The end of winter is in sight! Spring is almost here! It’s time to grow some food!
If you are itching to get into the garden, your first step is to mark the frost-free date on your calendar. If you don’t remember it offhand, here’s a useful map that will give you a general idea. Two weeks before your frost-free date, start watching the long-range weather forecast because if temperatures are going to stay well above freezing, you probably don’t need to wait for the official frost-free date to plant outside.
For those who like to start seeds inside, the chart below lists the recommended number of weeks to start seed before frost-free. Even if you are within 4-6 weeks of your average final frost, you can start all your Cole crops such as broccoi, cabbage, and kale, plus lettuce and chicory. You also have time to start the annual herbs: Basil, Cilantro, Dill, Fennel.
Once you are 3-4 weeks away from frost-free, you can get serious. Start your warm-weather cucurbits (Cucumbers, melons, squash, pumpkins) inside in 2-3” pots. They grow big fast at this time of year! Outside, you can direct seed arugula, carrots, lettuce, peas, radishes, spinach, and turnips.
The tables below are reproduced from my book The Vegetable Garden Planner. My own copy of the book has all the dates handwritten, based on my frost-free date, so I never miss a window. If you, like me, prefer the comfort of pen and paper to sitting at a computer, I highly recommend my book to you. The prompts in the first section will guide you to write down the appropriate times to start your seeds. The individual vegetable sections provide space to record what varieties you grew, when you planted, and how they performed. Trust me, you will return to this notebook year after year as you plan your garden.
