Vegetable Garden Planner

How to Grow Vegetables

Different vegetables require different conditions to thrive. Plan your garden accordingly with our guidelines below for growing vegetables.

Get Customized Planting Dates! See our free Best Planting Dates for Seeds tool, based on your zip/postal code!

Note: Each of the vegetables listed below links to a free planting and growing guide!

Growing Vegetables Guide

Vegetable Start Seeds Indoors (weeks before last spring frost) Start Seeds Outdoors (weeks before or after last spring frost) Minimum Soil Temp. to Germinate (°F) Cold Hardiness When to Fertilize When to Water
Beans Anytime after 48–50 Tender After heavy bloom and set of pods Regularly, from start of pod to set
Beets 3 before to 3 after 39–41 Half-hardy At time of planting Only during drought conditions
Broccoli 6–8 2–3 before 55–75 Hardy Three weeks after transplanting Only during drought conditions
Brussels sprouts 6–8 55–75 Hardy Three weeks after transplanting At transplanting
Cabbage 6–8 1 before to 1 after 38–40 Hardy Three weeks after transplanting Two to three weeks before harvest
Carrots 3–5 before 39–41 Half-hardy Preferably in the fall for the following spring Only during drought conditions
Cauliflower 6–8 1 before to 1after 65–75 Half-hardy Three weeks after transplanting Once, three weeks before harvest
Celery 6–8 60–70 Tender At time of transplanting Once a week
Corn 2 after 46–50 Tender When eight to ten inches tall, and again when first silk appears When tassels appear and cobs start to swell
Cucumbers 2–4 1–2 after 65–70 Very tender One week after bloom, and again three weeks later Frequently, especially when fruits form
Lettuce 4–6 1 before to 2 after 40–75 Half-hardy Two to three weeks after transplanting Once a week
Melons 2–4 2 after 55–60 Very tender One week after bloom, and again three weeks later Once a week
Onion sets 4 before 34–36 Hardy When bulbs begin to swell, and again when plants are one foot tall Only during drought conditions
Parsnips 0–3 before 55–70 Hardy One year before planting Only during drought conditions
Peas 4–6 before 34–36 Hardy After heavy bloom and set of pods Regularly, from start of pod to set
Peppers 8–10 70–80 Very tender After first fruit-set Once a week
Potato tubers 0–2 after 55–70 Half-hardy At bloom time or time of second hilling Regularly, when tubers start to form
Pumpkins 2–4 1 after 55–60 Tender Just before vines start to run, when plants are about one foot tall Only during drought conditions
Radishes 1 before to 1 after 39–41 Hardy Before spring planting Once a week
Spinach 4–6 before 55–65 Hardy When plants are one-third grown Once a week
Squash, summer 2–4 1 after 55–60 Very tender Just before vines start to run, when plants are about one foot tall Only during drought conditions
Squash, winter 2–4 1 after 55–60 Tender Just before vines start to run, when plants are about one foot tall Only during drought conditions
Tomatoes 6–8 50–55 Tender Two weeks before, and after first picking Twice a week

 

Full Moon Finder iPhone App

Related Products:
The 2012 Gardening Calendar features how-to garden advice, tips, secrets, folklore, plant illustrations. Learn more about the 2012 Gardening Calendar.

Comments

I have used compost in my

I have used compost in my soil used water twice a week. My tomatoes are turning brown. I never scene nothimg like it before.

beachrn's picture

They most likely have a

They most likely have a fungus. Buy some fungicide made for veggies and follow the directions. The same thing happen my tomatoes and as long as I sprayed once weekly it was kept under control. Hope this helps.

What kind of compost did you

What kind of compost did you use and how much? Certain compost must be used sparingly and some must be used heavily. Depending on what you used it could have been to much.

Could have a blight

Could have a blight

Bell Pepper question: The

Bell Pepper question:
The fall cold mornings are settiing in, 40F and below. I have a great crop of bell peppers, but they are not quite ready to pick... maybe another 10 days. Should I pick or leave them out there?

