The rule of thumb for setting out Cole Crops is to transplant them between 4 and 6 weeks after sowing. Five weeks, when I usually transplant, would be on Friday. But they could not look nicer and the weather suits so I put them out today.
Below is a picture of my Cole Crops from 2024 on the same date. They looked great in the past. This year, with the Vego LED Grow Lights they look more than great. I am very happy with those lights.
I had already organized the hoops and insect netting. I used a power auger to drill the holes in undisturbed soil which hosted Sweetcorn last season.
The placement of plants in this bed is fairly critical. This is my plan: The Belstar Broccoli will continue to produce all season, but the Flamestar Cauliflower will not. So the Broccoli should be in the center where the hoops are highest, and should alternate with Cauliflower because the Cauliflower plants will be cut out leaving more room for the Broccoli to grow. The Cabbage can go along the edge, alternating Golden Acre and Caraflex because Caraflex shoudl be ready earlier. The four corners don't really have enough room for Cabbages or Broccolis so I planted Romaine Lettuce.
I used Espoma Bio-Tone Starter Fertilizer in the holes and watered them in well.
The Insect Netting will offer some shelter from both wind and sun.
Because I did not harden them off before setting out, I placed an additional shade cloth to block the sun. I have used this lazy, non-hardening off, method for years now and it has worked well for me. The forecast is for warm, cloudy weather which is much better for them than hot sun.
I will still need to mulch the bed with shredded leaves to keep down weeds as I do each year. And, they don't make much of a picture, but the Peas planted on April 1st are coming up today right on schedule.
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