Different vegetables require different conditions to thrive. Plan your garden accordingly with our guidelines below for growing vegetables.
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Growing Vegetables Guide
Note: Each of the vegetables listed below links to a free planting and growing 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 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.
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 be sunscald or any
Could be sunscald or any number of bacterial or fungal blights. Try http://luv2garden.com/tomato_diseases.html
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
Sometimes "Leaf Curl" disease
Sometimes "Leaf Curl" disease will stunt the growth of your tomatoes. It will invade eggplant, cucumbers, almost any fruit-bearing vine. It is a monster. Before planting may I suggest you "study" the plant, the threats (insects and pests) and decide what type of control you will use? It beats being so very disappointed. This has happened to me a few times.
Read: http://pep.wsu.edu/hortsense/scripts/query/displayProblem.asp?problemID=501&tableName=plant and also http://pep.wsu.edu/Home_Garden/H_G_Pesticide_Info/? about pesticides. Take a deep breath and prepare for next season. One good thing is that you planted them "well" since they grew so tall! Best wishes!
Lime soil before planting and
Lime soil before planting and add 1 tablespoon of epsom salts per plant location to add yield. It works great for me here in the Florida panhandle. Epsom salt is a plant nutrient. When the tomato blooms open, spray them with bloom set to allow more pollination time.
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
Good suggestions.
Good suggestions.
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
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
I have long white radishes
I have long white radishes that are putting on flowers. Do I pinch them off so the fruit grows bigger.
If your radishes have
If your radishes have flowers, they may need to be pulled out. The usual cause is cold temperatures that move them into their reproductive cycle.
We're planning our first
We're planning our first veggie garden in over thirty years! I'm at a loss to know the number of plants or rows to provide for seasonal eating as well as canning and freezing for a family of six adults. We have limited space so figuring the size of the garden will be important. In consideration for the garden: tomatoes,green beans,sweet peas,summer squash,bell and hot peppers,pickling cukes,okra,sweet corn,leaf lettuce and radishes.Can you suggest a scource for this information?
Hi, Merimags, This free
Hi, Merimags,
This free Almanac Garden Planner might be really useful for you:
http://gardenplanner.almanac.com/
Also, did you check out the main Gardening Page? Right at the top, there's a beginner's gardening plot plan that might be helpful.
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