The Time for Planting LGL 
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 toa 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 
