gardening in the midwest

[forrestguy]

anyone else out there live in the midwest? kansas, maybe?
i'm not sure if i should start seeds indoors or just go ahead and directly sow them outdoors. i know i will extend the growing season, but with two kids running around the house and a small baby, i'm not sure if i want the stress of having a bunch of tiny seedlings hanging out on window sills. that said, how early to start putting stuff outdoors, and what stuff do you put first? i know lettuce, onions, potatos are all early crops, but can they withstand a freeze?
thanks

[favrielle]

Kansas here, but I'm sort-of a newbie to serious gardening. I've done tomatoes, peppers, squash and such in the past, though. This is my first year trying to grow a major portion of our produce for the summer/fall.

If you have two small kids and a new baby around, I'd say starting seedlings will be quite a bit more difficult than it is for me, with only a 4-yr-old to worry about. I've never had luck with starting seeds in a windowsill, anyway. Last year, I had to pitch my tomato starts and buy plants from the store because the seedlings were too leggy and not very healthy. This year, I'm using two grow lights above my kitchen counter, and despite some issues with my broccoli, my starts are looking great.

As for when to put things out, some are more frost-sensitive than others. I'd recommend checking out a good gardening book from the library or taking some time to do a good Google search. Keep two things in mind: your area's last frost date, and your hardiness zone. This link should show you your zone down to the county, if you can see the lines.

Also, this link might be helpful for you. Scroll down the list, and you'll find pdf files detailing planting and care information for some of the common garden plants -- potatoes, tomatoes, melons & cucumbers, even asparagus and sweet corn. These even include information on specific varieties that do well in KS, thought heirlooms don't seem to be included in the lists.

I hope that helps!!

[JessicaS]

I am in Kansas too.

Here is a site dealing with gardening in Kansas and includes calendars

http://www.savvygardener.com/

You can sow broccoli, potatoes, radishes, onions, turnips, peas and greens now.

Warmer weather plants can't go outside yet, not until May.

You can start tomatoes and peppers indoors. With little ones that can be hard. Are there any window sills that are out of reach? You can always start the seeds and leave them outside during the day and bring them in at night. Or you could get a grow lite and keep them up high out of reach of little hands.

If I couldn't start tomatoes and such indoors I would probably just buy the plants.

[jadekat]

I'm in SW MO and this will be my first garden. I think I'm gonna plant directly in the ground except for tomatoes. Hopefully it works okay.

[sparkprincess]

I'm outside of st. louis and I've been wondering the same thing....this is my first year for a garden so we'll see!

[JamieCatheryn]

Kentucky here, and I can't start seeds inside because I don't have any window sills I can set things on or grow lights yet. I'll be planting what I can late, I just recently posted a question about what grows well directly seeded outside and heard corn, zuccini, carrots, beans, and some other things.

[JessicaS]

Originally Posted by JamieCatheryn

Kentucky here, and I can't start seeds inside because I don't have any window sills I can set things on or grow lights yet. I'll be planting what I can late, I just recently posted a question about what grows well directly seeded outside and heard corn, zuccini, carrots, beans, and some other things.

You can always get the seed starter kits and take them outside in the AM and bring them in at night.

I have an earth contact home so I am pretty short on windows in general, I just drag the trays in and out.

[HydeParkB]

KC, MO here. We are starting seeds inside - tomatoes, peppers, eggplants. The cats are a bigger threat than our toddler. If you can get them going inside, it's really nice, but it does seem to have a learning curve.