Growing Vegetables Chart

In addition to this information on when to start seeds, when to fertilize, and when to water, see tips for beginner gardeners. Vegetable Start Seeds Indoors (weeks before last spring frost) Start Seeds Outdoors (weeks before or after last spring frost) Minimum Soil Temperature to Germinate (°F) Cold Hardiness When to Fertilize When to Water […]

By The Old Farmer's Almanac

Apr 21 2009

Photo Credit : Brenda Darroch

In addition to this information on when to start seeds, when to fertilize, and when to water, see tips for beginner gardeners.

Vegetable	Start Seeds Indoors (weeks before last spring frost)	Start Seeds Outdoors (weeks before or after last spring frost)	Minimum Soil Temperature to Germinate (°F)	Cold Hardiness	When to Fertilize	When to Water
Beans	—	Anytime after	48-50	Tender	After heavy bloom and set of pods	Regularly, from start of pod to set
Beets	—	4 before to 4 after	39-41	Half-hardy	At time of planting	Only during drought conditions
Broccoli	6-8	4 before	55-75	Hardy	Three weeks after transplanting	Only during drought conditions
Brussels sprouts	6-8	—	55-75	Hardy	Three weeks after transplanting	At transplanting
Cabbage	6-8	Anytime after	38-40	Hardy	Three weeks after transplanting	Two to three weeks before harvest
Carrots	—	4-6 before	39-41	Half-hardy	Preferably in the fall for the following spring	Only during drought conditions
Cauliflower	6-8	4 before	65-75	Half-hardy	Three weeks after transplanting	Once, three weeks before harvest
Celery	6-8	—	60-70	Tender	At time of transplanting	Once a week
Corn	—	2 after	46-50	Tender	When eight to ten inches tall, and again when first silk appears	When tassels appear and cobs start to swell
Cucumbers	3-4	1-2 after	65-70	Very tender	One week after bloom, and again three weeks later	Frequently, especially when fruits form
Lettuce	4-6	2-3 after	40-75	Half-hardy	Two to three weeks after transplanting	Once a week
Melons	3-4	2 after	55-60	Very tender	One week after bloom, and again three weeks later	Once a week
Onion sets	—	4 before	34-36	Hardy	When bulbs begin to swell, and again when plants are one foot tall	Only during drought conditions
Parsnips	—	2-4 before	55-70	Hardy	One year before planting	Only during drought conditions
Peas	—	4-6 before	34-36	Hardy	After heavy bloom and set of pods	Regularly, from start of pod to set
Peppers	8-10	—	70-80	Very tender	After first fruit-set	Once a week
Potato tubers	—	2-4 before	55-70	Half-hardy	At bloom time or time of second hilling	Regularly, when tubers start to form
Pumpkins	3-4	1 after	55-60	Tender	Just before vines start to run, when plants are about one foot tall	Only during drought conditions
Radishes	—	4-6 before	39-41	Hardy	Before spring planting	Once a week
Spinach	—	4-6 before	55-65	Hardy	When plants are one-third grown	Once a week
Squash, summer	3-4	1 after	55-60	Very tender	Just before vines start to run, when plants are about one foot tall	Only during drought conditions
Squash, winter	3-4	1 after	55-60	Tender	Just before vines start to run, when plants are about one foot tall	Only during drought conditions
Tomatoes	6-8	—	50-55	Tender	Two weeks before, and after first picking	Twice a week

This information provided by The Old Farmer’s Almanac.