Gardener's Resource for Maximizing the Productivity and Health of Vegetable Plots
A helpful guide for gardeners of all experience levels that provides essential insights into planting times, care strategies, and growth optimization for a wide array of vegetables. Discover expert advice and enjoy a successful, abundant vegetable garden.
* Can also sow 3-5 seeds in hills 4 feet apart (6 feet for pumpkins) and thin to 2-3 per hill. † Days from setting out plants.
Dust seed with Legume-Aid. Fertilize when planting and again when 6 to 8 inches tall. Train on a trellis, tripod, fence or other support. Keep picked to encourage further production.
Dust seed with Legume-Aid. Requires a longer, milder growing season than snap beans. Fertilize at planting time and again when plants are 6 to 8 inches tall.
Thin soon after germination. Fertilize at sowing time and again when leaves are 3 to 4 inches tall. Dig when roots are 2 to 3 inches in diameter for best flavor. Tops are also edible.
Does best as fall crop in warm climates. Cold tolerant. Break off lower branches as sprouts begin to form to encourage buds. As older sprouts are harvested (from the bottom up) and new ones form, break off more branches. Frost improves flavor.
For best carrots, soil should be loose textured and cultivated deeply — otherwise grow round and short-rooted types. After germination, thin seedlings well. Fertilize when foliage is 6 to 8 inches high. Harvest when between finger thickness and 2 inches in diameter.
Requires cool growing season and rich, moist soil. Set plant in a trench 4 to 5 inches deep and fill in with soil as plant grows. If further blanching (whitening) is desired, hill plants by mounding additional soil around their bases. Apply soluble plant food every 2 to 3 weeks.
Sow directly outdoors in early spring or in late summer for the fall garden. Can also be sown indoors in mid to late winter for transplanting outdoors in early spring. Especially good as fall crop since frost will improve flavor. Withstands both cold and hot weather. Fertilize at planting time. Harvest entire plant or pick leaves as needed.
To ensure pollination, plant several rows together in a block, rather than in 1 long row. Side-dress with fertilizer when 8 inches high. Keep well-watered, especially from tasseling time to picking. Hill corn plants by pushing a few inches of soil up around the base of the plants when they are fertilized. This provides stability, but take care not to disturb the roots. Do not remove suckers. Regular sweet corn, super-sweet, sugarenhanced, and popcorn should be isolated from each other to prevent cross-pollination. To isolate, plant at least 200 feet away or at a two week delay.
Sow in rows or in hills, 3 to 4 feet apart with 3 plants per hill, or start as transplants in Jiffy Pots 2 weeks before setting outside for an early crop. Fertilize at planting time. Keep well-watered and cultivate carefully. Harvest when young and green; if they are allowed to mature (and turn yellow), the plant will stop producing.
Sow directly in the garden, or indoors for transplants. When transplanting, minimize shock by pinching or removing larger leaves. Fertilize at planting time, and again 4 weeks later. Harvest when centers are firm.
See Cucumber. Keep well-watered when growing, but on the dry side when ripening. Cantaloupes (Muskmelons) are ready when the stem slips easily from the melon with slight pressure. Honeydews and some Cantaloupes turn pale yellow or tan when ripe.
Likes a long, warm growing season. May need to sow indoors 4 to 6 weeks before planting outdoors for northern areas. Fertilize at planting time, and again when 12 inches tall. Harvest pods when young and tender (3 to 4 inches long). Do not allow pods to mature or plants will cease production.
Can also be planted from sets or transplants. Fertilize at sowing time. Use thinnings for green onions. When tops fall, pull onions and allow to dry before storing. In Zone 8 and further south, may be sown outdoors in fall for spring harvest.
Dust with Legume-Aid before sowing. Plant taller varieties in a double row flanking a trellis, with 30 inches between each double row. Peas fresh from the garden have exceptional flavor. Harvest edible-podded types when young, before seeds form fully. Fertilize at planting time.
Fertilize lightly at planting time and again lightly after 6 weeks. Avoid heavy applications of fertilizer. Peppers can be harvested when mature and red or yellow, but are most often picked when green, as soon as the fruit is firm.
See Cucumber. Allow more space for pumpkins than for cucumbers or melons. When the desired number of fruit has set, end of vine can be pinched off to prevent additional fruit production and encourage large fruit size. Harvest when rind is hard enough it can’t be penetrated with a fingernail.
Dust seed with Legume-Aid before sowing. Fertilize at planting time and again when plants are 8 to 10 inches high. Soybeans require a long, warm growing season. Harvest immature beans when pods are plump and seeds are full size but still green, or for dry use, pick when fully mature.
See Cucumber. If planting in hills, space hills 4 feet apart and thin to 2 plants per hill. Pick fruit when small (4 to 6 inches) for best flavor and continued production.
See Cucumber. If planting in hills, space hills 4 to 6 feet apart, and thin to 2 plants per hill. Harvest after vines die or just before frost, when skin is tough. Cut squash, leaving 2 to 3 inches of stem attached to fruit and allow to cure with plenty of air circulation before storing under low humidity at 50 to 55° F.
Set plants deeper than in the original container. Tall or leggy plants can be planted by stripping away all but the top leaves, and laying the plant horizontally in a shallow trough, with only the upper leaves above the soil. Mulch, after the soil has warmed, to maintain even soil temperature and moisture. A light side-dressing of fertilizer may be applied when first blossoms appear. Soil should be well-limed before planting — this and even moisture levels will help prevent Blossom-End Rot. Avoid use of tobacco products near tomatoes. Select varieties with genetic resistance to disease. Harvest when red and juicy. At end of season, pick green tomatoes before frost, wrap in a single layer of newspaper and bring indoors to ripen.
Fertilize at planting time and again when plants are 4 inches tall. Keep well-watered. Harvest when roots are 2 to 3 inches across. Leaves are also highly edible when young.
See Cucumber. If grown in hills, space hills 4 to 6 feet apart and thin to 2 plants per hill. Keep well-watered when growing, but on the dry side when fruit is ripening. Several clues indicate ripeness — thumping on the side of the fruit should produce a dull rather than a sharp sound; the side of the fruit touching the ground will turn from white or light yellow to gold, and the tendril next to the point of attachment of stem and vine will turn brown and die. Seedless watermelons require special care for good germination. They usually do best sown indoors and set out soon after germination. This allows control of moisture and temperature levels. To avoid disturbing the roots, sow seeds in individual Jiffy Pots or One-Steps®. Avoid excess water during germination. Allow sowing medium to drain for 24 hours before sowing and after sowing, cover with clear plastic to avoid having to rewater. Maintain a warm temperature; 85° F is best during germination, dropped to 75° F after growth emerges. Set out after 1 to 2 true leaves appear.
