Vegetable Planting Guide

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Vegetable avg. sds/oz sds/100' Pkt plants distance apart thin to row spacing depth min soil temp °F ideal soil temp hardiness planting dates
Artichoke 560 T 10 plants 3' No 4' ½" 60 70-80 MH transplant late
Arugula 15000 3g 60' 1" 4" 18" ¼" 40 40-55 MH May 1/Aug 1
Asian Greens, assorted 5000-15000 varies ¼" 50 65-85 MH early May
Basil 17000 5g 10-80' ½" 4" 18" ¼" 65 70-85 VT June 1
Bean, Bush, Dry 90 8 oz 25' 3-4" No 2-3' 1" 60 70-80 T late May
Bean, Fava 17 12 oz 12' 3-4" No 2-3' 1" 40 40-75 H ASAP
Bean, Lima 65 1# 40-60' 4-6" No 3' 1" 60 70-85 VT late May
Bean, Pole 60 6 oz 7-10' 3-4" No 6' 1" 60 70-80 T late May
Bean, Soy 80 5 oz 10' 3-4" No 3' 1" 60 70-90 T June 1
Beet 2200 5/8 oz 20' 1" 2-4" 12-18" ½" 40 60-85 H Apr-July
Broccoli 5000-8000 5g .5g=10' 1" 24-30" 30" ¼" 40 65-85 MH transplant May/June
Brussels Sprouts 4000-5000 5g .5g=10' 1" 24-30" 24-30" ¼" 40 65-85 H transplant May/June
Cabbage 6000-7000 5g .5g=10' 1" 24-30" 24-30" ¼" 40 45-85 MH transplant May/June
Carrot 18000 10g ⅛oz=35' ¼"-½" 1" 16-24" ½" 40 60-85 H Apr-July
Cauliflower 6000-7000 4g .5g=12' 1" 30" 30-36" ¼" 40 60-85 MH transplant May/June
Celery/Celeriac 75000 T 500 8" No 2-3' ⅛" 40 70-75* T transplant June 1
Chard 800-2000 1½ oz 5-13' 2" 12-16" 18-24" ½" 40 50-85 H ASAP
Chicory 16000 T 300 plants 1' No 2' ⅛" 50 60-85 H transplant late June
Chinese Cabbage 6000-9000 ¼ oz 25' ½" 12-18" 24-30" ¼" 50 70-95 MH late May or transplant
Corn, OP 100 4 oz 50' 3" 1' 3' 1" 55 60-85 T late May
Corn, hybrid 155 4 oz 50' 3" 1' 3' 1" 55 60-85 T late May
Cress 9000 3g 50-70' ½" 1-2" 18" ¼" 45 55-75 MH May 1
Cucumber 1000 ½ oz 10' 3" 1' 4-6' ½" 65 65-90 VT June 1 or transplant
Eggplant 5000-6000 T 40 plants 20-30" No 30-36" ¼" 60 75-90* VT transplant early June
Endive 18000 5g 40' 1" 8" 18-24" ¼" 35 60-85 H Apr-July
Gourds, large 120-280 T 20 plants 6/hill 2-3/hill 6' ½" 60 70-90 T transplant early June
Gourds, small 500 1/5 oz 10 hills 6/hill 3/hill 4-6' ½" 60 70-90 T late May
Kale/Collards 5000-8000 5g 1g=20' 1" 12" 2' ¼" 40 45-85 VH ASAP-July
Kohlrabi 6000 4g 1g=25' 1" 24" 24" ¼" 40 45-85 MH transplant May/June
Leek 9000 T 1g=300 plants 8" No 2' ½" 45 60-70 MH transplant May 1
Lettuce 25000 4g 1g=25' 1/3" 1' 12-18" ⅛" 35 40-70 H ASAP-Aug
Mâche 10000 ¼ oz 25' ½" 2" 18" ¼" 48 50-68 VH ASAP-Aug
Melon 900 T 12-20 hills 3/pot 2/hill 5' ½" 60 75-95 VT transplant early June
Mustard 15600 ⅛ oz 50' 1" 4-6" 2' ¼" 40 65-85 MH Apr-Aug
Okra 350 T 25 plants 12" No 2-3' ¼" 60 70-90 VT transplant early June
Onion/shallots 7000 T 450 plants 4" No 12-18" ½" 40 60-70 MH transplant May 1
Pac Choi 12500 ¼ oz 14-25' ½" 6-12" 2' ¼" 50 70-80 MH May or transplant
Parsley 14000 ¼ oz 25' ¼" 1" 12-18" ¼" 40 50-80 VH Apr-Aug
Parsnip 5600 ½ oz 25' 1" 2-3" 12-18" ½" 46 55-77 VH Apr-July
Pea 80 8 oz 25' 1½" No 3-5' 3/4" 40 50-75 plants H ASAP
Pea for fall crop 80 8 oz 25' 1½" No 3-5' 3/4" 40 50-75 blossoms,pods T July
Pepper 2800-5600 T 15-40 plants 12-18" No 2-3' ¼" 60 68-95 VT transplant early June
Pumpkin 100-280 ½-1oz 3-8 hills 5/hill 3/hill 6' 1" 60 70-90 T late May
Radicchio 19000 ½ oz 5-30' 1" 8-10" 18" ⅛" 50 60-85 H late June
Radish 2500 1 oz 12' 1-2" 2-3" 18" ½" 40 55-85 H Apr-Aug
Salsify/Scorzonera 2000 5/8 oz 20' 1" 2" 18" ½" 50 65-85 H Apr-Jun
Shiso 14000 1g 100' 1-3" 8-12" 18-24" ¼" 65 68-75 VT transplant early June
Spinach 1500-2800 ½ oz 40' 1" 2-3" 12-18" ½" 35 45-65 VH ASAP
Spinach, fall crop 1500-2800 ½ oz 40' 1" 2-3" 12-18" ½" 35 45-65 VH Aug
Squash, summer 200-320 ½ oz 5-8 hills 5/hill 2-3/hill 4' 1" 60 70-90 T late May or transplant
Squash, winter 120-440 ½-2 oz 3-15 hills 5/hill 2-3/hill 4-6' 1" 60 70-90 T late May or transplant
Tomato 9000 T 8-125 plants 3' No 3' ¼" 60 75-90 T transplant June 1-10
Turnip/Rutabaga 8000-14000 1/3 oz 40' ½" 3-6" 18" ¼" 40 60-85 H Apr-July
Watermelon 600 T 7-10 hills 3/pot 2/hill 5' ½" 60 75-95 VT transplant early June
Zucchini 130-240 1 oz 4-6 hills 5/hill 2-3/hill 4' 1" 60 70-90 T late May or transplant

