How to plan a vegetable garden layout?

As a general rule, put tall veggies toward the back of the bed, mid-sized ones in the middle, and smaller plants in the front or as a border . Consider adding pollinator plants to attract beneficial insects that can not only help you get a better harvest, but will also prey on garden pests.

What temperature can vegetable seedlings tolerate?

Colder temperatures ( 26-31 degrees F .) may burn foliage but will not kill broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, chard, lettuce, mustard, onion, radish, and turnip. The real cold weather champs are beets, Brussels sprouts, carrots, collards, kale, parsley, and spinach.

Which zone is New Jersey in?

New Jersey is in USDA plant hardiness zones 6-7 . Use your last and first frost dates below to calculate your planting schedule. *Based on statistics there is a 10% chance that frost will occur before or after these dates.

How to calculate when to start seeds indoors?

To determine the best time to start your seeds indoors, check the back of the seed packet to see how many weeks the seed needs to germinate and grow before it's transplanted. Using that number, count backward on the calendar from the average last frost date – that's May 15 th in our area.

What vegetables should not be planted next to each other?

14 Vegetables You Should Never Plant Together—Gardening Experts Explain Why 01 of 14. Beans and Onions. ... 02 of 14. Tomatoes and Potatoes. ... 03 of 14. Corn and Tomatoes. ... 04 of 14. Tomatoes and Brassicas. ... 05 of 14. Cucumber and Squash. ... 06 of 14. Lettuce and Celery. ... 07 of 14. Fennel and Tomatoes. ... 08 of 14. Peppers and Cabbage. More items... Jan 16, 2024

What is the best temperature for germination of vegetable seeds?

Many factors affect seed germination, but the most challenging for gardeners and often least understood is soil temperature. While there is can be variation from one seed type to the next, most seeds for warm-season edibles prefer soil temperature between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit (21.1 and 26.7 Celsius) .

What temperature do tomato plants tolerate?

Another temperature to keep in mind: tomato plants will not survive in temperatures below 35 degrees Fahrenheit , and will not thrive at temperatures below 50 degrees. Gardeners can use a frost date calendar to note their region's average dates of last frost in spring and first frost in fall.

What temperature can cucumbers tolerate?

Like all crops, cucumbers too have a preferred temperature range. As a warm season crop, the ideal temperature range for cucumbers is generally 21-26°C (70-80°F). However, the plants can withstand a wider range, if necessary, ranging from 15-29°C (60-85°F) .

What is the best way to set up a vegetable garden?

Preparing a Vegetable Garden Site Choose a sunny spot. Most vegetables do best in full sun, over 8 hours of direct sunlight per day. ... Avoid low-lying areas. Plant roots need oxygen, and vegetables are particularly sensitive to being submerged. ... Avoid the perimeter of old houses. ... Consider convenience.

What is the most common garden layout for growing vegetables?

The most basic garden plan consists of a design with straight, long rows running north to south orientation . A north to south direction will ensure that the garden gets the best sun exposure and air circulation. A garden that runs east to west tends to get too shaded from the crops growing in the preceding row.

What is the best layout for garden rows?

Additionally, arrange the plants in such a way that the tallest ones are at the north end of the row, followed by medium-height veggies, and finally, the shortest ones at the south end . This arrangement maximizes sunlight exposure for all the plants.

Vegetable Planting Schedule, Hardiness Zone Look-up, & Germination Temperature Chart (2024)

Learning Center

Jan 19, 2018 by Joel Grant

Vegetable Planting Schedule & Hardiness Zone Look-up:

If there’s one thing that every gardener learns, — timing is everything. The path to a healthy harvest always starts with basic foresight and planning. TheVegetable & Herb Timing tables below provide the basics for scheduling your conventional and vertical Garden Tower plantings. And don’t forget to check out the Seed Germination versus Temperature chart to make sure your plants stay on schedule!

Gardening with a high-volume container system like the Garden Tower® gives you a head start, literally. In a sunny location, soil in the Garden Tower will heat up faster (and retain a higher temperature) than in conventional gardens. If nighttime frost protection can be provided for (tarps, garden fleeces, bed sheets, large trash bag, etc.), the typical traditional planting schedule can often be moved forward an entire month.

Use the data below to learn both when to start your seeds and when to transplant outdoors.

