by Susan Klatz Beal

Created on: March 14, 2009

Although spring hasn't officially arrived, the start of daylight savings and some early blooming flowers remind gardeners everywhere that it won't be long until it's actually time to plant vegetables. For people who are uncertain, or those who are inexperienced, sometimes it is helpful to have some sort of reference guide to refer to when in doubt about when to plant what and when to start seeds.

Some vegetables can be sown directly into the ground (or pots, if that's how they will be planted,) as soon as the danger of frost has past. Many vegetables are too tender to withstand even the slightest frost, so for those vegetables, erring on the side of caution is always the best defense.

EARLIEST COOL WEATHER CROPS

Lettuce, spinach, radishes and peas are cool weather crops that are best sown directly where they are to be planted. Peas have a hard shell that may delay germination. By soaking the seeds for 24 to 48 hours, that hard shell will soften a bit and germination won't take nearly as long. These crops can be planted in staggered plantings. As soon as it is safe to start planting, plant a small amount at weekly or two weekly intervals.

WARM WEATHER CROPS

Swiss chard and kale are similar to spinach, but they will tolerate warmer weather conditions. Staggering plantings of vegetables such as this is also a good idea. Any excess that can't be eaten can always be frozen or shared with neighbors or even a food bank. Nowadays, food banks are having a really rough time. They appreciate everything that people contribute.

Tomatoes are very tender vegetables and won't withstand very cold temperatures. The general rule of thumb when it comes to planting tomatoes is to start seeds indoors a minimum of 8 weeks before they will be planted outside. I always like to allow some extra time. If something happens with the weather, I can let the seedlings harden off for a while longer, but by the time I am ready to plant them in the ground, they will be mature enough that they won't suffer too much transplant shock.

When it comes to vegetables like broccoli, peppers, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, and herbs, starting them ahead is also a good idea. Many vegetables take 3 months or more to bear fruit. Unless they are started well enough in advance, there may not be much of a harvest before the cold weather sets in kills off things before the fruits are mature.

Although most varieties of beans can be sown directly in the ground, some types of beans take considerably longer to produce any crop.

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