Category Archives: Veggies

Rutabagas are a hardy vegetable that grow best in cool weather. Spring Planting Rutabagas are sensitive to heat, and only grow well when temperatures are 75°F and cooler. For most areas they should be planted in the fall only. Fall Planting Plant seeds 14 weeks before the frost. If you live in a mild climate with a late or no fall frost date (after Nov 1), you might be able to grow turnips all during the winter. Soil and Fertilizer Turnips grows best in a rich soil and are susceptible to boron deficiency; amend with lots of compost and fertilizer (chemical … Continue reading →

Turnips are a hardy vegetable that grow best in cool weather. Spring Planting Plant seeds directly in the garden 6 weeks before the frost date. You can plant 16 per square and then thin them to 9 per square as you use the tops for greens. If you live in a climate with hot summers, choose varieties that mature quickly. Fall Planting Plant seeds 10 weeks before the frost. The plants will mature more slowly in the fall because the days are shorter, but since they can tolerate freezing temperatures, you can continue harvesting after the first fall frost. If … Continue reading →

Cauliflower is a semi-hardy vegetable that grows best in cool weather. It is one of the most difficult vegetables to grow, because it can’t tolerate too much heat or cold. Temperatures should be between 40°F and 75°F. Cauliflower requires nutrient rich soil, and constant moisture to grow successfully. White varieties are the most well-known, but green and purple varieties are easier to grow and have more nutrients. Spring Planting In most areas there is not enough time to grow cauliflower from seeds before the weather gets too hot. Start seeds indoors 11 weeks before the frost date, or purchase transplants. … Continue reading →

I heard or read somewhere (it might have been a comment on this site), that you can store onions by putting them in nylon stockings and tying a knot between each one. This gives them plenty of airflow so they won’t get moldy, and separates them so if one goes bad it doesn’t spread. So, I tried it: Here you see 5 “legs” of onions (queen size). I harvested 25 pounds of onions, so I figure each leg is about 5 pounds. I cut the pair in two right up the middle, dropped in an onion, worked it to the … Continue reading →

Beans (bush and pole) are a tender vegetable that grow best in warm weather. Spring Planting Beans do not transplant well. Plant bean seeds directly in the garden during the week of the last frost. Pole beans should be planted all at once with 8 per square. They take slightly longer to mature, but then continue producing beans throughout the summer. Bush beans are planted 9 per square. After maturing they will produce beans for 2-3 weeks, and then they can be pulled up. Extend the harvest of bush beans by planting one or two squares every 2 weeks. Fall Planting … Continue reading →

Peppers are a very-tender vegetable that grow best in warm weather. Spring Planting Peppers take a long time to grow from seed to harvest. In most areas there is not enough time to grow pepers from seeds before the weather gets too cold in the fall.  Start seeds indoors 7-8 weeks before the frost date (7 weeks for bell peppers, 8 weeks for hot peppers), or purchase transplants. Transplants should have 6-9 true leaves. Harden off and transplant into the garden 2 weeks after the frost date. Fall Planting Peppers require average night time temperatures of 55°F to set fruit, so … Continue reading →

Tomatoes are a very-tender vegetable that grows best in warm weather. Spring Planting Tomatoes take a long time to grow from seed to fruit. In most areas there is not enough time to grow tomatoes from seeds before the weather gets too cold in the fall.  Start seeds indoors 6 weeks before the frost date, or purchase transplants. Transplants are ready when they have 5-7 true leaves. Harden off and transplant outside 2 weeks after the frost date. Tomatoes can be planted very deeply, for the “fuzzy stem” will grow into roots if placed in the earth and watered. Fall Planting … Continue reading →

Parsley is a semi-hardy vegetable that grows well in cool to warm conditions. Technically, it is a biennial (the full span from seed to flower is 2 years), but it will not survive freezing winter temperatures, so it is usually treated as an annual. Spring Planting Start seeds indoors 12 weeks before the frost date, or purchase transplants. Parsley takes a long time to germinate (2-4 weeks), so buying transplants is recommended. Harden off and transplant outside 5 weeks before the frost date. Fall Planting If you live in a mild climate with a late or no fall frost date … Continue reading →

Swiss chard is a semi-hardy vegetable that grow best in cool weather with lots of sun. Unlike many greens, chard will tolerate warmer temperatures without bolting or going to seed. Spring Planting Swiss chard can be planted directly in the garden 4 weeks before the frost date. To harvest swiss chard sooner, start seeds indoors 10 weeks before the frost date, or purchase transplants. Transplants are ready when they have 4-6 true leaves. Harden off and transplant outside 4 weeks before the frost date. Fall Planting Plant seeds directly in the garden 11 weeks before the frost date, or continue to grow plants … Continue reading →

Carrots are a semi-hardy vegetable that grow best in cool weather with lots of sun. Spring Planting Carrots do not transplant well. Plant carrot seeds directly in the garden 3 weeks before the last frost. Carrot seeds take a long time to germinate, and need consistent watering until they do. It’s best to mist or use drip irrigation so you do not wash the carrot seeds away. Fall Planting Plant carrot seeds directly in the garden 14 weeks before the first fall frost date. Carrots can becomes sweeter after a frost, so it’s a great vegetable to grow in the … Continue reading →