Today's question comes from my Planting Essentials Masterclass

that many of you guys joined last month,

where we talked about cool season crops,

warm season crops, and fall crops,

and specifically that cool season crops need to be planted

earlier than most people realize.

As we were talking through the differences,

one person submitted this question which I thought

was a really good one she said that she was in zone 6b and she was wondering how unfrozen quote

does the ground have to be before you direct sew some of those cool season crops that we talked about

like spinach carrots beats things like that that a lot of times you're going to be direct

sewing them into the garden. And when we're doing that early, she's wondering, okay, how cold

is too cold with the soil, which I thought was a really good question. Because a lot of times

we really need to get those crops in the ground before the weather starts to warm

up and heat up. And the biggest thing that I would suggest that you take into consideration is

the soil temperature. And that may mean buying a soil thermometer, which I highly recommend. I think

that's probably one of the most used small tools that I use this time of year.

And to test your soil temperature, see how cold it really is.

Because even if the calendar says that it's time to sew something, then sometimes your

garden may not be ready for it because of the soil temperature.

Now, cool season crops will germinate at a lower temperature than warm season crops will.

That's just part of the way that they're made in nature.

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