In the Northeast, greenhouses have been humming since late February, when farmers began planting seedlings in trays. It’s time to propagate for spring crops —  lettuces, asian greens, spinach, swiss chards (Italian, Bright Lights, Ruby Red), kales (Winterbor, Red Russian) and (King Richard) leeks. The seedlings will be transplanted into the ground in early April and covered with row covering (a porous synthetic blanket) to insulate them from cold air while letting in moisture.

Later this week farmers will put in their first directly planted crop — sugar snap peas, traditionally the Northeast’s first outdoor planting. Sugar snaps can be sown directly into cool soil and happily, just in case of a cold snap, are frost resistant.

Five Acre Farms. Positively Local.TM