Plant an Organic Garden by Historical Weather Data

When I was growing up I always heard that Good friday was the time to plant your vegetable garden. I live in Georgia zone 7b. The problem is Easter dose not come on the same date every year. Easter comes on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the first day of spring. There have been many years when we have had a killing freeze on or around Easter. I like to look at historical weather data to see when the last frost has been on average. For my zone that means it is safe to plant tender plants around the middle of April. but still have a plan to cover your plants because we have had frost into late April .

There are some leafy greens along with broccoli and cauliflower that I plant in March because these cool weather vegetables have to mature before it gets too hot here in Georgia. I also have to protect them a couple of times with row cover from the frost we usually get in March.

One way I try to get ahead with my warm weather vegetables is to start plants in the greenhouse so that they can go out into the garden as plants not seed in mid April. Not only the tomatoes and peppers but plants like Okra, Green Beans,Squash and Cucumbers. Tomatoes and Peppers and Eggplant I sow 6 to 8 weeks ahead in 4″ pots before transplanting to the garden. The other faster growing plants I sow  into 72 cell flats about 3 to 4 weeks before planting time in the garden. These plants grow fast in a warm greenhouse and you don’t want them to get overgrown. The last week before planting in the garden I will bring them outside to tuffin up before planting. You just have to watch the weather and don’t leave them out on a cold night. Here is a video I did on March 25 Easter weekend 2016