the other half. You can also purchase heating mats designed specifically for seedlings. These will help keep the temperature warm as opposed to a window where the temperature can fluctuate.
One consideration is starting your seedlings at various times so that you can stagger your harvests. If you plant 20 broccoli plants on the same day, there is a good chance they will all mature on the same week. This fall I planted around 50 cauliflower plants on the same day and every one of them matured the same week. Needless to say, our freezer is full of cauliflower at this moment.
It will take between 6-8 weeks to produce a transplant that can be planted in the garden. These cool season vegetables that form a head can be transplanted in the garden around the middle of March. Be prepared for the finicky Tennessee weather with some type of a frost cloth. Every few years we will get some weather anomaly that might be detrimental to our seedlings. Everybody has their favorites when it comes to cultivars, but if you are looking for some of the tried-and-true cultivars try some of these. For broccoli look for ‘Packman’, ‘Green Magic’, or ‘Emperor’. These cultivars are quicker and will mature between 55-60 from transplanting. Cauliflower takes just a few more days to mature, but my favorite has been ‘Snow Crown’. When it comes to cabbage, there are so many sizes to choose. This fall I grew ‘Stonehead’ and it was a little bigger than a softball. If you want larger cabbages try ‘Flat Dutch’ or ‘Early Jersey Wakefield’.
As always, if you have any questions regarding any horticulture facet, feel free to contact Lucas Holman, UT Horticulture Extension Agent, Wilson County at 615-444-9584 or Lholman1@utk.edu.
The University of Tennessee Extension offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability and is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Through its mission of research, teaching and extension, the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture touches lives and provides Real. Life. Solutions. ag.tennessee.edu.
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