My daughter (4 yrs.) and I

My daughter (4 yrs.) and I sowed seeds a couple of weeks ago and obliously went overboard. We have hundreds of sprouts coming up in every foot of each row. When and to what extent do I thin these for, turnips, radishes, turnip greens, chard, carrots, spinach? Everything else we used starters so it is not a problem. Please help, everything looks happy and I do not want to overdo it or do it to soon. (Louisiana)

I am told if you sprinkle a

I am told if you sprinkle a little sulphur at the base of the Tomatoes it will help the blight

It says to water tomatoes

It says to water tomatoes twice a week and I heard that they need 2 inches a week. If using a regular spraying hose how do you know when it is enough?

You should water your tomato

You should water your tomato plants 2 to 3 times a week, giving them about a gallon's worth of water each time. You can save an empty milk gallon and fill that each time you need to water your tomatoes so you know you're giving them the right amount.

Last year I planted 6

Last year I planted 6 tomatoes and the plants did great . they grew higher then my head. However, they had very few tomatoes on them and the ones they had were very small. I have raised a few tomatoes every year since I can remember and never has this happened before. Any help or clues as to what I did wrong will be most helpful this year??? Thank-you

Hi Pinky, Try regulating the

Hi Pinky, Try regulating the amount of fertilizer you use, or change the make-up. Too much nitrogen causes excessive foliage but little fruit. Also--it may just be the variety you are growing that produces small tomatoes. Talk with someone at your local nursery to get the variety you want. See our tomatoes page here for more tips and advice: http://www.almanac.com/plant/tomatoes

I just planted my tomato

I just planted my tomato plants outside on 5/30. They are staked, mulched, and have been watered at the roots 3 times. They looked great when I put them out, then wilted a bit the first day or so. Now they seem to have some new growth, but also have leaves that are light green with white splotches. What might be going on? Too much/too little water? Not hardened off enough? Please help, I'm a bit worried...

It sounds like your plants

It sounds like your plants have a bacterial disease that is causing the wilting. Often times this is due to over watering, but the disease also could have started in the seed. Unfortunately, you may have lost your plants for the season. Consult your local Cooperative Extension to get their opinion, they are the experts in your Zone, and may know if other plants have been affected in your area. Next year, practice crop rotation, and do not plant in the same spot. Good Luck! http://www.almanac.com/content/cooperative-extension-services

Militonia's picture

You said they were

You said they were mulched.What were they mulched with? If it is a heavy mulch such as bark or garden rock you will need to water for a longer period of time to get water into the roots of the plant.
The"splotches",you could try a spray mist or wash of 1 teaspoon dishsoap in a gallon of water and spray for bugs,slugs,cutworms-those green catipillars.

my tomatoes are wilting and i

my tomatoes are wilting and i dont know why,can you help me

Militonia's picture

Try watering every

Try watering every morning-early b-4 heat starts or in the early evening. In extreme heat I do both when possible.

Peidmont of NC

Peidmont of NC

I never water in the

I never water in the evenings, I've read it welcomes fungus.

My brussels sprouts are

My brussels sprouts are starting to develop and I plan fall harvest. Someone told me I should remove the leaves so that the sprouts get more nutrirnts. Is this true?

I have been searching for the

I have been searching for the instructions for planting some vegetables that I could be harvest on my garden and I have got it. This Growing Vegetables table or sheet has included useful elements very wisely because here I have found various kinds of vegetables, its suite conditions & and useful information to harvest it with systemically. Actually I loved Cauliflower and I'm too much interested to plant it on my garden, also Celery and Tomatoes too. Last time I had try to plant Cauliflower, but it didn't harvest properly and all my Cauliflower became brown and wasted. All my hard works are had been become worse. Even now, I would be fertilizing Cauliflower properly with the help of this information.

I have a problem with my

I have a problem with my roses. Some of the branches look deformed. On more than 1 bush. But not all brances have done this.Anyone know what the cause is? Thanks.

It’s important to remove the

It’s important to remove the deformed branches. Here are some pruning guidelines for healthy rose plants.
Remove all dead wood and wood that is diseased, broken or injured. Also remove any basal shoots and branches that cross through the center of the plant or rub on other branches.
Prune to provide good air movement through the plant. Make the cuts above a strong bud that faces the outside of the plant using sharp pruning shears or knives.
See our Roses page for plant care: http://www.almanac.com/plant/roses

Post new comment

The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.
By submitting this form, you accept the Mollom privacy policy.