Vegetable Planting Guides and Growing Tips

Home Vegetable Gardening

The planting dates are approximate and generally based on the warming and temperature of the soil.

Because there are 'new and improved' hybrids of many of these plants developed each year, more detailed information should be taken from the seed packets as to actual timing and planting specifications in your area.

As you plan which foods that you'd like to grow in your garden, remember that among other things, you must also take the following into account:

Planting dates and depths, plant spacing, germination time and growing tips

Plant type:

Asparagus

Sow Indoors: mid-winter

Sow in Garden: Perennial Plant in spring

Seed Spacing: Plants: 12"-15" Rows: 5 ft.

Seed depth: 1"

Maturity: Third year

Comments See Web Page

Plant type:

Avocado

Sow Indoors: Any Time

Sow in Garden: Tree

Seed Spacing: Plants: 10 ft.

Seed depth: 2-3"

Maturity: 3-5 years

Comments See Web Page

Plant type:

Beans, bush

Sow Indoors: n/a

Sow in Garden: April-May

Seed Spacing: Plants: 4" Rows: 18-24"

Seed depth: 1½"

Maturity: 60 days

Comments Harvest when young and tender. Plant a fall vegetable in this area after harvest.

Plant type:

Beans, pole

Sow Indoors: n/a

Sow in Garden: May

Seed Spacing: Plants: 36" Rows: 48"

Seed depth: 1½-2"

Maturity: 60 days

Comments Plant 4-6 seeds around a 6-8 foot pole or use a trellis.

Plant type:

Beets

Sow Indoors: n/a

Sow in Garden: Early spring

Seed Spacing: Plants: 4" Rows: 18-24"

Seed depth: ½"

Maturity: 40-70 days

Comments See Web Page

Plant type:

Broccoli

Sow Indoors: 5-7 weeks before planting

Sow in Garden: Late April-May

Seed Spacing: Plants: 24" Rows: 30-36"

Seed depth: ½-1"

Maturity: 4-5 months

Comments See Web Page

Plant type:

Brussels Sprouts

Sow Indoors: 6-8 weeks before planting

Sow in Garden: Late June

Seed Spacing: Plants: 18-24" Rows: 3 ft.

Seed depth: ¼"

Maturity: 90 days

Comments See Web Page

Plant type:

Cabbage

Sow Indoors: 5-7 weeks before planting

Sow in Garden: April

Seed Spacing: Plants: 24" Rows: 24-36"

Seed depth: ½"

Maturity: 4-5 months

Comments See Web Page

Plant type:

Carrots

Sow Indoors: n/a

Sow in Garden: As early as possible in spring

Seed Spacing: Plants: 2" Rows: 12-18"

Seed depth: ½"

Maturity: 90 days

Comments Sow successive plantings every three weeks. See Web Page

Plant type:

Cauliflower

Sow Indoors: 5-7 weeks before planting time

Sow in Garden: May

Seed Spacing: Plants: 15" Rows: 24-36"

Seed depth: ½"

Maturity: 4-5 months

Comments See Web Page

Plant type:

Corn (sweet)

Sow Indoors: n/a

Sow in Garden: May Successive plantings every 2 weeks

Seed Spacing: Plants: 3" Rows: 24"

Seed depth: 1"

Maturity: 2-3 months

Comments Should be planted closely together in blocks rather than rows to insure good pollination. Corn is at it's very sweetest the moment it is picked.

Plant type:

Cucumbers

Sow Indoors: n/a

Sow in Garden: May-June

Seed Spacing: Plants: 36-48" Rows: 36-48" 3-4 plants per mound

Seed depth: 1"

Maturity: 2-3 months

Comments Spread a mulch of black plastic to the area before the vines begin to spread. Prompt harvesting will prolong the fruiting period.

Plant type:

Eggplants

Sow Indoors: Feb.-March Set in garden in May

Sow in Garden: 2 weeks after last frost

Seed Spacing: Plants: 24" Rows: 36"

Seed depth: ¼"

Maturity: 4-5+ months

Comments Use bedding plants in short season areas, Needs excellent drainge and warm soil.

Plant type:

Gourds

Sow Indoors: n/a

Sow in Garden: Last Frost

Seed Spacing: Plants: 12"

Seed depth: ¾"

Maturity: 120-180 days

Comments See Web Page

Plant type:

Horseradish

Sow Indoors: n/a

Sow in Garden: Perennial Plant in early spring

Seed Spacing: Plants: 4 ft.

Seed depth: 2"

Maturity: First Fall

Comments Normally sold as a root cutting. Plant roots at slight downward angle. Requires moist, rich, organic soil. May become a weed

Plant type:

Kiwi

Sow Indoors: n/a

Sow in Garden: Set plants in early Spring

Seed Spacing: Plant male vine and female vine one foot apart

Seed depth: Node at ground level

Maturity: Second year

Comments Vines of both sexes must be grown for pollination. See Web Page

Plant type:

Lettuce

Sow Indoors: Feb.-March

Sow in Garden: Early April

Seed Spacing: Plants: 8-12" Rows: 18-24"

Seed depth: Do not cover

Maturity: 70-90 days

Comments Grows best in the cool temperatures of spring and fall. Needs very rich soil and lots of moisture. Plant successive crops every two weeks til the end of April.