Hardiness Zone Look-up:

Unsure of your hardiness zone? Look it up precisely by state in a few seconds here: Growing-zones

Vegetable and Herb Planting Schedule: USDA Zones 1-6

Garden Planting Chart (start seeds in a controlled environment before these dates as indicated)
Vegetable	Start plants this long before planting (for your region)	Zone 1	Zone 2	Zones 3 & 4	Zones 5 & 6	Days to maturity / harvest
Artichokes	Crown	Aug – Oct	Aug – Nov
(globe)	pieces	May – Jun	Apr – June
Asparagus	1 year	Mar – Apr	Feb – Mar	Apr 15 – May 1	Apr 5 – 25	2nd seas.

Beans (lima)		not	May – Jun	May 15 – Jun 10	May 10 – 25	65-75
		suitable
Beans (snap)		May – Jun	May – July	May 15 – Jul 1	May 10 – 20	50-60

Beets		Mar – Jun	Mar – Jun	Apr 15 – Jul 1	Apr 1 – 15	55-65

Broccoli	6 weeks	May – Jun	Mar – Aug	Apr 15 – Jun 1	Mar 25 – Apr 5 Apr 5	60-80
					Sep 25 – 30
Brussels sprouts	6 weeks	May – Jun	May – Jul	Apr 15 – Jun 1

Cabbage	6 weeks	Jan – Apr	Apr – Jun	April 1 – May 1	Apr 1 – 20	65-80
		July – Sep			Sep 20 – 30
Cantaloupes	4 weeks	not	May	May 15 – June 1	May 10- 20	80-90
		suitable
Carrots		Jan – Jun	Mar – Jul 15	April 15 – June 15	Mar 25 – Apr 10	70-80
					Sept 20-30
Vegetable	Start plants this long before planting (for your region)	Zone 1	Zone 2	Zones 3 & 4	Zones 5 & 6	Days to maturity / harvest
Cauliflower	6 weeks	January &	Apr – Jul 15	April 15 – June 15	Apr 1 – 20	55-60
		June			Sept 20 – 30
Celery	9 weeks	Mar – Jun	Mar – Jul	May (mid)

Chard		Feb – May	Apr – Jul	May (early)

Chinese	4 weeks	Jul – Aug	August	Jul (early)
cabbage
Chives	6 weeks	Apr – May	Mar – May

Corn (sweet)		Apr – May	Apr – Jun		May 1 to Jul 20	80-100

Cucumbers	4 weeks	Apr – Jun	May – Jun	May 1 – Jun 15	May 10 – 30	60-65
(slicing)
Cucumbers	4 weeks	May	May – Jun
(pickling)
Dill		May	May

Eggplants	9 weeks	not	May	Jun (early)	May 15 – 25	70-90
		suitable
Endive	6 weeks	Mar – Jul	Apr – Aug 15	Apr (mid)

Garlic		Sep – Oct	Sep – Feb	Oct – Nov 1

Kale		May – Jul	May – July	Apr 15 – Jul 15	Mar 25 – Apr 5	50-70

Vegetable	Start plants this long before planting (for your region)	Zone 1	Zone 2	Zones 3 & 4	Zones 5 & 6	Days to maturity / harvest
Kohlrabi		Jul – Aug	Apr – Aug 15	Apr 15 – Aug 15	Apr (early)
					Sept (late)
Leeks		Feb – Apr	Mar – May

Lettuce (head)	5 weeks	Feb – Jul	Apr -July	Apr 15 – Aug 15	Apr 1 – May 15	60-85
					Sep 1 – 15
Lettuce (leaf)	5 weeks	Feb – Aug	Apr – Aug	Apr 15 – May 1	Apr 1 – Jun 15	45-65
					Sep 1 – 15
Okra	8 weeks	not	not	Jun (early)	May 10 – 25	55-60
		suitable	suitable
Onions	10 weeks	Jan – May	Mar – May	Apr (mid)	Mar 25 – Apr 15	100-120
					Sep 1 – Dec 31
Parsley	10 weeks	Dec – May	Mar – Jun	Apr 15 – May 1

Parsnips		May – June	Apr – May	May 1 – 15

Peas		Jan – Aug	Feb – May	Apr 10 – May 15	Mar 25 – Apr 10	60-80

Peppers	10 weeks	May	May – June	Jun (early)	May 15 – May 30	65-80

Potatoes	6 weeks	not	not	Jun (early)	May 15 – Jun 5	90-150
(sweet)		suitable	suitable
Vegetable	Start plants this long before planting (for your region)	Zone 1	Zone 2	Zones 3 & 4	Zones 5 & 6	Days to maturity / harvest
Potatoes (white)		Feb – May	Apr – Jun	Apr 15 – Jun 1	Apr 1 – Apr 15	70-90

