The Time for Planting 151 



South of a line drawn through northern Alabama, and 

 turning farther north along the Atlantic coast, freezing 

 temperatures occur only during December and January. 

 In this region such vegetables as turnips, rutabagas, 

 and cabbages mature in autumn from seed sown in 

 August and September. Seed of hardy plants like 

 radishes and smooth peas is sown in the open in Decem- 

 ber, the seed lying dormant in the ground, or the seedlings 

 growing slowly during the period when frosts occur 

 and then developing rapidly in early spring. In the 

 sections with cooler winters, as in the North, the seed 

 is sown as early in spring as it is possible to work the 

 soil. 



Throughout the South, especially where freezing 

 temperatures occur during winter, cold frames are 

 valuable for rearing seedlings of such cool-season crops 

 as cabbages, lettuce, onions from seed, and beets. Seeds 

 are sown in October and November directly in the soil 

 within cold frames. Later, in January or February 

 (according to the locality and the vegetable grown), the 

 seedlings thus grown are planted in the garden and pro- 

 duce crops in March and April. Inexperienced gardeners 

 in southern states often make their plantings of cool- 

 season vegetables in March and April, which is the season 

 when these crops should be ready for the table. 



Cool-season crops that endure summer heat and light. 

 Vegetables belonging to a second group of cool-season crops 

 have longer growth periods and demand cool weather dur- 

 ing their early life, but they continue to thrive or even 

 mature during the hot weather. Beets, Swiss chard, 

 carrots, parsnips, salsify, onions from seed, New Zealand 



