The Best Time to Plant a Vegetable Garden

Click to review the Yardiac.com Organic Vegetable Fertilizers Most Yardiacs can't wait to start planting, so they can enjoy the taste of fresh vegetables. However, these plants actually have recommended planting times. The last spring frost is important to gardeners, in order to plan when to set out frost-sensitive annuals, vegetables, and even tropical container plants. Some vegetables are frost tolerant, and can be planted as soon as the ground can be worked. Others are slightly less hardy and should be placed in the ground 2-4 weeks before the average last frost date, which is a specified date calculated for an area after which frost is unlikely to occur. Frost sensitive plants, such as melons, peppers, and tomatoes, should be planted after the last frost. Check with the extension service in your area for this information. Unfortunately, cold weather may still occur after the crop has been planted, and some kinds of protection will be needed to shelter sensitive plants. To retain heat, cover frost sensitive plants just before sundown using nonmetallic containers, or old lightweight blankets, or row covers. Container plants are easy to deal with. Just move them to a garage or other protected areas. Yardiac has a great selection of greenhouses, as well!

• Very Cold Tolerant Plants -- Plant as soon as ground can be worked, somewhat.
• Cold Tolerant Plants -- Plant 2-4 weeks before the first average frost free date.
• Frost sensitive Plants -- Plant after the last frost.

Very cold tolerant plants include asparagus, horseradish, leeks, onions, parsnips, peas, spinich, turnips, and shallots. Somewhat cold tolerant plants include beets, broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, carrots, cauliflower, celery, collards, lettuce, kale, endive, and onion sets. Frost sensitive plants include melons, peppers, tomatoes, sweet corn, eggplant, cucumbers, artichoke, and squash.

To view a detailed temperature map, visit us at Yardiac.com.