Planting Instructions

Vegetable Indoor Sowing Outdoor Sowing Plants Spacing Thin to Rows Spacing Seed Planting Depth Mini Soil Temp °F Hardiness Time to Maturity / Harvest Notes
Artichoke 8-10 Weeks before Last Frost Spring 2-3 Ft. no 5-6 Ft. 1" 60 Semi-Hardy 100-150 Days Like well-drained fertile soil. If the soil is too light, add rich organic material. In cold climates, treat as annual.
Asparagus 8 Weeks before last frost. Early Spring 1" 18" 3 – 4 Ft. 1-2"   Semi-Hardy 3rd Year; Yearly thereafter Perennial. Do not harvest the first 2 years to allow plant to establish itself. Apply a heavy mulch in winter
Beets no April to Mid August 1" 2-3" 12-18" 1" 40 Hardy 50 – 70 Days Up to 1/3 of the plant foliage can be harvested for greens. Dig and store in cool place prior to first freeze. Days to maturity may increase with late plantings.
Broccoli no April to Mid June 1" 18-24" 24-30" ½-1" 50 Semi-Hardy 60 - 80 Days Harvest before flower buds start to open. Beware of pests for late Plantings.
Brussels Sprouts no Late June 1" 18-24" 24-30" ¼" 50 Hardy 90 Days Best when harvested small ( 1-2” diameter).
Cabbage Feb-March, Into garden in May April to June 1" 18-24" 24-30" ½" 40 Semi-Hardy 65 - 80 Days PH Soil should be 5.5 or higher. Beware of pests for late Plantings.
Carrots no Mid - April to May & July ½" 1-2" 16-24" ½" 40 Hardy 70 - 90 Days Sow early, best when harvested young. May have several sequential plantings.
Cauliflower Jan.-Feb. Into garden in May Mid-April to Mid-June 1" 30" 24-36" ½" 40 Semi-Hardy 120 - 150 Days Won't tolerate high temperatures, harvest before the head opens up. Sow seeds for a second crop in May.
Vegetable Indoor Sowing Outdoor Sowing Plants Spacing Thin to Rows Spacing Seed Planting Depth Mini Soil Temp °F Hardiness Time to Maturity / Harvest Notes
Celery March-April After last Frost 8" no 2-3 Ft. 1/8" 40 Tender 120 - 140 Days Celery requires a longer growing season, lots of water, and prefers cooler temperatures. Without proper care & conditions, Celery stalks can be very dry and stringy.
Corn no May - Successive Planting every 2 weeks 3" 1 Ft. 3 Ft. 1" 50 Tender 60 - 100 Days Should be planted closely together in blocks rather than rows to insure good pollination.
Cress Year-round Early spring - Late Summer ½" 1-2" 18-24" ¼" 50 Semi-Hardy 20 - 50 Days Sow every 10 days for continuous harvest through midsummer & in late summer for autumn & winter harvest.
Cucumber no May - June 2" 4" 3-4 Ft. 1" 60 Very Tender 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.
Eggplant Feb.-March Into garden in May 2 weeks after last frost 20-30" no 30-36" ¼" 60 Very Tender 4-5+ Months Use bedding plants in short season areas, Needs excellent drainge and warm soil.
Endive   April - July 1" 8" 18-24" ¼"   Hardy 90-100 Days Like cool weather & lots of moisture, in rich, well drained soil. Provide an even amount of moisture and fertilizer. Liquid fertilizer works well.
Gourd no Last Frost 6 Ft/ Hill 2-3 Ft. Hill 6-10 Ft./ Hill ½" 60 Tender 90-130 Days Gourds have a long growing season so you will want to get them started as early as possible.
Vegetable Indoor Sowing Outdoor Sowing Plants Spacing Thin to Rows Spacing Seed Planting Depth Mini Soil Temp °F Hardiness Time to Maturity / Harvest Notes
Kale no Can be planted before last frost date 1" 12" 2-3 Ft. ½" 50 Very Hardy 55-60 Days Prefers cool weather and can withstand light frosts. For fall harvest, sow seeds in July.
Kohlrabi   Can be planted before last frost date 1" 24" 24" ¼" 50 Semi-Hardy 45-55 Days Prefers cool weather. If the weather allows, you can get a spring & a fall crop. Most growth will occur in cool weather.
Leek 10-12 Weeks before last Frost After Last Frost 4-8" no 2 Ft. ½" 50 Semi-Hardy   Start Indoors. Add plenty of compost and manure to soil. To encourage long, thin stems, plant leeks closer together; for thicker stems, set them farther apart.
Lettuce Feb.-March Into garden early April April-August 1/3" 1 Ft. 12-18" ¼" 35 Hardy 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.
Melon 3-4 Weeks before Last Frost After last Frost 8-10 seeds/3" apart in hill 2 plants/ hill 5-6 Ft. ½" 60 Very Tender 75-90 Days Start indoors in colder regions, then transplant once all danger of frost has past. Make sure Melons get ample soil moisture and nutrients.
Okra no 2 weeks after last frost 12" no 3-4 Ft ¾" 60 Very Tender 50-75 Days Harvest when young (2"-3")
Harvest often to encourage production
Choose fast maturing varieties
Onions February April 3" no 12-18" ½" 40 Semi-Hardy 3-4 Months Plant as early as possible. Apply a fertilizer high in phosphorus and potash. Onion sets may also be grown in planters.
Vegetable Indoor Sowing Outdoor Sowing Plants Spacing Thin to Rows Spacing Seed Planting Depth Mini Soil Temp °F Hardiness Time to Maturity / Harvest Notes
Peas no April Successive plantings every 2 weeks 1-2" no 3-5" 2" 40 Semi-Hardy 60 Days Do best in cool temperatures, so plant early and harvest when the peas are young.
Peppers Feb.-March Into garden in May May 12-18" no 24" ½" 60 Very Tender 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.
Pumpkins no May 5"-7"/Hill 3"/Hill 36" 3-4" 60 Tender 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 Feb.-March Into garden early April April 1-3"   18-24" ½" 40 Hardy 30 Days Plant radishes early. They will go to flower when the warm temperatures arrive.
Rutabaga no April- July 3-4" 9" 18" ¾" 40 Hardy 80-100 Days Water well. If rutabagas don't get enough water they will be woody and won't taste as good.
Spinach no April 6"   12-18" ½" 35 Very Hardy 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 / Zucchini no April-July 36"   36" 1" 60 Summer: Tender / Winter: Very Tender 4-5 Months Grows well in warm areas, prefers rich organic soil.
Tomato March May 30-36"   30-36" ½" 50 Tender 4-5 Months Provide frost protection when first planted. Tomato plants may be trained on stakes, grown in cages, or allowed to crawl along the ground. Tomatoes will ripen after they have been picked.
Watermelons no May 72"   72" 1" 60 Very Tender 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.