What is first

[motherhubbard]

I am in Mid Missouri and looking forward to planting my first garden here. My soil is clay and rocky so I think I must do raised beds. First I had best get my beds filled with good dirt. Then what is the earliest veggie I can plant ? zone 6a

 

[marlingardener]

Lettuces (the leaf variety as opposed to the head type), broccoli, cauliflower, potatoes. onions, garlic can all go in the gardens in February and March.
May I suggest that you start a compost pile as soon as possible? The "good dirt" will need supplementing and there is nothing better than a few inches of compost mixed in.
Congratulations on your first garden, and let us know how it grows!

 

[CanadianLori]

My zone is fairly close to yours and I don't plant anything outside until at least the end of march. The plants already mentioned like cold and can tolerate heavy frost but I would not recommend starting before your soil temps are up a bit. If you google "soil temperature " you'll quickly find a chart showing you when it's safe to start.

As soon as your ground is ready to work, you can start preparing your beds. I remembr one year, out ground had finally thawed and then alongcame a snowfall. So I shovelled the snow before working the soil

@Chuck ? You still got your soil temp chart?

 

[DirtMechanic]

Zone 6 suggested planting schedule for what its worth. We all get itchy and start seeds inside when we can. Grab enough Black Kow composted manure to make it 2 inches deep and till it in for a start.

 

[headfullofbees]

Brassicas love clay soil, even though it's slower to warm in the spring, so, for them, clear away the stones and you're ready to go.

 

[motherhubbard]

thanks everyone,my garden compost has begun.Nothing like wanting to get ahead of the season as it is only 29 here right now and winter has just begun.lol