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Vegetable Planting Guide

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Vegetableavg. sds/ozsds/100'Pkt plantsdistance apartthin torow spacingdepthmin soil temp °Fideal soil temphardinessplanting dates
Artichoke560T10 plants3'No4'½"6070-80MHtransplant late
Arugula150003g60'1"4"18"¼"4040-55MHMay 1/Aug 1
Asian Greens, assorted5000-15000varies¼"5065-85MHearly May
Basil170005g10-80'½"4"18"¼"6570-85VTJune 1
Bean, Bush, Dry908 oz25'3-4"No2-3'1"6070-80Tlate May
Bean, Fava1712 oz12'3-4"No2-3'1"4040-75HASAP
Bean, Lima651#40-60'4-6"No3'1"6070-85VTlate May
Bean, Pole606 oz7-10'3-4"No6'1"6070-80Tlate May
Bean, Soy805 oz10'3-4"No3'1"6070-90TJune 1
Beet22005/8 oz20'1"2-4"12-18"½"4060-85HApr-July
Broccoli5000-80005g.5g=10'1"24-30"30"¼"4065-85MHtransplant May/June
Brussels Sprouts4000-50005g.5g=10'1"24-30"24-30"¼"4065-85Htransplant May/June
Cabbage6000-70005g.5g=10'1"24-30"24-30"¼"4045-85MHtransplant May/June
Carrot1800010g⅛oz=35'¼"-½"1"16-24"½"4060-85HApr-July
Cauliflower6000-70004g.5g=12'1"30"30-36"¼"4060-85MHtransplant May/June
Celery/Celeriac75000T5008"No2-3'⅛"4070-75*Ttransplant June 1
Chard800-20001½ oz5-13'2"12-16"18-24"½"4050-85HASAP
Chicory16000T300 plants1'No2'⅛"5060-85Htransplant late June
Chinese Cabbage6000-9000¼ oz25'½"12-18"24-30"¼"5070-95MHlate May or transplant
Corn, OP1004 oz50'3"1'3'1"5560-85Tlate May
Corn, hybrid1554 oz50'3"1'3'1"5560-85Tlate May
Cress90003g50-70'½"1-2"18"¼"4555-75MHMay 1
Cucumber1000½ oz10'3"1'4-6'½"6565-90VTJune 1 or transplant
Eggplant5000-6000T40 plants20-30"No30-36"¼"6075-90*VTtransplant early June
Endive180005g40'1"8"18-24"¼"3560-85HApr-July
Gourds, large120-280T20 plants6/hill2-3/hill6'½"6070-90Ttransplant early June
Gourds, small5001/5 oz10 hills6/hill3/hill4-6'½"6070-90Tlate May
Kale/Collards5000-80005g1g=20'1"12"2'¼"4045-85VHASAP-July
Kohlrabi60004g1g=25'1"24"24"¼"4045-85MHtransplant May/June
Leek9000T1g=300 plants8"No2'½"4560-70MHtransplant May 1
Lettuce250004g1g=25'1/3"1'12-18"⅛"3540-70HASAP-Aug
Mâche10000¼ oz25'½"2"18"¼"4850-68VHASAP-Aug
Melon900T12-20 hills3/pot2/hill5'½"6075-95VTtransplant early June
Mustard15600⅛ oz50'1"4-6"2'¼"4065-85MHApr-Aug
Okra350T25 plants12"No2-3'¼"6070-90VTtransplant early June
Onion/shallots7000T450 plants4"No12-18"½"4060-70MHtransplant May 1
Pac Choi12500¼ oz14-25'½"6-12"2'¼"5070-80MHMay or transplant
Parsley14000¼ oz25'¼"1"12-18"¼"4050-80VHApr-Aug
Parsnip5600½ oz25'1"2-3"12-18"½"4655-77VHApr-July
Pea808 oz25'1½"No3-5'3/4"4050-75plants HASAP
Pea for fall crop808 oz25'1½"No3-5'3/4"4050-75blossoms,pods TJuly
Pepper2800-5600T15-40 plants12-18"No2-3'¼"6068-95VTtransplant early June
Pumpkin100-280½-1oz3-8 hills5/hill3/hill6'1"6070-90Tlate May
Radicchio19000½ oz5-30'1"8-10"18"⅛"5060-85Hlate June
Radish25001 oz12'1-2"2-3"18"½"4055-85HApr-Aug
Salsify/Scorzonera20005/8 oz20'1"2"18"½"5065-85HApr-Jun
Shiso140001g100'1-3"8-12"18-24"¼"6568-75VTtransplant early June
Spinach1500-2800½ oz40'1"2-3"12-18"½"3545-65VHASAP
Spinach, fall crop1500-2800½ oz40'1"2-3"12-18"½"3545-65VHAug
Squash, summer200-320½ oz5-8 hills5/hill2-3/hill4'1"6070-90Tlate May or transplant
Squash, winter120-440½-2 oz3-15 hills5/hill2-3/hill4-6'1"6070-90Tlate May or transplant
Tomato9000T8-125 plants3'No3'¼"6075-90Ttransplant June 1-10
Turnip/Rutabaga8000-140001/3 oz40'½"3-6"18"¼"4060-85HApr-July
Watermelon600T7-10 hills3/pot2/hill5'½"6075-95VTtransplant early June
Zucchini130-2401 oz4-6 hills5/hill2-3/hill4'1"6070-90Tlate May or transplant

Abbreviations

  • Pkt plants=how many row feet or hills our smallest packet will plant
  • T: transplanted only, in our climate.
  • tp: transplant
  • pl: plants
  • g: grams (28.4g=1oz.)
  • No: not necessary to thin

* Celery and some varieties of eggplant require fluctuating day and night temperatures for good germination.

Hardiness rating

  • VT: very tender: will not survive frost, can be damaged by temperatures under 40°
  • T: tender: will not survive frost
  • MH: moderately hardy: survives light frosts
  • H: hardy: survives frost generally to the low twenties
  • VH: very hardy: will overwinter if protected

Approximate planting date

  • ASAP: as soon as ground can be worked, does not thrive in heat

Approximate planting dates are for our Central Maine climate. Please make appropriate adjustments for your climate, using hardiness as a guide.

Notes

Seed counts are provided as a guide, not a guarantee. They vary from cultivar to cultivar. Planting rates will vary if intensive methods such as beds are used.

Minimum soil temperatures are the lowest that will permit any germination. Expect slow spotty germination if you plant below or above the ideal range. For a good stand and quickest emergence plant as close to the middle of the ideal range as possible. If you have specific cultural questions, consult more detailed resources or get in touch with us.

A few seeds with unusually thick or hard coatings may benefit from scarification just before sowing. This is accomplished by nicking them with a knife, a pinpoint or lightly scratching them with sandpaper.

Some seeds need to be stratified before sowing. This tricks the seed into thinking it has gone through winter followed by the gradual warm-up of spring. It is accomplished by first moistening and then chilling the seed for a specified period of time.