[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-detail-133960-en":3,"doc-seo-133960-105":30,"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":91},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",{"doc_id":7,"user_id":8,"nickname":9,"user_avatar":10,"doc_module":4,"category_id":11,"category_name":12,"doc_title":13,"doc_description":14,"doc_content":15,"file_id":16,"file_url":17,"file_type":18,"file_size":19,"view_count":20,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":21,"is_downloadable":21,"audit_status":21,"page_count":22,"language":23,"language_code":24,"site_id":25,"html_lang":24,"table_of_contents":26,"faqs":27,"seo_title":28,"seo_description":14,"update_tm":29,"read_time":20},133960,687207020761,"Oliver Hayes","https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_155a257f0dc6eb9ab79c44ca47cae57d",10,"Lifestyle","COLE CROPS FOR THE TENNESSEE VEGETABLE GARDEN","Guide for growing cole crops in Tennessee vegetable gardens, covering what plants belong to the Brassicaceae cole-crop group and why their cool-season biology matters. Explains soil drainage, target pH near 6.5, pre-plant fertility, transplanting vs direct seeding, and how mulches influence temperature and moisture. Provides practical irrigation and growth goals plus cultivar suggestions and a planting calendar with spacing and days to harvest for spring and fall.","Department of Plant Sciences  \nCOLE CROPS FOR THE TENNESSEE VEGETABLE GARDEN  \nAugust 2018  \nNatalie Bumgarner, Residential and Consumer Horticulture Extension Specialist  \nDepartment of Plant Sciences  \nCrop Description  \nGardeners use the term cole crops to refer to several garden plants in the family Brassicaceae. One of the most interesting things about this family is the range of plants part that we consume. We eat the flowers of broccoli and cauliflower; the leaves of cabbage, mustard, kale, turnips and collards; the stem of kohlrabi; and the roots of radishes and turnips (which are thought of as root crops rather than cole crops and will be discussed in another publication) .  \nMost of the important crops in this family are found in two main species, Brassica oleracea and Brassica campestris. While this family varies in whether crops are botanically annual or biennial, we generally grow them as annuals. Vitamin and mineral content vary, but many do have in common the production of sulfur compounds (glucosinolates) that contribute to their distinct flavor. All cole crops are cool-season crops, and this characteristic makes them great options for early spring and late fall production. But, it also presents some challenges when spring temperatures increase rapidly as these cool-season crops are maturing. Many of the most cold hardy leafy crops in this family (kale and mustard) can even be overwintered in Tennessee, so they are often found in raised beds and under low tunnels in home gardens.  \nPlanting and Growing  \nWhen good drainage is present, cole crops can be grown successfully on a range of soil types from sandy to clayey. Optimum pH is around 6.5, and recommended pre-plant fertilizer should be added to the garden site before planting. To reduce time to harvest, transplants usually are planted for broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts. Often kale, collards and  \nmustard are direct seeded, but they also transplant well if desired. Dark plastic mulches can warm soil and increase growth in early season crops. Conversely, a straw or white plastic mulch could reduce soil temperatures in the late spring or late summer planting to reduce stress. Mulches can also be an asset in moderating soil moisture. Pollination is not generally a concern with this family as we eat mostly vegetative tissue or immature flowers, so protective row covers can  \n\n| Crop (species) | Cultivar suggestions |\n| --- | --- |\n| Broccoli (Brassica oleracea Italica group) | Packman, Green Magic, Emperor, Diplomat, Marathon, Artwork, Arcadia |\n| Brussels sprouts (Brassica oleracea, Gemmifera group) | Hestia, Jade Cross |\n| Cabbage (Brassica oleracea Capitata group) | Caraflex, Katarina, Dynamo, Famosa, Blue Vantage |\n| Cauliflower ( Brassica oleracea, Botrytis group) | Snow Crown, Majestic, Cheddar, Graffiti |\n| Collards (Brassica oleracea Acephala group) | Champion, Flash, Top Bunch |\n| Kale (Brassica oleracea, B. napus) | Toscano, Lacinato, Red Russian, Prizm, Redbor, Scarlet, Winterbor, Starbor |\n| Kohlrabi (Brassica oleracea Gonglyodes group) | Winner, Konan, Early Purple Vienna |\n| Mustard ( Brassica juncea) Turnip greens (Brassica rapa) | Green Wave, Red Kingdom\u003Cbr>Purple Top White Globe, Seven Top, Top Star |\n\nbe a great tool to exclude pests.  \nMost cole crops are moderate to heavy feeders, and attention to fertility is important. A side dressing of nitrogen is generally recommended two to four weeks after transplanting. As with other cool-season vegetables, these crops have a root system that is not overly deep. So, much of the water and nutrient uptake occurs in the upper few inches of soil. Because water management is important, irrigation will be helpful in many seasons for growth and quality. Supporting rapid, steady growth is the main goal for cole crops, which need to mature to high-quality vegetables before the weather gets too hot (spring plantings) or cold (fall plantings) for optimum growth.  \n\n| Crop | Spring Planting | ","cbCaibKil3hv5VHg","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaibKil3hv5VHg","pdf",76494,6,1,4,"English","en",105,"# Crop Description\n## Cole crops and what is eaten\n## Cool-season traits and challenges\n# Planting and Growing\n## Soil, pH, drainage, and fertilizer\n## Transplanting, seeding, and mulch\n## Moisture, irrigation, and pest management\n# Growth Conditions and Timing\n## Temperature targets and stress\n## Bolting risk and timing constraints\n# Crop Table\n## Cultivar suggestions and harvest guidance","[{\"question\":\"What does “cole crops” include in a Tennessee home garden?