Let’s face it, tomorrow IS May.  Who are we kidding.  The calendar is moving forward.  That’s what the calendar does.  Whatever cool season vegetables we have been waiting to plant because we were worried that it was going to go back to Winter again, better plant them now before it actually turns into Summer.  Start with LETTUCE-LAST CALL!

Plant by seed, or by transplant in the ground(see picture) or into a container.  When I use seeds at this time of year, I usually mix in some radish seeds and just broadcast them lightly over the bed.  Then I sprinkle a light covering of container mix, peat moss or compost over the top and press in the planting with my hands to make sure the seeds have made contact with the soil.  Finish up with a light misting of water that soaks in the planting.  The radishes will pop up first and make spaces between the sprouting lettuces.  Harvest as desired.  When the radishes have been harvested, the lettuces will grow together and make a cutting bed for baby lettuce that can be cut with a bread knife every 10 days or so and will regrow for 7 or 8 cuttings.

Next would be ONIONS since they bulb up according to the day length.  Be sure to select long-day onions.  You may plant them in a grid approx. 3’ X 3” each way so that they take up less room than you think.  Bury them with granular, organic fertilizer so that just a touch of their white portion is showing.  Try COPRA , a long storage white onion suited to our area.

A good resource for onions can be found at www.dixondalefarms.com.