Seed Planting Schedule

Planting Calendar Dates

One of the myths I hear in our area is that you wait until Memorial Day and then plant the whole garden.  Doing this you will miss out on some wonderful early spring crops and get fewer harvests.  So how do you know when to plant what?

Vegetable crops are either cool season or warm season crops.  Seeds need a certain soil temperature in order to germinate.  Cool season crops are further divided into hardy and semi-hardy plants.  Warm season crops are divided into tender and very tender crops. 

Since last average frost differs in each planting zone, you will need that information to determine your planting calendar. Suggested planting dates are also dealing with the initial plantings. With many crops you can make several plantings 2 weeks apart to have a continual harvest instead of a one-time harvest. Planting dates also give a suggested time frame to start and stop planting.  Depending on the actual spring weather, the timing can be moved up a week or back a week.

The important factor in determining when to plant is the actual soil temperature at which a seed will germinate and if the soil is dry enough to work meaning it is not soggy.  

Most seed packets tell you the ideal soil temperature for germination. 

• With cool season crops that is between 40-75 degrees.  
• Warm season crops prefer soils temperatures above 50 or 60 degrees.   

To find soil temperature, go outside in the afternoon and stick a regular thermometer a few inches in the ground. 

Hardy Spring Crops (Plant as soon as the soil dries out and soil temperature is 50 degrees) 

Direct seed:  Peas, Radish, Spinach, Turnips Kohlrabi

 Transplant: Broccoli , Cabbage
Broccoli , Cabbage, Kohlrabi,Onions, Peas, Radish, Spinach, Turnips

Artichoke, asparagus, and rhubarb are not started from seed but planted at this time also.

Rhubarb, the pie plant, is one of the earliest spring treats.

Kale is much happier, healthier, and better tasting is planted in the right season.

Semi-Hardy Spring Crops:  (Plant a couple weeks after the hardy group) This would be around mid to late April or beginning of May depending on our not so dependable spring weather

 Direct Seed: 
Beets, Carrots, Cauliflower, Lettuce Parsley, Parsnip, Swiss Chard, Kale, Mustard, Mizuna, Tat Soi, Pac Choi, Chinese Cabbage, Mache or Corn Salad, Sorrel (perennial), Cilantro, Arugula

Transplant: Broccoli, Cauliflower, Cabbage, Lettuce, Kale   Depending on your zone have protection in case of a late freeze. I put them under a low tunnel or have a row cover on hand to protect from frosts.

Plant Potatoes

Plant potatoes April 15th thru May 1st

Lettuce transplants under a low tunnel.  The forks are to keep my cats from lounging in the low tunnel.

 

Mache or corn salad needs cool weather to flourish.

Mizuna and mustard early spring greens

Purple Viking potatoes

Pac Choi a quick growing cabbage for stir frying.

Tender Summer Crops 

(Plant on average last frost date) May 15th in my zone.  It's nice to have a way to protect crops if temperatures drop. Row covers or buckets or boxes can be used to cover seedlings at night if there is going to be a freeze. If the weather cooperates and you protection on hand you can plant earlier.

Direct seed:  Cucumbers, Dry Beans, Snap Beans, Sweet Corn, Popcorn, Summer Squash

Transplant:  Celery, Tomatoes, Basil, Oregano, Thyme, Sage, Rosemary, French Tarragon, Marjoram

Varieties of summer squash and a delicata squash

Silver queen sweet corn.

Very Tender Crops
(Plant two weeks after tender crops)
 Mother's Day - Memorial Day 

Direct Seed: Muskmelons Watermelons, Lima Beans, Peppers, Winter Squash, Pumpkins

Transplants:  Peppers, Tomatillos, Tomatoes, Eggplant 

Tomatoes can be planted earlier if you have row covers, wall of water, or even buckets to cover if your get cold nights. Summer crops can be move up a couple weeks if the temperature is nice.

Isn't it amazing what one small seed produces!

Varieties of heirloom including Pineapple, Old Ivory Egg, Pink German

Fall Garden:  Plant hardy and semi-hardy crops from mid-July - August

Plant Garlic 

What To Plant in Early Spring? Basic Gardening Series #5

Is it snowing outside yet you are already making plans for the garden? Are you busy browsing the seed catalogs and making your list of new and old varieties you gotta plant?  Let's look at the earliest spring crops you can plant.  They are cold hardy and many enjoy a light frost because it converts starch into sugar and sweetens them up. Cool season crops offer early harvests and delicious fresh produce.

These crops need cool temperatures to germinate, grow, develop fruit, and mature.  Once the heat sets in the quality and taste of these crops declines. Radishes get hot and pithy in the heat.  Aphids tend to take over brassica crops like broccoli and cabbage as temperatures warm up.  Planting cool season crops at the right time is critical.



Cool Season Crops

• Need to mature when weather is cool
• Can be planted in spring and early fall
• Direct seeded when soil temps 45-50
• Flavor often improves with light frost
• Do not like heat encourages bolting and aphids
• Divided into hardy and semi-hardy

When To Plant

Soil temperature is the determining factor on when you can begin planting. It is also important that you know the average last frost date for your area.

Generally you can plant these crops as soon as the soil is dry enough to work and soil temperatures are between 45-60 degrees.  Seed packets will usually tell you the best soil temperature for germination and will also suggest how many weeks before your last frost you can plant. Remember growth will be slow until you have consistently warmer temperatures so rushing to plant does not always give you a head start.

To determine soil temperature use any thermometer and insert it an inch in the soil in the middle of the day.

Signs of Spring and How to Warm Your Soil

How To Plant

Most cool season crops are seeded directly into the garden. However you can start broccoli and cauliflower, cabbage, and lettuce indoors. They need more time to mature and direct seeding them usually means they mature to late in the season when temperatures are high and pest pressure is high. They are generally planted 2-4 weeks before the last frost date of your area.

 A general rule for planting seeds is to plant the seed 2-3 times as deep as the seed is.  Lettuce is the exception.  It needs light to germinate.  This is why I prefer starting it indoors.  You can gently press the seeds into your trays and you don't have problems with lettuce seeds migrating to unwanted areas in your beds.

What to Plant


Hardy Cool Season Crops

• Most cold tolerant
• Planted 2-4 weeks before last frost generally mid March to Mid April
• Seedlings endure freezes and grow when air temps in 40’s

Hardy Cool Season Crops    

• Asparagus
• Brussel Sprout *
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Chives
•  Collards *
• Corn Salad (Mache)
• Kale
• Leeks
• Mustards 
• Onions

• Parsley
• Peas
• radishes
• Rhubarb
• Rutabaga*
• Spinach
• Turnips*

* Best Planted as a fall crop

Semi-Hardy Cool Season Crops

• Tolerate light freezes or a few hours of frost
• Grown when minimum air temps 45-60
• Direct seed and transplant in April

Semi-Hardy Crops

• Beets
• Carrots,
• Cauliflower
• Celery
• Chard
• Chinese Cabbage
• Artichokes
• Lettuce 
• Parsnips*
• Potatoes
• Sorrel
• Hardy Herbs

Meet the "Cool" Crops

Meet the "Not So Popular" Spring Crops

A fall planting of some cool season crops is possible which extends your season considerably.  In my zone this planting can be done at the end of July. 

-Beets and carrots can be seeded directly into the garden.  

-Rutabagas, collard, and turnips are best seeded directly into the garden as fall crops.

Fall Root Crops

  
-Transplants of broccoli, kale, lettuce, Chinese Cabbage, and Brussel sprouts can be planted at this time. 

Broccoli and Cauliflower: A Royal Treat

Principles of Fall Gardening