What Month Should You Start a Vegetable Garden?
So, what month should you start a vegetable garden? You might be thinking that April is the ideal month to begin gardening. But this isn’t necessarily true. If you live in a zone where late frosts are common, you should wait until June or July to plant your veggies. This way, you’ll avoid the risk of late frosts and still have the best vegetable growing season possible.
April
While the last frost date for your region is still several months away, April is the ideal month to start a vegetable garden. Soil can be worked a month before the last frost date and seeds can be started indoors. Then transplant the plants when the weather warms up. While planting a new vegetable bed, consider the following checklist:
- Jabbour, Niki (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 256 Pages – 12/14/2011 (Publication Date) – Storey Publishing, LLC (Publisher)
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May
You can start your summer vegetable garden in May. Most vegetable gardens should be warm enough to sow warm-season crops directly into the soil, although you can use row covers to prevent frost. If you’ve started your vegetables indoors, make sure they are hardened off before planting them in the garden. Depending on your climate, you can plant lettuce, broccoli, and spinach as early as March.
June
There are many advantages to starting a vegetable garden in June. You will get the benefit of a cool-season and warmer weather, and you can plant the vegetables you want to harvest the earliest. It is also the perfect time to plant herbs and other vegetable garden favorites, such as mint, chives, coriander, fennel, sage, thyme, and borage. In addition to the above benefits, June is also a good time to start planting vegetables that can stand the colder winter months.
July
While July may not be the best time to plant a vegetable garden, it is still an excellent month to begin a garden. In fact, July is the perfect time to plant warm-season vegetables like cucumbers, summer squash, and beans. Depending on your climate, July may be the second or third time you plant these crops, so make sure to water them well and monitor their growth. For best results, plant vegetables during July or early August.
August
In general, the best time to plant vegetables is in August. The early start will ensure that you have enough time to harvest the vegetables you’ve grown. This is also the best time to start planting vegetables such as lettuce and watermelon. You can plant other vegetables during the month, such as celery and spinach. Depending on the variety and climate of your location, you can plant a variety of vegetables every week during August.
October
The last frost in most places is in April, so planting fall crops in October is not too late. If you plan to grow cool-season crops, such as cabbage and kale, you can still plant them and harvest them before Jack Frost strikes. Planting your seeds about 3 inches apart will help ensure that they will get the moisture they need to grow. For best results, plant leafy vegetables such as lettuce in October.
November
If you live in a warm climate, then November is the best month to start a veggie garden. You can plant cool-season vegetables such as spinach, lettuce, and kale, or winter crops like pak choi. In cool climates, you can also plant perennials such as onions, fennel, and garlic, which need a cool period in order to germinate.
December
If you are thinking about planting a vegetable garden in December, you might be wondering which plants are hardy enough for this period. Cold-hardy vegetables, such as kale and cabbage, can be planted outdoors during the winter months if you live in a temperate region. In colder regions, these vegetables can be grown indoors in trays or containers. Herbs, such as basil, peppermint, sage, tarragon, rosemary, and thyme, can be grown in containers. The cold-weather hardiness of some vegetables makes them ideal for indoor gardening, though you may have to cover them during the coldest days.
January
While the snow keeps you indoors, the snow is the perfect time to start your vegetable garden. It’s still possible to plant winter vegetables such as lettuce, broccoli, and cauliflower. The best time to plant winter vegetables is late January or early February but be prepared for a hard freeze. After you’ve planted your vegetables, be sure to fertilize them every two weeks. If you’re starting a new vegetable garden from seed, start your seeds indoors in January. If you’re preparing an established garden, be sure to add compost or rotted manure before winter.
February
It’s a good time to start planting cool-season vegetables as temperatures rise. These include cabbage, kale, lettuce, spinach, onions, and beets. Although be aware of unpredictable weather conditions, you can even direct-sow some types of lettuce and parsnips. Cool-season crops may not grow well in cold-weather regions. Instead, try planting cool-season vegetables in a pot and transplanting them later.
