Erica's Notes Kale is probably the easiest crop you can grow in the Pacific Northwest. There are also many varieties and leaf shapes, colors and flavors, so this is fun crop to play around with - and success is practically assured. I typically start between a half-dozen and a dozen kale plants in mid-February, and transplant 4 or 5-week old seedlings out in mid to late March. Like most cold hardy brassicas, kale tastes best when the weather turns chilly, so…

Erica's Notes Kohlrabi performs best when it matures into cool weather, and it's easiest to grow this crop for fall harvest. However, since kohlrabi is a family favorite, I try to grow both a spring crop and a larger fall/winter crop Crowded kohlrabi doesn't bulb up properly, so transplant seedlings to 6-inches apart in an 18-inch wide row, or in an offset grid with plants 8 or 9-inches apart in all directions. Harvest spring sown kohlrabi promptly after it sizes…

Erica's Notes George Washington’s birthday (2/21) is the traditional time to sow peas. If the soil has warmed up and isn’t waterlogged, and if you didn’t sow peas indoors, the end of February is a good time to get them in the ground. If the soil still seems really cold and wet where you are, wait a few more weeks. Pretty much all peas grow well in the Northwest. I focus on Sugar Snap types. Additional Information How To Grow…

Erica's Notes In the Maritime Northwest, you'll have the best luck with thin, Asian-type eggplant. The big chunky Italian type won't produce as well. More sensitive than tomatoes or even peppers, cold nights make eggplant sulky. Don't rush seed starting earlier than late March unless you're prepared to up-pot into gallon-size pots. Transplant out at about 8 weeks in late May or early June or when overnight temps are firmly into the mid-50s. Eggplant benefits from all the season extension…

Erica's Notes You can totally start the cucurbit family plants inside. You don't have to - but you can. I do it all the time. Here are the tricks for starting any cucurbits under lights where slugs won't eat them the minute they germinate: Start them in a generous sized pot or soil block. A 2-inch pot for cucumbers is good. Larger seed? Larger pot. Seed them about 3 weeks before you’d direct sow them. Don't push it. These are fast…

Erica's Notes Corn is a heat-loving summer crop that needs gobs of fertility, but otherwise it's not particularly picky. Although typically direct sown, corn transplants easily and, since it will grow at lower temperatures than it will germinate, starting corn seedlings under lights can move your corn harvest up by several weeks or a month. One drawback to starting corn under lights is that you need a block of at least 16 corn plants for reasonable pollination, and more is better. That…

Erica's Notes Winter squash is pretty easy to grow. Just remember it's still a heat-loving summer plant, despite the name. Don't select super-long-season varieties and you'll probably be pretty successful. Direct seed if you want, or start under lights where slugs won't eat them the minute they germinate. Standard cucurbit advice applies: Start them in a generous sized pot or soil block. I use a 4-inch pot for most winter squash. Larger seed? Larger pot. Really huge squash like hubbard have…