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Vegetable Growing Guide

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How to Grow Vegetables

Catherine Boeckmann
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In one handy chart, the Almanac Vegetables Growing Guide summarizes when to start seeds indoors and outdoors, the soil temperature needed to germinate, the plant’s hardiness level, when to fertilize, and when to water.

Of course, see the master Planting Calendar for more specific dates by YOUR zip code for all your common vegetables. 

Vegetables Growing Guide

Note: Each of the vegetables listed below links to an individual vegetable plant guide that covers sowing to growing to harvest!

VegetableStart Seeds Indoors (weeks before last spring frost)Start Seeds Outdoors (weeks before or after last spring frost)Minimum Soil Temp. to Germinate (°F)Cold HardinessWhen to FertilizeWhen to Water
Beans—Anytime after48–50TenderAfter heavy bloom and set of podsRegularly, from start of pod to set
Beets—3 before to 3 after39–41Half-hardyAt time of plantingOnly during drought conditions
Broccoli6–82–3 before55–75HardyThree weeks after transplantingOnly during drought conditions
Brussels sprouts6–8—55–75HardyThree weeks after transplantingAt transplanting
Cabbage6–81 before to 1 after38–40HardyThree weeks after transplantingTwo to three weeks before harvest
Carrots—3–5 before39–41Half-hardyPreferably in the fall for the following springOnly during drought conditions
Cauliflower6–81 before to 1after65–75Half-hardyThree weeks after transplantingOnce, three weeks before harvest
Celery6–8—60–70TenderAt time of transplantingOnce a week
Corn—2 after46–50TenderWhen eight to ten inches tall, and again when first silk appearsWhen tassels appear and cobs start to swell
Cucumbers2–41–2 after65–70Very tenderOne week after bloom, and again three weeks laterFrequently, especially when fruits form
Lettuce4–61 before to 2 after40–75Half-hardyTwo to three weeks after transplantingOnce a week
Melons2–42 after55–60Very tenderOne week after bloom, and again three weeks laterOnce a week
Onion sets—4 before34–36HardyWhen bulbs begin to swell, and again when plants are one foot tallOnly during drought conditions
Parsnips—0–3 before55–70HardyOne year before plantingOnly during drought conditions
Peas—4–6 before34–36HardyAfter heavy bloom and set of podsRegularly, from start of pod to set
Peppers8–10—70–80Very tenderAfter first fruit-setOnce a week
Potato tubers—0–2 after55–70Half-hardyAt bloom time or time of second hillingRegularly, when tubers start to form
Pumpkins2–41 after55–60TenderJust before vines start to run, when plants are about one foot tallOnly during drought conditions
Radishes—1 before to 1 after39–41HardyBefore spring plantingOnce a week
Spinach—4–6 before55–65HardyWhen plants are one-third grownOnce a week
Squash, summer2–41 after55–60Very tenderJust before vines start to run, when plants are about one foot tallOnly during drought conditions
Squash, winter2–41 after55–60TenderJust before vines start to run, when plants are about one foot tallOnly during drought conditions
Tomatoes6–8—50–55TenderTwo weeks before, and after first pickingTwice a week

Ready to plan an amazing vegetable garden? Let’s get to the drawing board. Check out the amazing online Almanac Garden Planner tool!

Read Next

Planting Charts and Resources
About The Author

Catherine Boeckmann

Catherine Boeckmann loves nature, stargazing, and gardening so it’s not surprising that she and The Old Farmer’s Almanac found each other. She leads digital content for the Almanac website, and is also a certified master gardener in the state of Indiana. Read More from Catherine Boeckmann

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Comments

fekry effat (not verified)

4 years 4 months ago

I am a 75 years old retiree. I hope to get starting growing some vegetables in the backyard or indoors. I have little information of doing that and hope your guidance could help me do so. Thanks again.

Fikre Yifru (not verified)

7 years 2 months ago

Dear Sirs,

We are an NGO trying to help poor farmers grow vegetables at high altitude in Ethiopia. WE are to use solar pumps to get water and irrigate the peasant fields (2-5) at different places.

We need high valued vegetables,
We need cold resisting plants
We need short sprouting days.

Please suggest the vegetables and the possible yields/ha.

Any other advice?

Fikre

It depends on where you are (what the altitude is and the lowest temperature you get). I built my own greenhouse with scraps of wood and old wondows. I was able to harvest spinach up until very very late in the season (January, temp: 1° F).
I grow tomatoes and I am able to can them (put them in a sterile sealed container). I'm still eating tomatoes from 2 years ago since I'm able to freeze them. I have given tomatoes, lettuce, thyme, rosemary, onions, garlic (planted the fall before) to 4 of my neighbors. I think Spinach is a great way to start. It is rich in vitamins and minerals.
I hope this helps and I wish you success. By the way, there are free plans for a green house online.

Mariana Du Toit (not verified)

8 years 5 months ago

Stay in die western cape. but my garden are covered with shade net
please help me this is the first time ever I started with a garden a pensioner now
Thank you

Carrie (not verified)

8 years 7 months ago

I live in WV when can I start planting

Gina Lamannis (not verified)

8 years 10 months ago

Approx. when is the last Spring d=freeze for tomatoes? Also, when I have tomatoes growing, they have been getting rotten on the bottoms of the fruit. I cover the dirt with plastic, but I still get it! Any tips?

Hi Gina, We hope we can help. We don’t know where you live, but you can check our Frost Dates Calendar which is customized to your zip code here: http://www.almanac.com/gardening/frostdates

Also, the tomato problem is most likely Blossom End Rot. We have a page about how to manage this common issue here: http://www.almanac.com/content/blossom-end-rot

Alex (not verified)

8 years 9 months ago

Sounds like "blossom end rot" i believe it is a calcium deficiency can be fixed with fertilizer
just give it a google.