If you wish to start a vegetable garden, it is imperative that you know your vegetables' preferred climate and time for maturity. If you live in a cold climate you would do well planting cold climate vegetables. Likewise, if you live in a temperate or warm climate, you should plant the types of vegetables that flourish in your climate.
Here are some recommended planting dates for vegetables in cold and temperate countries (in the Northern Hemisphere):
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Broccoli can be planted between May and June. They take about 4 months to harvest. Harvest the main Broccoli heads before they open. This way the remaining broccoli will produce an extended crop of smaller heads through the rest of summer.
Brussels sprouts should also be planted between May and June. Their maturity period is 4 to 5 months.
Beetroot can be planted between April and June. They mature in about 3 months.
Celery should be planted between March and April. They take about 5 to 6 months to mature.
Cabbage are rather unique in that there are different varieties, named according to when they are eaten (spring, summer or winter) so their planting dates range from March to September. It would be a good idea to plant cabbages indoors in a cold frame first before transplanting into your outdoor garden. They take about 4 months to mature.
Cucumber should be planted between May and June. They take 2 to 3 months to mature. Harvest promptly as soon as they ripen so that the fruiting period can be prolonged. Leaving ripened vegetables on the vine prevents them from fruiting further.
Dwarf peas should be planted in February. They take 3 to 4 months to mature. Do harvest them when the peas are young.
Lettuce can be grown almost the whole year round, depending on the variety. But the easiest time to plant lettuce is in the spring in April. You can start planting lettuce in cold frames indoors between February to March before transplanting to your outdoor garden in spring. They mature in 2 to 3 months.
Parsnips are good winter vegetables that can be planted from August to September. They can remain in the ground throughout the winter. They take about 5 months to mature.
Potatoes can be planted between March and April. Plant a piece of potato that contains two or more 'eyes'. Harvest your potato when the vine begins to die or has died completely. Then leave the potatoes on the ground for a day to harden and prevent bruising.
Peppers can be planted indoors between February to March before transplanting outdoors in May. Do not put in too much nitrogen through your fertilizer or you will get lots of plant but little fruit. Peppers take 4 to 5 months to harvest.
Radishes can be planted between February and March. They will go to flower when the temperature gets warmer and mature between 6 to 8 weeks (one and a half to two months).
Sweet corn can be planted between May and June. They should be planted closely together rather than in rows to encourage pollination. Sweet corn can be harvested in about 3 months and taste the sweetest the moment it is picked.
Squash (summer) should be planted from May to June. They take about 4 months to ripen. Squash grows well in warm areas.
Tomatoes are best grown in cold frames in March first before transplanting to your outdoor garden in May. They take 4 to 5 months to mature and tend to ripen after they have been picked.
These dates are generally for cold and temperate countries and would determine the mean temperature of your area. Remember that different vegetables have different tolerance towards heat. Therefore you need to know the climate conditions in your own area well. Plant your vegetables according to when the temperature is most suitable.
Planting Dates For Garden Vegetables
Francis King is a vegetable garden enthusiast. For more great tips and advice on vegetable gardens, visit http://www.veggietips.com.