Plant type:

Okra

Sow Indoors: n/a

Sow in Garden: 2 weeks after last frost

Seed Spacing: Plants: 12" Rows: 3-4 ft.

Seed depth: ¾"

Maturity: 50-75 days

Comments Harvest when young (2"-3") Harvest often to encourage production Choose fast maturing varieties

Plant type:

Onions

Sow Indoors: February Set in garden in April

Sow in Garden: Plant onion sets in April

Seed Spacing: Plants: 3" Rows: 12-18"

Seed depth: ½"

Maturity: seeds 3-4 months sets 50-60 days

Comments Plant as early as possible. Apply a fertilizer high in phosphorus and potash. Onion sets may also be grown in planters.

Plant type:

Peanuts

Sow Indoors: n/a

Sow in Garden: Plant seeds in early April

Seed Spacing: Plants: 3" Rows: 30-36"

Seed depth: 1-1½"

Maturity: Fall

Comments Peanuts need a long, hot growing season. See Web Page

Plant type:

Peas

Sow Indoors: n/a

Sow in Garden: Early spring Late summer

Seed Spacing: Plants: 3-6" (double row) Rows: 36"

Seed depth: 1½-2"

Maturity: 60 days

Comments See Web Page

Plant type:

Peppers

Sow Indoors: Feb.-March Set in garden in May

Sow in Garden: May

Seed Spacing: Plants: 24" Rows: 24"

Seed depth: ½"

Maturity: 4-5 months

Comments Do not provide too much nitrogen or you'll have lots of plant, little fruit. A black plastic mulch will warm the soil and promote good growth.

Plant type:

Potatoes

Sow Indoors: n/a

Sow in Garden: April-May

Seed Spacing: Plants: 8" Rows: 36"

Seed depth: 3-6"

Maturity: 90-150 days

Comments Plant a chunk of a 'seed' potato, containing 2 or more eyes. See Web Page

Plant type:

Pumpkins

Sow Indoors: 3 weeks before outdoors

Sow in Garden: May

Seed Spacing: Plants: 6-8" Rows: 36"

Seed depth: 3-4"

Maturity: 4-5 months

Comments Pumpkins take up a lot of room, so sometimes it is better to plant them outside of the garden. Will tolerate a small amount of shade.

Plant type:

Radishes

Sow Indoors: n/a

Sow in Garden: As early as possible in spring, and in late summer

Seed Spacing: Plants: 1-2" Rows: 6-12"

Seed depth: ½"

Maturity: 3-10 weeks

Comments Radishes will bolt in warm temperatures. See Web Page

Plant type:

Raspberry

Sow Indoors: n/a

Sow in Garden: Late Fall/ Early Spring

Seed Spacing: Plants: 2 ft. Rows: 7-8 ft.

Seed depth: 2" deeper than current depth

Maturity: Early Summer

Comments See Web Page

Plant type:

Rhubarb

Sow Indoors: n/a

Sow in Garden: Perennial Plant in early spring

Seed Spacing: Plants: 24" Rows: 24-36"

Seed depth: ¾"

Maturity: Second spring

Comments Ready to harvest early in spring. Rhubarb likes soil high in organic material. Keep the bloom spikes cut off. Easily dividable.

Plant type:

Spinach

Sow Indoors: n/a

Sow in Garden: April

Seed Spacing: Plants: 6" Rows: 12-18"

Seed depth: ½"

Maturity: 90 days

Comments Soil pH should be between 6.0 and 6.7 Apply nitrate of soda between the rows to stimulate growth. Harvest spinach when young or the plants will go to seed.

Plant type:

Squash

Sow Indoors: 3-4 weeks before planting in garden

Sow in Garden: May-June

Seed Spacing: See web page

Seed depth: ½-1"

Maturity: 40-100 days

Comments Summer Squash matures in 40-45 days. Winter Squash may take 100 days. Grows well in warm areas, prefers rich organic soil.

Plant type:

Strawberries

Sow Indoors: n/a

Sow in Garden: Late Fall/ Early Spring

Seed Spacing: Plants: 18" Rows: 18"

Seed depth: at crown

Maturity: Varies

Comments See Web page

Plant type:

Tomatoes

Sow Indoors: March

Sow in Garden: May

Seed Spacing: Plants: 30-36" Rows: 30-36"

Seed depth: ½"

Maturity: 4-5 months

Comments Provide frost protection when first planted. See Web page

Plant type:

Turnips

Sow Indoors: n/a

Sow in Garden: As early as possible in spring, and in late summer

Seed Spacing: Plants: 3-5" Rows: 15-18"

Seed depth: ½"

Maturity: 5-10 weeks

Comments See Web Page

Plant type:

Watermelons and Muskmelons

Sow Indoors: n/a

Sow in Garden: May

Seed Spacing: Plants: 72" Rows: 72" 1-2 plants per mound

Seed depth: 1"

Maturity: 4-5 months

Comments Do best in sandy soil with plenty of added manure. Top dress with high nitrogen/potash fertilizer. Needs warm temperatures to mature.

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