This is a planting guide for some of the more popular vegetables grown in the home garden. Note that the Seed Sowing Dates are not zone specific and you may need to adjust for your location.
Plant |
Seed Sowing Date |
Plant Spacing |
Row Spacing |
Seed Planting Depth |
Time to Maturity |
Comments |
| Asparagus | Perennial...Plant Early Spring | 14" | 24-36" | 4-5" | Second Year | Do not harvest the 1st year to allow plants to establish |
| Beans | April-May | 4" Bush 36" Pole |
18-24" Bush 48" Pole |
1 1/2" | 60 days | Harvest when young and tender. Provide support for pole beans |
| Beets | April and again in June | 4" | 18" | 1/2" | 40-70 days | Beet tops may also be eaten. Harvest and store before 1st frost |
| Broccoli | April-May | 24" | 30-36" | 1/2" to 1" | 4-5 months | Harvest the main Broccoli heads before they open. The plant will produce an extended crop of smaller heads the rest of the summer |
| Cabbage | April | 24" | 24-36" | 1/2" | 4-5 months | Needs pH of 5.5 or higher. Fertilize every 4 weeks |
| Carrots | April and again in July | 2-4" | 18-24" | 1/2" | 90 days | Needs deep, loose soil. Plant successive plantings every 3 weeks. |
| Corn | May | 3" | 24" | 1" | 2-3 months | Plant closely in blocks rather than rows. Sweetest when first picked. |
| Cucumbers | May-June | 36-48" | 36-48" | 1" | 2-3 months | Prompt harvest of mature cucumbers will prolong growing season. Can be trained to climb vertically to take less space. |
| Lettuce | April | 3" | 24" | 1" | 2-3 months | Prefers cool weather. Plant Spring and Fall |
| Onions | Plant sets in April | 3" | 12-18" | 1/2" | seeds=2-3 months sets=50-60 days |
Plant early as possible. Fertilize well |
| Peas | April | 3-6" | 72" | 2" | 60 days | Prefers cool temperatures. Plant early as possible. |
| Peppers | May | 24" | 24" | 1/2" | 4-5 months | Needs lots of sun and warm temperatures. Do not fertilize heavily |
| Potatoes | April-May | 8" | 36" | 3-6" | 90-150 days | Plant "seed potato" containing at least 2 eyes. Harvest when vine begins to die. |
| Radishes | April | 1-3" | 18-24" | 1/2" | 30 days | Good vegetable to teach children about gardening due to fast growth. |
| Spinach | April | 6" | 12-18" | 1/2" | 90 days | Apply nitrate of soda between rows to stimulate growth. Harvest when young or plants will go to seed. |
| Squash | May-June | 36" | 36" | 1/2 - 1" | 4-5 months | Prefers rich soil and warm temperatures |
| Tomatoes | May | 30-36" | 30-36" | 1/2" | 4-5 months | Does not tolerate frost. Should be staked to keep off ground. Green tomatoes may be picked and ripened indoors. |
| Watermelons | May | 72" | 72" | 1" | 4-5 months | Needs very warm temperature, in fertile, sandy soil. Hard to grow in Northern, cool climates. |
Our Articles:
Asparagus | Avocado |
Green Beans | How to Attract Bees to Your Garden | Carrots | Composting | Lettuce | Growing Guide | Onions | Orchids | Peppers | Petunias | Raised Bed Gardening | Roses | Control Snails/Slugs | Starting Plants Indoors | Tomatillos | Tomatoes | Transplanting | Upside Down Tomatoes | Get Rid of Weeds