Best Vegetables and Herbs to Start in a Hotbed From February to April

Start this vegetable in a hotbed, and transplant to the cold frame when it has reached a desirable size. Conover’s Colossal lettuce varieties may also be raised successfully in open ground from seed sown around May 1st provided that soil conditions are favorable.

Asparagus

Asparagus should be planted thickly in April in rows over rich, moist soil in every home. A dozen carefully cared-for plants should produce this delicious crop that every household should cultivate – consider Conover’s Colossal as an early variety to try!

Cucumbers may be begun early in a hotbed in March and April for harvest as early as possible, or planted directly into the ground when frost danger has passed. They require rich, fertile soil in an sunny location for optimal success.

Lettuce

This tasty vegetable requires rich soil with full sunlight exposure for optimal growth. For an early harvest of this delectable produce, seed should be planted directly in a hotbed.

Gradually harden off seedlings during mild, sunny days by moving them outside during the day and returning them to their warm enclosure at night, in order to prevent diseases caused by extreme temperature variations. This will help avoid diseases caused by sudden temperature variations.

Carrots

Carrots are one of the most useful vegetables. Just one pound a day provides an animal with enough calories and fattening benefits that they won’t succumb to colds as easily.

Sow the seeds of carrots and cabbages on deep rows on soft ground. A classic proverb goes: one year’s planting = seven years’ weeding.” Even five acres will suffice if managed properly with these vegetables.

Swiss Chard

Housewives often enjoy growing hotbed tomatoes as a delicious veggie source, producing rich soils in well-lit areas for best results. Hollow Crown is one of the early varieties; Early Rose and Rural New-Yorker can also produce excellent harvests; along with numerous other options.

Sow seed in April thickly in rows on soft soil. Thin plants to six inches apart within each row.

Broccoli

March is an excellent month to plant cauliflower, cabbage, kale and broccoli seeds as well as leaf lettuce, mustard and onions. Additionally, mild days provide an opportunity to harden off seedlings of tomatoes, peppers and eggplant during the daytime hours outside.

Radishes are an irresistibly delicious vegetable. Sow early radish seeds like Cardinal Globe or Crimson Giant in either your hotbed or outdoors if the soil is rich and your location provides plenty of sun exposure.

Celery

Celery can be grown in the open ground if temperatures can be kept steady, but its yield won’t compare to that produced using hotbeds and coldframes. If early plants are required, it is advisable to sow seeds directly in a hotbed, planting six inches apart and blanching by lifting up and closing down its cover during warmest parts of the day before refitting it at nightfall.

Beets

Gardeners looking to grow early-season radishes should try Cardinal Globe or Crimson Giant varieties as well as Icicle white variety for optimal success. Radishes need rich soil with ample sunlight exposure; otherwise hotbeds should do.

The hot bed was originally composed of layers of manure over straw covered by a cover, providing warmth and shelter until spring thawed the ground.

Parsley

Start early if home use is desired; start seeds indoors at room temperature in rows 16-18 inches apart in rows. Cardinal Globe and Crimson Giant varieties tend to produce early results; Icicle variety will follow later.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes require rich, fertile soil in which to flourish. Hoeing regularly will keep weeds under control and reduce disease risk. Digging in one quart of compost once every month will produce larger and earlier-ripening tomatoes.

Add three cups of tomatoes, 1 cup of milk, a pinch of salt, pepper, cloves and sugar; bring to a boil for five minutes and serve immediately.

Peppers

Sweet and hot peppers should be started early in March in a hotbed for transplanting to their respective vegetable gardens later. For best results, rich soil with plenty of sun exposure should be used when planting in gardens; set two feet apart when transplanted later on. Cucumbers, squash, midseason/late watermelons may also be started this way if desired for early use.