Vegetable Planting and Transplanting Guide

Here is a list of the major vegetables and the “best” time to plant:

Cabbage

Indoor growing time prior to transplanting: 5 to 6 weeks

Germination time: 10-12 days

Seed planting depth: 1/2 inch

Temperature range for optimal germination: 70-80°F

Optimal growing temperatures day: 60-70°F night: 50-60°F

Outdoor plant spacing: 12-18 inch

Days to maturity: 60-110

Cool-Season or Warm-Season Crop: Cool-season

Suited for plastic mulch and drip irrigation: No

When to plant outdoors: 4 weeks before last frost

Harvesting characteristics: When heads are solid but not yet cracking

Cauliflower

Indoor growing time prior to transplanting: 5 to 6 weeks

Germination time: 10-21 days

Seed planting depth: 1/4 to 1/2 inch

Temperature range for optimal germination: 70-80°F

Optimal growing temperatures** day: 60-70°F night: 55-60°F

Outdoor plant spacing: 18 inch

Days to maturity: 50-72

Cool-Season or Warm-Season Crop: Cool-season

Suited for plastic mulch and drip irrigation: No

When to plant outdoors: 4 weeks before last frost

Harvesting characteristics: when head is compact but before curd opens and becomes “ricey”

Broccoli

Indoor growing time prior to transplanting: 5 to 6 weeks

Germination time: 10-14 days

Seed planting depth: 1/4 to 1/2 inch

Temperature range for optimal germination: 70-80°F

Optimal growing temperatures day: 60-70°F night: 50-60°F

Outdoor plant spacing: 18-24 inch

Days to maturity: 50-72

Cool-Season or Warm-Season Crop: Cool-season

Suited for plastic mulch and drip irrigation: No

When to plant outdoors: 4 weeks before last frost

Harvesting characteristics: when buds are tight and head is compact

Brussels Sprouts

Indoor growing time prior to transplanting: 5 to 6 weeks

Germination time: 7-14 days

Seed planting depth: 1/4 to 1/2 inch

Temperature range for optimal germination: 70-80°F

Optimal growing temperatures day: 60-70°F night: 50-60°F

Outdoor plant spacing: 18-24 inch

Days to maturity: 90-120

Cool-Season or Warm-Season Crop: Cool-season

Suited for plastic mulch and drip irrigation: No

When to plant outdoors: 5 weeks after last frost

Harvesting characteristics: when plump, firm and glossy

Head Lettuce

Indoor growing time prior to transplanting: 5 to 7 weeks

Germination time: 7-10 days

Seed planting depth: 1/8 inch

Temperature range for optimal germination: 65-75°F

Optimal growing temperatures day: 60-70°F night: 60-70°F

Outdoor plant spacing: 12 inch

Days to maturity: 40-90

Cool-Season or Warm-Season Crop: Cool-season

Suited for plastic mulch and drip irrigation: No

When to plant outdoors: 1-2 weeks before last frost

Harvesting characteristics: when heads are firm and glossy

Onions

Indoor growing time prior to transplanting: 9 to 11 weeks

Germination time: 10-15 days

Seed planting depth: 3/8 inch

Temperature range for optimal germination: 65-80°F

Optimal growing temperatures day: 60-70°F night: 45-55°F

Outdoor plant spacing: 12 inch

Days to maturity: 60-115

Cool-Season or Warm-Season Crop: Cool-season

Suited for plastic mulch and drip irrigation: yes

When to plant outdoors: 4 weeks before last frost

Harvesting characteristics: Green or bunching onion – when desired; bulb onion – when above-ground leaves fall, allow to cure 1 – 2 days, thinnings can be used anytime.

Celery

Indoor growing time prior to transplanting: 10 to 12 weeks

Germination time: 21 days

Seed planting depth: 1/8 inch

Temperature range for optimal germination: 60-70°F

Optimal growing temperatures day: 65-75°F night: 55-65°F

Outdoor plant spacing: 9-12 inch

Days to maturity: 110-120

Cool-Season or Warm-Season Crop: Cool/warm-season

Suited for plastic mulch and drip irrigation: yes

When to plant outdoors: after last frost

Harvesting characteristics: When outer petioles can be pulled anytime for immediate use, fully mature when about 3 inches by 21 inches.

