Spring is here in the Ozarks. It could still frost, but days are warm. It’s time to start those garden tub greens.
Which Greens?
There are several to choose from. The big question is whether or not frost will still visit. That takes bok choi off the list for a couple more weeks.
Thumbing through my line of seed packets, I take out Napa cabbage, beets, kohlrabi, green onions, red and green lettuces, tatsoi, red and green mizuna and carrots. These should take a light frost.
Why Garden Tub Greens?
My garden soil is still cold. The tubs sit out in the sun and warm up. All of the greens I’ve chosen may like cooler weather, but they don’t like it cold and damp.
The one disadvantage is the size of the tubs. Some of these do get big, so I can’t plant very many. My other option is pulling some like beets early for just the greens.
Another consideration is how long these take to mature. Ozark springs can be long and cool. More often they are short and become summer almost overnight.
Planting the Tubs
My garden tubs have mulch on them. Most of this mulch needs to stay or the weeds will have a party.
So I clear a ring around the tub a few inches inside. Seeds are planted in this ring.
The weeds will still have a party. At least, they will try. But it will be a small party.
Succession
About the time these greens are ready to harvest, summer will be moving in. I can still grow greens in some of the tubs, but ones that can take some heat.
Most of the tubs will have peppers, eggplant and other summer crops to fill them until fall cools things down again.
