When is the Best Time to Plant Vegetable Garden

One question that is frequently asked by new gardeners is when is the best time to plant vegetable garden. This is an excellent question, but the answer is that it depends upon the climate in your area. A vegetable garden is a smart decision, but must be carefully planned. For example, there is no easy answer as to when to start your planting - each plant and climate is different.

Bear mind mind, however, that even the finest gardeners can lose some plants because of unexpected frosts and early winters which they also had not expected. Gardening can very much be a process of experimentation, but if it is done the right way, it’s very much worth the effort.

Planting guides for vegetables will state that if you’re growing any spring vegetables, you must plant them during late winter. Summer vegetables must be planted in early spring–after the final frost–while fall vegetables must be planted in mid-to-late summer.

When you are planting many of your spring vegetables you need to be certain that the weather stays mostly around 50 degrees during the evening. When the weather gets warmer at 60 to 70 degrees it is a good time to plant summer vegetables. When looking at labels that state “warm season” and “cool season,” remember this is referring to the temperature outside, not necessarily the time of year. Thus vegetables that may not be suitable for planting one part of the country can flourish in another during certain times of the year.

Vegetables like onions, peas, salad greens, cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower, have the ability to flourish in low winter temperatures, even though it is not advised. For many people, starting out a vegetable garden with early spring vegetables can be a better choice.

Vegetables such as eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, melons, and squash, will die quickly if you try to grow them in temperatures that are below 50. The only way you can keep these plants alive outdoors is to protect them with a plant protection device like a cloche or grow them in a hothouse.

For maximum growth you want to grow all of your warm season vegetables after your last frost. You can easily learn the dates of when the first and last frost will occur in your area. Most seed packets contain instructions for various planting zones.This will help you to determine when these vegetables will be safe and when they should be finished growing.