Pumpkins		May	May	May (mid)	May 15 – 30	85-90

Radish		All year	Mar – Sep	Apr 10 – Jun 1	Mar 25 – May 1 Aug 1 – 20	25-30
				Aug 1 – Aug 15
Rhubarb	Crown	Dec – Jan	Mar – Apr	Apr 15 – May 1
	pieces
Rutabagas		Jun – Jul	Jun – July	May 15 – Jun 15

Spinach		Aug – Feb	April or	Apr (mid)	April 1 – 20	40-45
			Sept.	Aug 1- Aug 15	Aug 10 – Sep 20
Squash	4 weeks	May	May – Jun	May 10 – Jun 1	May 15 – 30	50-55
(summer)
Squash (winter)	4 weeks	May	May	May 10 – Jun 1	May 15 – 30	85-90

Tomatoes	8 weeks	May – Jun	May	May 15 – Jun 1	May 15 – 30	70-85

Turnips		January &	Apr – Sep	Apr (mid)	Mar 25 – May 1	45-65
		August		Aug (early)	Aug 5 – Set 20
Watermelons	4 weeks	not	May	May 15 – Jun 1	May 10 – 12	80-90
		suitable
For many crops, the quantity of starts to plant should be divided into several plantings, 1 or 2 weeks apart.
This schedule was compiled from extension service materials and is incomplete. We will update it when possible. Look up your local USDA extension office for more information. This table cannot be republished without permission.

Vegetable and Herb Planting Schedule: USDA Zones 6-10

Garden Planting Chart (start seeds in a controlled environment before these dates as indicated)
Vegetable	Start plants this long before planting (for your region)	Zones 5 & 6	Zones 7 & 8	Zones 9	Zone 10	Days to maturity / harvest
Artichokes	Crown
(globe)	pieces
Asparagus	1 year	Apr 5 – 25	Jan 15 – Mar 15 Mar. 15			2nd seas.
			Nov & Dec.
Beans (lima)		May 10 – 25	Apr 1 – June 1 June 1″	Mar – Aug	Feb – Apr	65-75
			July 1 – Aug 1	Aug – Sep	Sep
Beans (snap)		May 10 – 20	Apr 1- May1	Mar – Apr	Feb – Apr	50-60
			July 15 – Aug 10	Aug – Sep	Aug – Sep
Beets		Apr 1 – 15	Feb 15 – Apr 1	Sept – Mar	Oct – Mar	55-65
			Aug 1 – Sept 20
Broccoli	6 weeks	Mar 25 – Apr 5	Feb 15 – Mar 15	Aug – Feb	Aug – Jan	60-80
		Sep 25 – 30	Aug 1 – Sep 1
Brussels sprouts	6 weeks		Feb 15 – Mar 15	Sep – Nov	Oct – Nov
			Aug 1 – Sep 1
Cabbage	6 weeks	Apr 1 – 20	Jan 15 – Mar 15	Sep – Feb	Sep – Jan	65-80
		Sep 20 – 30	Aug 15 – Oct 1
Cantaloupes	4 weeks	May 10- 20	Mar 25 – Apr 20	Mar – Apr	Feb – Apr	80-90
			not recommened
Carrots		Mar 25 – Apr 10	Jan 15 – Mar 20	Sep – Mar	Oct – Mar	70-80
		or Sept 20-30	Aug 20 – Sep 15
Vegetable	Start plants this long before planting (for your region)	Zones 5 & 6	Zones 7 & 8	Zones 9	Zone 10	Days to maturity / harvest
Cauliflower	6 weeks	Apr 1 – 20	Mar 1 – Apr 1	Jan – Feb	Oct – Jan	55-60
		Sept 20 – 30	Aug 1 – Sep 1	Aug – Oct
Celery	9 weeks			Jan – Mar	Aug – Feb

Chard

Chinese	4 weeks			Oct – Feb	Oct – Jan
cabbage
Chives	6 weeks

Corn (sweet)		May 1 to Jul 20	May 15 – Jun 1	Mar – Apr	Feb – Mar	80-100
			June 1 – Jul 20	Aug	Aug – Sept
Cucumbers	4 weeks	May 10 – 30	Apr 1 – May 15	Feb – Apr	Feb – Mar	60-65
(slicing)			Aug 20 – Sept 1	Aug – Sep	Sep
Cucumbers	4 weeks
(pickling)
Dill

Eggplants	9 weeks	May 15 – 25	Apr 1 – May 15	Feb – Jul	Jan – Mar	70-90
			July 10 – 15		Aug – Sep
Endive	6 weeks			Feb – Mar	Jan – Feb
				Sep	Sept
Garlic

