Hummingbird House is one of the many Gardens at Cedar Hill The Garden Helper has been helping gardeners grow beautiful plants, flowers and gardens since 1997
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The Plant of the Week
A Songbird in a Forsythia Plant
Golden Bells
Forsythia intermedia
This plant grows best with full sun for most of the dayThis plant requires or will tolerate shade during the heat of the day This plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic wateringWhite flowering plantYellow flowering plant
One of the earliest signs that spring has arrived, is when the Forsythia bursts into a profusion of yellow blossoms spreading from the ground to the tip of each graceful, cascading branch. They vary in size from a compact, one foot plants to 8-10 feet in height and width.
Forsythia branches can be cut and forced to bloom indoors.
Hardy in USDA zones 4-9

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.
W 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:
Soil pH Requirements of Different Garden Vegetables
Vegetable Gardening Basics (Planning, Preparing the soil, and Planting)
Testing and Adjusting Your Soil pH

Planting dates and depths, plant spacing, germination time and growing tips
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 See Web Page
Avocado Any Time Tree P=10 ft. 2-3" 3-5 years See Web Page
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 inch pole or use a trellis.
Beets n/a Early spring P=4"
R=18-24"		 ½" 40-70 days See Web Page
Broccoli 5-7 weeks before planting Late April-May
 P=24"
R=30-36"		 ½-1" 4-5 months See Web Page
Brussels Sprouts 6-8 weeks before planting Late June P=18-24"
R=3 ft.		 ¼" 90 days See Web Page
Cabbage 5-7 weeks before planting April P=24"
R=24-36"		 ½" 4-5 months See Web Page
Carrots n/a As early as possible in spring P=2"
R=12-18"		 ½" 90 days Sow successive plantings every three weeks.
See Web Page
Cauliflower 5-7 weeks before planting time May P=15"
R=24-36"		 ½" 4-5 months See Web Page
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 See Web Page
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.
See Web Page
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.
See Web Page
Peas n/a April Successive plantings every 2 weeks P=3-6" (double row)
R=72"		 1½-2" 60 days Do best in cool temperatures, so plant early and harvest when the peas are young.
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.
See Web Page
Pumpkins n/a 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.
See Web Page
Raspberry n/a Late Fall/ Early Spring P=2 ft.
R=7-8 ft.		 2" deeper than current depth Early Summer See Web Page
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 n/a May-June P=36"
R=36" 3-4 plants per mound		 ½-1" 4-5 months Grows well in warm areas, prefers rich organic soil.
Strawberries n/a Late Fall/ Early Spring P=18"
R=18"		 at crown Varies See Web page
Tomatoes March May P=30-36"
R=30-36"		 ½" 4-5 months Provide frost protection when first planted.
See Web page
Turnips n/a As early as possible in spring, and in late summer P=3-5"
R=15-18"		 ½" 5-10 weeks See Web Page
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.