Tomatoes

Indoor growing time prior to transplanting: 5 to 7 weeks

Germination time: 7-10 days

Seed planting depth: 1/4 to 1/2 inch

Temperature range for optimal germination: 70-80°F

Optimal growing temperatures day: 70-80°F night: 60-65°F

Outdoor plant spacing: 18-24 inch

Days to maturity: 52-90

Cool-Season or Warm-Season Crop: Warm-season

Suited for plastic mulch and drip irrigation: Yes

When to plant outdoors: After last frost

Harvesting characteristics: Harvesting characteristics: when evenly colored and firm

Peppers

Indoor growing time prior to transplanting: 6 to 8 weeks

Germination time: 10-12 days

Seed planting depth: 1/4 to 1/2 inch

Temperature range for optimal germination: 75-85°F

Optimal growing temperatures day: 70-80°F night: 60-70°F

Outdoor plant spacing: 18-24 inch

Days to maturity: 55-80

Cool-Season or Warm-Season Crop: Warm-season

Suited for plastic mulch and drip irrigation: Yes

When to plant outdoors: After last frost

Harvesting characteristics: When glossy in color and firm, either ‘green’ mature or final color maturity for the type and maturity.

Eggplant

Indoor growing time prior to transplanting: 7 to 9 weeks

Germination time: 10-12 days

Seed planting depth: 1/4 to 1/2 inch

Temperature range for optimal germination: 75-90°F

Optimal growing temperatures day: 70-80°F night: 65-70°F

Outdoor plant spacing: 24 inch

Days to maturity: 50-75

Cool-Season or Warm-Season Crop: Warm-season

Suited for plastic mulch and drip irrigation: Yes

When to plant outdoors: when night temperatures are above 50°F

Harvesting characteristics: When glossy in color and of satisfactory size for the cultivar and before seeds mature and darken.

Cucumber

Indoor growing time prior to transplanting: 3 to 4 weeks

Germination time*: 7-8 days

Seed planting depth: 3/4 to 1 inch

Temperature range for optimal germination: 75-95°F

Optimal growing temperatures day: 70-90°F night: 60-70°F

Outdoor plant spacing: 12 inch

Days to maturity: 48-70

Cool-Season or Warm-Season Crop: Warm-season

Suited for plastic mulch and drip irrigation: Yes

When to plant outdoors: 1 week after last frost

Harvesting characteristics: When 3 – 4 inches long for pickling, 6-10 inches for slicing and fully green, yellow fruit should be discarded.

Muskmelon

Indoor growing time prior to transplanting: 3 to 4 weeks

Germination time: 7 days

Seed planting depth: 3/4 to 1 inch

Temperature range for optimal germination: 75-95°F

Optimal growing temperatures day: 70-90°F night: 60-70°F

Outdoor plant spacing: 12 inch

Days to maturity: 68-95

Cool-Season or Warm-Season Crop: Warm-season

Suited for plastic mulch and drip irrigation: Yes

When to plant outdoors: 1 week after last frost

Harvesting characteristics: When melon begins to detach from stem

Watermelon

Indoor growing time prior to transplanting: 3 to 4 weeks

Germination time: 6-8 days

Seed planting depth: 3/4 to 1 inch

Temperature range for optimal germination: 75-95°F

Optimal growing temperatures day: 70-90°F night: 60-70°F

Outdoor plant spacing: 18 inch

Days to maturity: 68-95

Cool-Season or Warm-Season Crop: Warm-season

Suited for plastic mulch and drip irrigation: Yes

When to plant outdoors: 1 week after last frost

Harvesting characteristics: When tendril nearest stem attachment turns brown and shrivels

Summer Squash

Indoor growing time prior to transplanting: 3 to 4 weeks

Germination time: 7-10 days

Seed planting depth: 3/4 to 1 inch

Temperature range for optimal germination: 75-95°F

Optimal growing temperatures day: 70-90°F night: 60-70°F

Outdoor plant spacing: 18 inch

Days to maturity: 42-65

Cool-Season or Warm-Season Crop: Warm-season

Suited for plastic mulch and drip irrigation: Yes

When to plant outdoors: 1 week after last frost

Harvesting characteristics: Zucchini, yellow and other elongate types when 5 to 8 inches long and skin is tender, skin must be very tender on patty pan and round types and be 2 to 4 inches in diameter.

Sources

Holcomb, E.J. (Ed). 1994. Bedding Plants IV 4th edition. Pennsylvania Flower Growers, Ball Publishing. Batavia, Il.

Maynard, D.N., and Hochmuth, G. 1997. Knott’s Handbook for Vegetable Growers, 4th edition. John Wiles & Sons. New York, NY.

Nardozzi, C. 1999. Vegetable Gardening for Dummies. IDG Books Worldwide, Inc., Foster City, CA.

Phillips, R. and Rix, M. 1993. The Random House Book of Vegetables. Random House Publishers. New York, NY.

Reilly, A. 1990. Taylor’s Pocket Guide to Vegetables, Chanticleer Press Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company. Boston, MA.

Prepared by Elsa Sánchez, associate professor of horticulture and Pete Ferretti, retired professor of vegetable crops.

 

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