I was starting seeds for my vegetable garden last weekend, and I also decided to plant some lettuce and arugula outside in a pot.
Even though it is still getting down to freezing at night (and sometimes during the day) at this time of year, most greens will grow during the cold weather and survive the frosts/freezes. Since the sun is getting stronger, the plants will get plenty of light during the day, and the micro-climate I have chosen should help them survive the cold snaps that are sure to come.
The most important consideration for this project is the micro-climate of the area where you will put your pot.
- Micro-climate refers to the climactic conditions in various areas of your yard. Is a certain spot sunny, wet, dry, cool or windy? Are there things near it that influence its temperature such as a building that casts a shadow, or retains heat? To start seeds and successfully grow plants at this time of year, you will need to select an area that is warm and sunny.
- I chose a spot that is in the sun most of the day, and is one of the warmest parts of my yard – our flagstone patio. The stones get 6-8 hours of sun. They soak up the heat and release it at night, creating a bit of a warm spot in our yard.
- I also added to the micro-climate of my greens by choosing a large, dark-colored pot that will absorb heat during the day, and I covered the pot with a sheet of plastic.
- I chose this particular piece of plastic because it has holes in it. This allows the excess heat to escape while the sun is beating down on the pot, but also keeps the pot covered enough that it helps to keep the soil from drying out.
Pot of arugula and lettuce covered with perforated plastic
Close-up of the plastic
Close-up of arugula seedlings
I checked on the pot this weekend, and the arugula (known for being a fast-grower) was already coming up.
I expect to see lettuce seedlings by the end of this week.
When the plants get bigger, I will add some hoops to the pot, and wrap the plastic around the hoops, creating a taller mini-greenhouse. This will still trap heat and prevent drying of the soil, but will also keep the plastic off the plants’ leaves. This is important, because plastic that lays directly on plant leaves will burn the leaves in the sun.
If you would like to try this in your garden, you will need: seeds, a large pot, potting soil, a sheet of plastic large enough to cover your pot (I always use UV-stabilized plastic), and some strong wire for hoops – cut and straightened coat hangers might work well if you don’t have any hoop wire. If you don’t have plastic with holes already punched in it, you can jut cut some holes in it to allow the excess heat to escape during the day.
Best greens to grow in the spring:
- spinach
- lettuce
- arugula
- mustard
- mache
Make sure you choose varieties that indicate they will grow well in the Spring and/or Fall.
NOTE: When it is time to harvest your greens, make sure they are not frozen at the time you pick them. While the plants will rebound from a frost when they are in the ground, as soon as they are harvested, they will turn into mush if they were frozen when picked.
The varieties I planted are:
- Arugula
- Barcarole Lettuce
- Speckles Lettuce
- Green Salad Bowl Lettuce
- Red Deer Tongue Lettuce
- Lollo Rossa Lettuce
I will post updates on the progress of my pot of greens, and let you know when we’re able to harvest the first greens of the season.
For more about season-extension gardening see:
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