Abbreviations

  • Pkt plants=how many row feet or hills our smallest packet will plant
  • T: transplanted only, in our climate.
  • tp: transplant
  • pl: plants
  • g: grams (28.4g=1oz.)
  • No: not necessary to thin

* Celery and some varieties of eggplant require fluctuating day and night temperatures for good germination.

Hardiness rating

  • VT: very tender: will not survive frost, can be damaged by temperatures under 40°
  • T: tender: will not survive frost
  • MH: moderately hardy: survives light frosts
  • H: hardy: survives frost generally to the low twenties
  • VH: very hardy: will overwinter if protected

Approximate planting date

  • ASAP: as soon as ground can be worked, does not thrive in heat

Approximate planting dates are for our Central Maine climate. Please make appropriate adjustments for your climate, using hardiness as a guide.

Notes

Seed counts are provided as a guide, not a guarantee. They vary from cultivar to cultivar. Planting rates will vary if intensive methods such as beds are used.

Minimum soil temperatures are the lowest that will permit any germination. Expect slow spotty germination if you plant below or above the ideal range. For a good stand and quickest emergence plant as close to the middle of the ideal range as possible. If you have specific cultural questions, consult more detailed resources or get in touch with us.

A few seeds with unusually thick or hard coatings may benefit from scarification just before sowing. This is accomplished by nicking them with a knife, a pinpoint or lightly scratching them with sandpaper.

Some seeds need to be stratified before sowing. This tricks the seed into thinking it has gone through winter followed by the gradual warm-up of spring. It is accomplished by first moistening and then chilling the seed for a specified period of time.