\",\"answer\":\"Cole crops refer to several Brassicaceae plants whose edible portions include broccoli and cauliflower flowers, cabbage and other leafy greens, kohlrabi stems, and radish/turnip roots (radishes/turnips are covered elsewhere).\"},{\"question\":\"What soil conditions and fertilizer approach improve cole crop success?\",\"answer\":\"Good drainage supports growth across sandy to clayey soils, with an optimum pH around 6.5. Add recommended pre-plant fertilizer before planting, and apply a nitrogen side dressing about two to four weeks after transplanting.\"},{\"question\":\"How do mulches and irrigation affect cole crops?\",\"answer\":\"Dark plastic mulches warm soil early and increase growth, while straw or white plastic can reduce soil temperatures to lessen late-spring or late-summer stress. Since most water and nutrient uptake occurs in the upper soil layers, irrigation often helps maintain growth quality.\"}]","COLE CROPS FOR THE TENNESSEE VEGETABLE GARDEN | PDF",1787230602,{"code":4,"msg":31,"data":32},"ok",{"site_id":25,"language":24,"slug":33,"title":13,"keywords":34,"description":14,"schema_data":35,"social_meta":86,"head_meta":88,"extra_data":90,"updated_unix":29},"cole-crops-for-the-tennessee-vegetable-garden","",{"@graph":36,"@context":85},[37,53,68],{"@type":38,"itemListElement":39},"BreadcrumbList",[40,44,48,51],{"item":41,"name":42,"@type":43,"position":21},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":45,"name":46,"@type":43,"position":47},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/","Document",2,{"item":49,"name":12,"@type":43,"position":50},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/lifestyle/",3,{"item":52,"name":13,"@type":43,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/cole-crops-for-the-tennessee-vegetable-garden/133960/",{"url":52,"name":13,"@type":54,"author":55,"headline":13,"publisher":57,"fileFormat":60,"inLanguage":24,"description":14,"dateModified":61,"datePublished":62,"encodingFormat":60,"isAccessibleForFree":63,"interactionStatistic":64},"DigitalDocument",{"name":9,"@type":56},"Person",{"url":41,"name":58,"@type":59},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-09-01","2026-08-20",true,{"@type":65,"interactionType":66,"userInteractionCount":20},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":67},"ViewAction",{"@type":69,"mainEntity":70},"FAQPage",[71,77,81],{"name":72,"@type":73,"acceptedAnswer":74},"What does “cole crops” include in a Tennessee home garden?","Question",{"text":75,"@type":76},"Cole crops refer to several Brassicaceae plants whose edible portions include broccoli and cauliflower flowers, cabbage and other leafy greens, kohlrabi stems, and radish/turnip roots (radishes/turnips are covered elsewhere).","Answer",{"name":78,"@type":73,"acceptedAnswer":79},"What soil conditions and fertilizer approach improve cole crop success?",{"text":80,"@type":76},"Good drainage supports growth across sandy to clayey soils, with an optimum pH around 6.5. Add recommended pre-plant fertilizer before planting, and apply a nitrogen side dressing about two to four weeks after transplanting.",{"name":82,"@type":73,"acceptedAnswer":83},"How do mulches and irrigation affect cole crops?",{"text":84,"@type":76},"Dark plastic mulches warm soil early and increase growth, while straw or white plastic can reduce soil temperatures to lessen late-spring or late-summer stress. Since most water and nutrient uptake occurs in the upper soil layers, irrigation often helps maintain growth quality.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":52,"og:type":87,"og:title":13,"og:site_name":58,"og:description":14},"article",{"robots":89,"canonical":52},"index,follow",{"doc_id":7,"site_id":25},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":92},[93,97,101,105,110,114,119,124,129,132,134],{"id":21,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":46,"category_name":94,"show_sort_weight":95,"slug":96},"Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":47,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":46,"category_name":98,"show_sort_weight":99,"slug":100},"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":22,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":46,"category_name":102,"show_sort_weight":103,"slug":104},"Exam",70,"exam",{"id":106,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":46,"category_name":107,"show_sort_weight":108,"slug":109},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":20,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":46,"category_name":111,"show_sort_weight":112,"slug":113},"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":115,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":46,"category_name":116,"show_sort_weight":117,"slug":118},7,"Healthcare",40,"healthcare",{"id":120,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":46,"category_name":121,"show_sort_weight":122,"slug":123},8,"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":125,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":46,"category_name":126,"show_sort_weight":127,"slug":128},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":127,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":46,"category_name":130,"show_sort_weight":127,"slug":131},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":11,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":46,"category_name":12,"show_sort_weight":11,"slug":133},"lifestyle",{"id":135,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":46,"category_name":136,"show_sort_weight":106,"slug":137},19,"General","general"]