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Vegetable Planting Guides and Growing Tips

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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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