Vegetable Growing Guide

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How to Grow Vegetables

November 30, 2023

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In one handy chart, the �� Vegetables Growing Guide summarizes when to start seeds indoors and outdoors, the soil temperature needed to germinate, the plant’s hardiness level, when to fertilize, and when to water.

Of course, see the master Planting Calendar for more specific dates by YOUR zip code for all your common vegetables.

Vegetables Growing Guide

Note: Each of the vegetables listed below links to an individual vegetable plant guide that covers sowing to growing to harvest!

Vegetable	Start Seeds Indoors (weeks before last spring frost)	Start Seeds Outdoors (weeks before or after last spring frost)	Minimum Soil Temp. 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	—	3 before to 3 after	39–41	Half-hardy	At time of planting	Only during drought conditions
Broccoli	6–8	2–3 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	1 before to 1 after	38–40	Hardy	Three weeks after transplanting	Two to three weeks before harvest
Carrots	—	3–5 before	39–41	Half-hardy	Preferably in the fall for the following spring	Only during drought conditions
Cauliflower	6–8	1 before to 1after	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	2–4	1–2 after	65–70	Very tender	One week after bloom, and again three weeks later	Frequently, especially when fruits form
Lettuce	4–6	1 before to 2 after	40–75	Half-hardy	Two to three weeks after transplanting	Once a week
Melons	2–4	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	—	0–3 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	—	0–2 after	55–70	Half-hardy	At bloom time or time of second hilling	Regularly, when tubers start to form
Pumpkins	2–4	1 after	55–60	Tender	Just before vines start to run, when plants are about one foot tall	Only during drought conditions
Radishes	—	1 before to 1 after	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	2–4	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	2–4	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

Ready to plan an amazing vegetable garden? Let’s get to the drawing board. !

I started most of my seeds indoors in the little brown cardboard cups that deteriate in the ground a couple of weeks ago with seed starting mix. and they were growing great inside. I made (2) 4x4 garden beds and filled with them mushroom soil and after the weather was done with frost, I brought the plants outside and stuck them right in the mushroom soil. I water them the way their suppose to but it seems like they started fading and dying since outside??? Any idea or tips on how to bring them back to life or revive them. Did I do something wrong. Instructions on seed packets are never thorough enough. Hope to hear back.

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Sometimes plants can be very delicate to the transition of temperatures. Some are supposed to be kept for a certain number of hours then brought back in during the night. So e can just be placed outside when you are ready. Then there is light, placement within the garden, type of plant, brand of seed, etc. There is a lot of variables. I have been picking the seeds from the fruits and vegetables I consume. For example: there was a branch of celery we did not finished and it vegan to wilt. I put it in water and it grew roots. Then I put it in dirt and it started to grow. Because this celery had been in the refrigerator and still flourished I just put it in the bed that got at least 6 hours of sun (in April) It took off. Do what you can with what you have.

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I find those pots don't decompose properly if the top rim is exposed to the air. It seems to act as a wick, effectively drying out your seedlings. Also, the roots can't always escape so I pull loose the bottom of the pot before planting to give free reign to the nutrient-seeking roots. Hope this helps.

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Hi Nick,

First -be sure you are planting the right seeds for the season- warm season plants vs cool season plants. Here in sunny CA most of our seed packets are offered year round, which makes for a lot of confusion as to what to plant when.

Second- there are some seeds that need to be planted directly into the soil..the transplanted seedlings just don't do well. Recheck the seed packets description.. those that say> plant directly into the soil after last frost, are most often the ones that don't like being sprouted then transplanted.

Third- you need to "harden off" your seedlings before they go into the garden. Meaning, move the sprouts in their flats outside in mostly shade for a couple of days, then move them into a bit longer time in sun after a couple of days and then move them into more sun etc. Make sure you protect them from the pests and birds -just as you do in the garden, after a week or so you can start to transplant.

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know which season best vegetable yeild

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IM growing plants from seed its been 32 weeks now. Have about 2oo plants and only a third have starting growing. Room temperature is about 50 degrees and its near a window. Any thoughts to get them to move along quicker.?? Thanks

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