Vegetable plants differ not only in shape, color, size, and taste, but they prefer special growing conditions too in order to grow and thrive. So we need to understand when to plant vegetables depends on your vegetables and climate / weather conditions. Based on growing condition relative to climate, vegetable plants are divided into “cool-season” and “warm-season”. So when planting vegetables, here are the steps you should take into consideration.
1. Consider Your Garden Zone When to Plant Vegetables
Based on United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), vegetables are classified by the coldest temperature they can endure. So you need to follow the classification when to plant vegetables.
Vegetable plants hardy to Zone 6, for example, survive where winter temperatures drop to -10 deg F, while plants hardy to Zone 8 will die long before it gets that cold. The vegetables must be brought indoors over winter in zone colder than their hardiness zone. Usually, plants rated for a range of hardiness Zones can survive winter in the coldest region as well as can tolerate the summer heat of the warmest one.
Most vegetables such as beans, tomatoes are annuals since they can grow from seed, bear fruits and die in one year. This annual plants will not list a plant’s zone in seed packet or plant tag.
2. Consider Your Micro-climates When to Plant Vegetables
You have micro-climate if you a small area that have different climate from the other climate around it. This small area may be colder or warmer than the nearby area. When to plant vegetables, you may consider locating them in warmer micro-climates than the rest of your yard.
Houses or other buildings, paved surfaces can create micro-climates by absorbing heat during the day and radiating it into the landscape at night. The west side is usually warm and the south side of a building is the warmest. Roof tops and balconies have unique microclimates since they are above the ground. You may place the plants in this area when to plant vegetables to escape frosts that kill your plants at ground level. However, dry, cold winds may offset any heat gain. So to protect plants from wind and radiate heat, you can use walls, fences or large rocks.
3. Planting Cool-Season Vegetable Plants
When to plant vegetables in cool session? Cool-season vegetable plants grow best when temperatures range between 40 to 75 degrees F. In most areas, this vegetable can be planted 2 – 4 weeks before the last spring frost.
Cool-season vegetable plants are unique, their seeds will germinate best in cool soil. They can be planted as soon as the soil can be worked in spring. When to plant these vegetables, just wait the soil dries, can be cultivated and avoid planting in soggy soil which is still full of moisture from snow or spring rains.
The root systems of cool-season vegetable plants are shallower and the vegetables themselves are smaller than warm-season vegetables. The vegetables stop producing in early summer or when temperatures reach 80 degrees F.
When to plant vegetables in areas were nights remain cool, you can try succession planting, sow cool-season vegetables every two weeks for a continual harvest that extends into fall.
When to plant vegetables in warmer regions, plant cool-season vegetable plants in late winter or early spring as soon as possible, and plant the seeds or transplants again in late fall to harvest them in winter.
In some regions, a few cold-hardy vegetable plants, such as garlic, carrots, and parsnips can survive throughout winter when insulated under a blanket of snow. Just look for vegetable plants labeled "frost-hardy" to know which ones tolerate prolonged freezing temperatures.
You can use a soil thermometer to help you know when to plant cool-season vegetable plants. Below are example of vegetables you can plant based on your soil temperature:
- It is time to plant vegetables such as kale, peas, arugula, fava beans, lettuces, parsnips, spinach, radicchio, and radishes if soil temperature of 40 degrees.
- It is time to plant vegetables such as onions, Chinese cabbage, leeks, turnips, and Swiss chard if soil temperature of 50 degrees F.
- It is time to plant vegetables such as carrots, beets, cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and cauliflower if soil temperature of 60 degrees F.
Warm-season vegetable plants, such as corn, tomatoes, peppers, and okra, are developed in tropical climate. So when to plant the vegetables in warm season?
Warm-season vegetables will be killed by frost and won't perform well if temperatures drop below 50 degrees F. So just wait until about 2 weeks after the average frost date for your region to plant warm-season vegetable plants. You may encourage many warm-season vegetables to slowly continue growing into fall by protecting them from frost with cold frames, row covers, and other season-extending devices.
Warm-season vegetables can be planted indoors. This will give them a jump on the growing season, but just remember to slowly acclimate them to outdoor by placing them in shade instead of full sun and allowing them to adjust and tolerate outdoor temperatures.
These warm-season vegetables such as beans, artichokes, corn, eggplant, cucumbers, melons, peanuts, okra, peppers, sweet potatoes, squash, tomatillos, and tomatoes, do best during the warmth of summer.
Now you understand the growing condition when to plant vegetables. So what are you waiting for? Just start a vegetable garden at home now! If you need some tips just read Vegetable Gardening Tips for Beginner.
photo credit: food24.com