When should you plan a garden?

When should you plan a garden?

If you are like me, the winter weather limits what I can do in my garden. That is why I use the winter months to plan my spring, summer, and winter garden succession. The winter months are the best time to plan a garden.

I start by browsing through the numerous seed catalogs I receive in the mail. I recommend purchasing seeds from a nursery in your area for a few reasons. The first is the plants are acclimated to your local climate, so you have a better chance of a bountiful harvest. Secondly, you will be supporting a local farmer.

Make a list of the plants you want to grow. The number of plants you can grown depends on your garden space. If you have not done so already, measure your garden bed and raised beds.

Now you can use the "Planting Guidelines" chart to determine how many plants you can grow in your garden space. I like to make a diagram of my garden area, which includes the raised beds' measurements. Remember to consider the plants sunlight requirements when arranging your garden.

SCHEDULE

Now you are ready to develop your schedule. You need to determine what the average last frost date for your area. The National Climate Data Center is a resource to determine average last frost date.

Simply select the State in which you reside and a PDF will open with a table full of information. On the left, is a list of cities – find the one closest to you. The next column has the probability of frost during (90, 50, and 10%) for the listed date.

You will use this information to plan when you need to start your seeds and when to plant the seedlings outside. Use the "Planting Guideline" table to determine when you need to start your seeds and when to set-out the plants.

Happy Gardening!

Planting Guidelines
Variety	Distance Rows (Inches)	Distance Plants (Inches)		Quantity per Person
Broccoli	24	12 – 18		5 plants
Brussel’s Sprouts	24	12 – 24		5 plants
Carrots	12	1 – 3		10’ row
Cabbage	24	12 – 18		5 plants
Cauliflower	24	14 – 24		5 plants
Corn	24	9 – 15		25’ row
Cucumbers	48	12		10 – 15’ row
Onions	12	2 – 4		10 – 20’ row
Parsnip	18	3 – 6		5 – 10’ row
Peas	12	1 – 3		50 – 100’ row
Potatoes	30	9 – 12		50’ row
Pumpkin	60	36 – 60		1 hill
Squash, Summer	60	24 – 48		1 hill
Squash, Winter	60	24 – 48		3 – 5 hills
Swiss Chard	18	3 – 6		5’ row
Tomato	30	12 – 24		5 plants
Specialty Varieties
Variety	Distance Rows (Inches)		Distance Plants (Inches)
Beets	12		2 – 4
Endive	18		8 – 12
Kale	18		18 – 24
Lettuce	15		10 – 15
Radish	12		1 – 2
Salsify	18		2 – 4
Spinach	15		2 – 6
Turnips	15		2 - 6

Planting Timeline
Key: Before Last Frost (BLF) / After Last Frost (ALF)
Plant Variety	Start Seeds	Plant Out
Marigold	10 weeks BLF	AFL
Sunflower	10 weeks BLF	AFL
Black-eyed Susan	10 weeks BLF	AFL
Artichoke	8 weeks BLF	AFL
Brussel’s Sprouts	8 weeks BLF	AFL
Broccoli	8 weeks BLF	AFL
Cabbage	8 weeks BLF	AFL
Cauliflower	8 weeks BLF	AFL
Zinnia	8 weeks BLF	AFL
Celery	6 weeks BLF	2 weeks AFL
Eggplant	6 weeks BLF	2 weeks AFL
Pepper	6 weeks BLF	2 weeks AFL
Tomato	6 weeks BLF	2 weeks AFL
Lavender	6 weeks BLF	AFL
Basil	6 weeks BLF	2 weeks AFL
Sweet peas	4 – 6 weeks BLF	2 – 3 weeks AFL