Homegrown: Vegetables 101
“In the spring at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.” Margaret Atwood
Time to get those hands dirty! Spring weather is upon us and it’s almost planting time, finally! If you're already overwhelmed with your veggie choices and not sure what to do next, no worries. I got you. Here is a little cheat sheet with your basic veggie planting/growing info. This will help you get started and know what to expect throughout the season. We’ll cover when to plant, spacing, general care, and when to expect harvest. This info is all for your starter plants you get from Benoit Greenhouses, not from seed.
There are many thoughts on when to plant, from phases to the moon to region-specific frost dates. If you abide by those, kudos to you! For the rest of us, I’m going to keep it as simple as possible. Just keep an eye on the weather and pay attention to when we’re no longer at risk for frosts. No need to rush, earlier is not always better.
Keep in mind that spacing varies from plant to plant, so check the tags on your veggies for this info. A common mistake is planting too close to other plants. Everything is so teeny and misleading this early in the season, so don’t be fooled!
Tomatoes (All varieties)
When to plant: 1-2 weeks after last frost, when temps are above 50F
How long is growing season: May through early October or first fall frost
Companions: Good- cucumbers, basil, carrots, onion. Bad- broccoli, cabbage, kale, brussels sprouts
Green Beans (bush & pole)
When to plant: 1-2 weeks after last frost, when temps are above 50F
How long is growing season: May through early October or first fall frost
Companions: Good- cucumber, carrots, kale, tomatoes. Bad- onions, peppers
Zucchini
When to plant: 1-2 weeks after last frost, when temps are above 50F
How long is growing season: May through early October or first fall frost
Companions: Good: parsley, spinach, beans, peas. Bad- potatoes
Carrots
When to plant: early spring- week of last frost or anytime after
How long is growing season: May through July
Companions: Good- lettuce, onions, peppers, tomatoes. Bad- dill, potatoes
Peppers (All varieties)
When to plant: 1-2 weeks after last frost, when temps are above 50F
How long is growing season: May through early October or first fall frost
Companions: Good- basil, brussel sprouts, beans, onions. Bad- beans, cabbage, kohlrab
Cucumbers
When to plant: 1-2 weeks after last frost, when temps are above 50F
How long is growing season: May through early October or first fall frost
Companions: Good- peas, carrots, beans, onions. Bad- basil, sage
Peas
When to plant: early spring- week of last frost or anytime after
How long is growing season: May through late October
Companions: cucumbers, peppers, carrots, beans. Bad- onions, garlic, chives
Summer Squash
When to plant: 1-2 weeks after last frost, when temps are above 50F
How long is growing season: May through early October or first fall frost
Companions: Good- radish, peas, beans. Bad- tomatoes, potatoes
Kale
When to plant: early spring- week of last frost or anytime after
How long is growing season: May through late October, can be replanted as a fall crop
Companions: Good- cucumbers, lettuce, spinach, onions. Bad- beans, strawberries, tomatoes
Lettuce
When to plant: early spring- week of last frost or anytime after
How long is growing season: May through late October, can be replanted as a fall crop
Companions: Good- carrots, mint, onions, cucumbers. Bad- cauliflower, kale, kohlrabi
Broccoli
When to plant: early spring- week of last frost or anytime after
How long is growing season: May through August, can be replanted late summer for a fall/winter harvest
Companions: Good- lettuce, spinach, rosemary. Bad- peppers, tomatoes, peppers
Brussels Sprouts
When to plant: early spring- week of last frost or anytime after
How long is growing season: May through September/October
Companions: Good- bush beans, peas, carrots, lettuce, kale. Bad- pole beans, strawberries
Spinach
When to plant: 1-2 weeks after last frost, when temps are above 50F
How long is growing season: May through early October or first fall frost
Companions: Good- bush & pole beans, dill, broccoli, kale, cabbage, peppers, tomatoes. Bad- potatoes
Cabbage
When to plant: early spring- week of last frost or anytime after
How long is growing season: May through late October, can be replanted as a fall crop
Companions: Good- thyme, rosemary, onions. Bad- strawberries, tomatoes, pole beans
Happy planting!
-Megan