Different vegetables require different conditions to thrive. Plan your garden accordingly with our guidelines below for growing vegetables.
Note: This is a general guide. For seed-starting information customized to your city/state, see our Best Planting Dates for Seeds tool. If you're transplanting (example, tomatoes), see our Best Dates to Start Transplants chart.
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 |
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Comments
I live in MS it is june 14
I live in MS it is june 14 2011 what vegetables can I plant in my garden now?
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.
My brussels sprouts are
My brussels sprouts are developing and I am planning a fall harvest. Someone told me I should remove the leaves to provide more nutrients to the sprouts. Is this true?
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?
my tomatoes are wilting and i
my tomatoes are wilting and i dont know why,can you help me
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.
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...
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.
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
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