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.
| Plant type | Date to Sow Indoors | Date to Sow in Garden | Seed Spacing P=Plants R=Rows |
Seed depth | Maturity | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asparagus | mid-winter | Perennial Plant in spring |
P=12"-15" R=5 ft. |
1" | Third year | |
| Avocado | Any Time | Tree | P=10 ft. | 2-3" | 3-5 years | |
| Beans, bush | n/a | April-May | P=4" R=18-24" |
1½" | 60 days | Harvest when young and tender. Plant a fall vegetable in this area after harvest. |
| Beans, pole | n/a | May | P=36" R=48" |
1½-2" | 60 days | Plant 4-6 seeds around a 6-8 foot pole or use a trellis. |
| Beets | n/a | Early spring | P=4" R=18-24" |
½" | 40-70 days | |
| Broccoli | 5-7 weeks before planting | Late April-May |
P=24" R=30-36" |
½-1" | 4-5 months | |
| Brussels Sprouts | 6-8 weeks before planting | Late June | P=18-24" R=3 ft. |
¼" | 90 days | |
| Cabbage | 5-7 weeks before planting | April | P=24" R=24-36" |
½" | 4-5 months | |
| Carrots | n/a | As early as possible in spring | P=2" R=12-18" |
½" | 90 days | Sow successive plantings every three weeks. |
| Cauliflower | 5-7 weeks before planting time | May | P=15" R=24-36" |
½" | 4-5 months | |
| Corn (sweet) | n/a | May Successive plantings every 2 weeks | P=3" R=24" |
1" | 2-3 months | 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. |
| Cucumbers | n/a | May-June | P=36-48" R=36-48" 3-4 plants per mound |
1" | 2-3 months | Spread a mulch of black plastic to the area before the vines begin to spread. Prompt harvesting will prolong the fruiting period. |
| Eggplants | Feb.-March Set in garden in May | 2 weeks after last frost | P=24" R=36" |
¼" | 4-5+ months | Use bedding plants in short season areas, Needs excellent drainge and warm soil. |
| Gourds | n/a | Last Frost | P=12" | ¾" | 120-180 days | |
| Horseradish | n/a | Perennial Plant in early spring |
P=4 ft. | 2" | First Fall | Normally sold as a root cutting. Plant roots at slight downward angle. Requires moist, rich, organic soil. May become a weed |
| Kiwi | n/a | Set plants in early Spring | Plant male vine and female vine one foot apart | Node at ground level | Second year | Vines of both sexes must be grown for pollination. |
| Lettuce | Feb.-March | Early April | P=8-12" R=18-24" |
Do not cover | 70-90 days | 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. |
| Okra | n/a | 2 weeks after last frost | P=12" R=3-4 ft. |
¾" | 50-75 days | Harvest when young (2"-3") Harvest often to encourage production Choose fast maturing varieties |
| Onions | February Set in garden in April | Plant onion sets in April | P=3" R=12-18" |
½" | seeds 3-4 months sets 50-60 days | Plant as early as possible. Apply a fertilizer high in phosphorus and potash. Onion sets may also be grown in planters. |
| Peanuts | n/a | Plant seeds in early April | P=3" R=30-36" |
1-1½" | Fall | Peanuts need a long, hot growing season. |
| Peas | n/a | Early spring Late summer |
P=3-6" (double row) R=36" |
1½-2" | 60 days | |
| Peppers | Feb.-March Set in garden in May | May | P=24" R=24" |
½" | 4-5 months | 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. |
| Potatoes | n/a | April-May | P=8" R=36" |
3-6" | 90-150 days | Plant a chunk of a 'seed' potato, containing 2 or more eyes. |
| Pumpkins | 3 weeks before outdoors | May | P=6-8" R=36" |
3-4" | 4-5 months | 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. |
| Radishes | n/a | As early as possible in spring, and in late summer | P=1-2" R=6-12" |
½" | 3-10 weeks | Radishes will bolt in warm temperatures. |
| Raspberry | n/a | Late Fall/Early Spring | P=2 ft. R=7-8 ft. |
2" deeper than current depth | Early Summer | |
| Rhubarb | n/a | Perennial Plant in early spring |
P=24" R=24-36" |
¾" | Second spring | Ready to harvest early in spring. Rhubarb likes soil high in organic material. Keep the bloom spikes cut off. Easily dividable. |
| Spinach | n/a | April | P=6" R=12-18" |
½" | 90 days | 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. |
| Squash | 3-4 weeks before planting in garden | May-June | See web page | ½-1" | 40-100 days | Summer Squash matures in 40-45 days. Winter Squash may take 100 days. Grows well in warm areas, prefers rich organic soil. |
| Strawberries | n/a | Late Fall/Early Spring | P=18" R=18" |
at crown | Varies | |
| Tomatoes | March | May | P=30-36" R=30-36" |
½" | 4-5 months | Provide frost protection when first planted. |
| Turnips | n/a | As early as possible in spring, and in late summer | P=3-5" R=15-18" |
½" | 5-10 weeks | |
| Watermelons and Muskmelons | n/a | May | P=72" R=72" 1-2 plants per mound |
1" | 4-5 months | Do best in sandy soil with plenty of added manure. Top dress with high nitrogen/potash fertilizer. Needs warm temperatures to mature. |