I heard some farmers talking about planting corn in a warm spell in South-Western Ontario in the beginning of March. Just a few acres, to try to see if the corn would make it. A calculated risk by a large field crop producer intrigued with the potential of getting two crops in one season in Canada.
If you can’t afford that kind of risk, it is wise to consult optimal planting dates and temperatures for the crop or plant in question. Many annual flowers tend to be quite tender so observing the last frost date is important. It may be a nice day to plant but a late frost is not uncommon.
Many other plants enjoy the cool weather to get established when being transplanted like trees and shrubs.
Cold tolerant crops such as spinach, arugula, collards, kale and mustard greens are also a cool weather exception and can be planted several weeks before the last frost date. You can also seed beets, carrots and peas up to five weeks before. Other veggies like onions, garlic, leeks, rhubarb, rutabaga, broccoli, kohlrabi, cabbage, Brussels sprouts and radish are also cold tolerant.
Editor’s note: Delay raking in the spring until there have been a few warm days to not disrupt insects, it is a delicate balance!
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