WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO PLAN WHEN YOU START YOUR VEGETABLE GARDEN?

Everyone knows the importance of planning when you want to achieve a goal. Take this into consideration when growing your vegetable garden; the more you plan ahead, the more successful your garden will be. One of the most critical factors when planning your vegetable garden is knowing the best time to start. The main reason for this is because different vegetables have specific ideal conditions in which they grow. Understanding when to plant vegetables depends on your climate and the vegetable itself. Vegetables are separated into two groups:

• Cool-season vegetables
• Warm-season vegetables

Before going in-depth with these 2 types of vegetable groups, you need to determine which zone and microclimate you inhabit.

1. KNOW YOUR ZONE

Springtime greens, corn, and beans that fall into zone 5-6 should be grown from March-October. In zones 7-8, the best time to grow corn, tomatoes, and carrots is from March-November. Lastly, in zone 9, the growing season is from February-November because temperatures are hotter and there is more time for your veggies to grow. If you want to learn more about your zone, the link below will help.

Your zone is not everything you need to consider when planting your vegetable garden. You also need to know about your microclimate, which can have a large impact on your plants.

2. KNOW YOUR MICROCLIMATE

Another example are buildings or paved surfaces (driveways and patios) that create microclimates simply by absorbing heat during the day then releasing it into the landscape at night. Usually, the south side of a building is a lot warmer than the east side. Also, rooftops and balconies have different microclimates because they are above the ground, which makes them more resistant to frost but vulnerable to cold and dry winds. 

Depending on the sturdiness of your plants, you will need to place them carefully and consider the effects of microclimate zones. For instance, when you grow tender plants, it is recommended to situate them in the warmer areas of your yard. You can actually take full advantage of such microclimate regions to grow plants. Since stone walkways and patios absorb more heat, it is possible to grow hardy plants nearby that normally would need planting at a different time in a zone warmer than yours!

Pay careful attention to the effect of the wind as it can have a drastic effect on microclimates by lowering air temperatures and by increasing water loss through transpiration. Strong winds can severely damage young and tender plantings, so be careful of local wind patterns in your garden, such as wind tunnels or northerly exposure.

PLANTING COOL-SEASON VEGETABLES

Cool-season vegetables should be planted in Spring, early Summer, Fall, or Winter. They mature and come to harvest in a cold climate. These vegetables grow best at cool soil temperatures between 40°F – 75°F in their root zone. The root zone is generally measured 4-6 inches below the soil’s surface. The root systems of cool-season vegetables are shallower, and the plants are smaller than the warm-season vegetables. Therefore, the plants are not going to yield much, and their quality will decrease in early summer as the temperature reaches 80°F. For example, radishes will turn unpleasant and fibrous in the hot summer weather. These types of vegetables can be planted as soon as the soil can be worked in the spring.  Be sure to wait though until the soil is dry and ready for use, because the soil may be overly saturated with moisture from spring rains. 

A hard freeze can ruin some of the strongest young plants, so keep row covers or sheets on hand to cover plants to provide them the necessary warmth to survive in extreme situations. Some of the more winter-hardy vegetables, such as brussels sprouts or kale, can benefit from a light frost. This is because the cold temperature converts their starches into sugar which improves their taste. It is a good idea to plant crops in staggered (week-apart) batches to improve their chances of obtaining ideal growing conditions.  

Examples of cool-season vegetables are:

• Beets
• Broccoli
• Brussels sprouts
• Cabbage
• Collards
• Carrots
• Cauliflower
• Kale
• Lettuce

PLANTING WARM-SEASON VEGETABLES

Warm-season veggies require both warm soil and higher temperatures (with a little cooling at night) to grow steadily and produce flourishing crops. These vegetables need warm soil, between 60-85°F and high ambient temperatures to germinate and thrive. Sunlight is a must; six hours or more of uninterrupted sun is essential to produce a high yield and flavorful crop. Different from cold-season vegetables (where the entire plant is edible), you can only eat the warm-season vegetable that the plant produces. 

As a general rule of thumb, you need to wait about two weeks after the average frost date of your area to plant warm-season vegetables. This is because warm-season vegetable crops are killed by frost and perform poorly once the temperature drops below 50°F. If you want to get a jump start on growing, start the plants inside. Be mindful to gently adapt them outdoors by placing them in the light shade so they can adjust.  

Examples of warm-season vegetables are:

• Artichokes
• Beans
• Corn
• Cucumbers
• Eggplant
• Peppers 
• Tomatoes
• Zucchini

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