Kale		Mar 25 – Apr 5	Feb 1 – Mar 10	Sep – Feb	Sep – Jan	50-70
			Aug 10 – 30
Vegetable	Start plants this long before planting (for your region)	Zones 5 & 6	Zones 7 & 8	Zones 9	Zone 10	Days to maturity / harvest
Kohlrabi		Apr (early)		Sep – Mar	Oct – Mar
		Sept (late)
Leeks				Sep – Mar	Sep – Feb

Lettuce (head)	5 weeks	Apr 1 – May 15	Jan 15 – Mar 1	Feb – Mar	Sep – Mar	60-85
		Sep 1 – 15	Sep 1 – Oct 1	Sep – Oct
Lettuce (leaf)	5 weeks	Apr 1 – Jun 15	Jan 15 – Mar 1			45-65
		Sep 1 – 15	Sep 1 – Oct 1
Okra	8 weeks	May 10 – 25	Apr 1 – June 1 June 1″	Mar – Jul	Mar – Aug	55-60
			June 15 – July 1
Onions	10 weeks	Mar 25 – Apr 15	Jan 1 – Mar 15	Sep – Dec	Sep – Dec	100-120
		Sep 1 – Dec 31	Sep 1 – Dec 31
Parsley	10 weeks			Sep – Mar	Oct – Feb

Parsnips

Peas		Mar 25 – Apr 10	Jan 15 – Feb 15	Mar – Aug	Mar – Sept	60-80

Peppers	10 weeks	May 15 – May 30	Apr. 1 – June 1	Feb – Apr	Jan – Mar	65-80
				Jul – Aug	Aug – Sep
Potatoes	6 weeks	May 15 – Jun 5	Apr 15 – Jun 15	Mar – Jun	Feb- Jun	90-150
(sweet)
Vegetable	Start plants this long before planting (for your region)	Zones 5 & 6	Zones 7 & 8	Zones 9	Zone 10	Days to maturity / harvest
Potatoes (white)		Apr 1 – Apr 15	Jan 15 – Mar 1	Jan – Mar	Jan – Feb	70-90

Pumpkins		May 15 – 30	Apr 1 – Aug 1	Mar – Apr	Feb – Mar	85-90
				Aug	Aug
Radish		Mar 25 – May 1 Aug 1 – 20	Jan 15 – Apr 1			25-30
			Sep 1 – Oct 15
Rhubarb	Crown
	pieces
Rutabagas

Spinach		April 1 – 20	Jan 15 – Mar 15	Oct – Nov	Oct – Nov	40-45
		Aug 10 – Sep 20	Sep 1 – Oct 15
Squash	4 weeks	May 15 – 30	Apr 1 – May 15	Mar – Apr	Feb – Mar	50-55
(summer)			Aug 1 – 20	Aug – Sept	Aug – Sept
Squash (winter)	4 weeks	May 15 – 30	Apr 1 – Aug 1	March	Feb – Mar	85-90
				August	Aug
Tomatoes	8 weeks	May 15 – 30	Mar 25 – May 1	Feb – Apr	Jan – Mar	70-85
			June 1 – Aug 10	Aug	Sept
Turnips		Mar 25 – May 1	Jan 15 – Apr 1	Jan – Apr	Jan – Mar	45-65
		Aug 5 – Set 20	Aug 10 – Sep 15	Aug – Oct	Sept – Nov
Watermelons	4 weeks	May 10 – 12	Mar 20 – May 1	Mar – Apr	Jan – Mar	80-90
				July – Aug	Aug
For many crops, the quantity of starts to plant should be divided into several plantings, 1 or 2 weeks apart.
This schedule was compiled from extension service materials and is incomplete. We will update it when possible. Look up your local USDA extension office for more information. This table cannot be republished without permission.

Seed Germination versus Temperature: (use the table below to ensure your seeds stay on schedule!)

Suggested Additional Resources:

See our seed collections and seed starting productshere.
Don’t forget to check out the Companion Planting Guide!

Vegetable Planting Schedule, Hardiness Zone Look-up, & Germination Temperature Chart (2024)

Vegetable Planting Schedule & Hardiness Zone Look-up:

Hardiness Zone Look-up:

Vegetable and Herb Planting Schedule: USDA Zones 1-6

Vegetable and Herb Planting Schedule: USDA Zones 6-10

Seed Germination versus Temperature: (use the table below to ensure your seeds stay on schedule!)

Suggested Additional Resources:

FAQs

How to plan a vegetable garden layout? ›

What is the best layout for garden rows? ›

References