Is it too late to direct seed winter greens?

outsiders71 · September 23, 2008

Hello! Every year I tell myself I'm going to start growing greens such as Kale, Collards or Mustards. Well another year has come and gone and I failed to do it. I'm located in Ohio, zone 5b, is it too late to direct seed any winter hardy greens? Any info would be great, I'm a total noob at greens.

Thanks.

robin303 · September 23, 2008

I started my Collard greens and Broccoli from seed and they sprouted and I planted out two days ago. They love cold weather and frost and ice don't hurt them. All so planted out onion and lettuce.

Worth1 · September 23, 2008

There is only one problem I see with that.

Ohio. Way north
Austin Texas. Way south.

I think we will be starting ours in two weeks when I get home.

bitterwort · September 24, 2008

Seed is cheap (relatively). Try seeding thickly to see if you can at least get a crop of baby greens. I seeded some here (Minnesota) last year at the end of August (I think) and they wintered over, surprisingly enough. I'd say give it a shot (without using all your seed).

bigmeanmamma · September 24, 2008

I live in zone 5 too and the first frost date is Oct 15. So I'm banking on a few weeks to get things going. I'm planning on planting fall greens tonight! I got my bed ready yesterday. Overwintering isn't a problem as long as the seeds have time to germinate and grow a little. If you can rig up a row cover - an old sheet even - that will give the plants some extra warmth too. Once they're big enough they overwinter in snow or whatever without any cover. But the cover does make winter harvest easier!
Good luck!

outsiders71 · September 24, 2008

Thanks for the encouragement! They survived a Minnesota winter? Then I should be fine

.

bitterwort · September 25, 2008

Well, I have to admit it was a fairly mild Minnesota winter with decent snow cover at the right time... but still, where there's seed, there's hope, eh?

gssgarden · September 27, 2008

Got my last row of Beans with flowers on them. Lettuce is up, along with Spinach, and Radishes.
My Broccoli loves this weather from the last two weeks. 50's at night and upper 70's durring the day. Been the best weather all year.
Caui is doing good.
But my Pepers are still LOADED. My Bells and Hungarian hot Wax just won't stop!

Greg

September 23, 2008	#1
outsiders71 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Ohio Posts: 150	Is it too late to direct seed winter greens? Hello! Every year I tell myself I'm going to start growing greens such as Kale, Collards or Mustards. Well another year has come and gone and I failed to do it. I'm located in Ohio, zone 5b, is it too late to direct seed any winter hardy greens? Any info would be great, I'm a total noob at greens. Thanks.

September 24, 2008	#4
bitterwort Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MN Zone4b Posts: 289	Seed is cheap (relatively). Try seeding thickly to see if you can at least get a crop of baby greens. I seeded some here (Minnesota) last year at the end of August (I think) and they wintered over, surprisingly enough. I'd say give it a shot (without using all your seed). __________________ Bitterwort

September 25, 2008	#7
bitterwort Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MN Zone4b Posts: 289	Well, I have to admit it was a fairly mild Minnesota winter with decent snow cover at the right time... but still, where there's seed, there's hope, eh? __________________ Bitterwort

September 23, 2008	#2
robin303 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Austin, TX Zone 8b Posts: 531	I started my Collard greens and Broccoli from seed and they sprouted and I planted out two days ago. They love cold weather and frost and ice don't hurt them. All so planted out onion and lettuce.

September 23, 2008	#3
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	There is only one problem I see with that. Ohio. Way north Austin Texas. Way south. I think we will be starting ours in two weeks when I get home.

September 24, 2008	#5
bigmeanmamma Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 25	I live in zone 5 too and the first frost date is Oct 15. So I'm banking on a few weeks to get things going. I'm planning on planting fall greens tonight! I got my bed ready yesterday. Overwintering isn't a problem as long as the seeds have time to germinate and grow a little. If you can rig up a row cover - an old sheet even - that will give the plants some extra warmth too. Once they're big enough they overwinter in snow or whatever without any cover. But the cover does make winter harvest easier! Good luck!

September 27, 2008	#8
gssgarden Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: N.C. Posts: 1,820	Got my last row of Beans with flowers on them. Lettuce is up, along with Spinach, and Radishes. My Broccoli loves this weather from the last two weeks. 50's at night and upper 70's durring the day. Been the best weather all year. Caui is doing good. But my Pepers are still LOADED. My Bells and Hungarian hot Wax just won't stop! Greg