When Extension Master Gardener Karen Collier came across Shishito Peppers at a farmer’s market last summer she knew she’d take them home. She bought a couple of really ripe ones as her palate tends toward spicy. That, plus curiosity about whether she might be able to grow them herself and it was a sure-bet purchase. She ate the peppers then collected, dried and stored the seeds. Fast forward to early spring and her seeds from those peppers, which turned out to be fantastically satisfying, she told us, were ready to be sown and hopefully produce another crop, this time her own.
Seasoned gardeners and novices alike are mapping plans for what they want to grow this year. If you plan on gardening this spring, now is the time to get started. Ask yourself is it going to be sowing seeds? Or are you going to use someone else’s front-end work and opt to use transplants?
Many crops in Oklahoma gardens can be direct seeded, that is seeded into the garden soil and there is no need to start or buy a transplant. Examples of cool season crops that can be direct seeded right now include radishes, beets, turnips, spinach, leaf lettuce and almost all greens. Cool season crops that need to be transplanted now (you can buy them or start your own, but they would have to have been started four to six weeks ago) include broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower.
Warm season crops can’t go in until after April 15 and the types that must be transplanted include tomatoes, peppers and eggplant. Again, you could start your own transplants, but they need to be started in early to mid-February. You can direct seed many warm season crops like green beans, corn and okra. Some warm season crops, like the cucumber, melon and squash family, can be direct seeded or you can use transplants.
Our local nurseries have tender growing areas of baby seedlings and plants being nurtured in their greenhouses. You will be able to find cool season transplants like broccoli to plant now and warm season crops like tomatoes starting in early April.
