Planting Times For Garden Vegetables

Planting Times For
Garden Vegetables

Figuring the planting times for garden vegetables depends on your region's temperature and each plant's hardiness. If you know the general dates of the last killing frost in the spring and the first killing frost of the fall, the weeks and months in between will determine your "safe" planting times for garden vegetables.

There are two general categories of vegetables: Cool Season and Warm Season. Here is an alphabetical list of vegetables for each category:

Cool Season Vegetables require cool soil and air temperatures to germinate and grow. They have shallow roots and are in danger from drought. Most can take a light frost.

Beets
Broccoli
Cabbage
Carrots
Cauliflower
Collards
Kale
Lettuce
Onions
Peas
Potatoes, Irish
Radishes
Spinach

Warm Season Vegetables require warm soil and air temperatures to germinate and grow. They will not withstand any frost. They have deep-growing roots and can resist drought well.

Beans (bush, snap, pole and lima)
Cantaloupe
Corn
Eggplant
Okra
Sweet Potatoes
Tomatoes
Vine crops (includes cucumbers, melons, pumpkins, squash, watermelon, zucchini)

Understandably, the planting times for garden vegetables provided on most planting charts and seed packets are rough measures. Always factor in the expected warming of the soil and other conditions in your region.

Extend Your Planting Times
for Garden Vegetables

If your growing season is short, or you wish to get a head start on your gardening, there are some techniques that you can easily apply to extend your vegetable planting times.

One way is by starting vegetable gardens in a cold frame early in the season. When spring arrives, set the started plants in the garden as early as possible.

Another way of starting vegetable gardens is to use black or clear plastic as a mulch. Plant your seedlings through holes cut in the plastic. Then cover the rows with a tent made of clear plastic, with proper ventilation.

Try speeding up your planting times for garden vegetables with a raised bed vegetable garden. One advantage of planting vegetables in raised beds is the soil within them warms up faster as spring arrives. This lets you set out your vegetable seeds and seedlings earlier.

Develop Your Own Vegetable Gardening Tips!

You'll find yourself creating your own secrets about planting times for garden vegetables very quickly. Study plant and seed catalogs during the winter months. Keep track of your spring and fall frosts, and know your planting zones.

Many gardeners have turned to organic gardening for planting vegetables. Learn about the natural way to grow healthier, tastier food. The results are worth the effort!

Short on space? Try container gardening for planting vegetables.

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