Seed Library: Planting Tips

Botanical name: Phaseolus Vulgaris
Plant type: Vegetable
Sun Exposure: Full Sun

Planting:

• Pole beans will grow as a climbing vine that may reach up to 15 feet tall. Therefore, pole beans require a trellis or staking. Bush beans will spread up to 2 feet, but do not require support. Watch this video to learn how to support beans properly.Do not start seeds indoors; they may not survive transplanting.
• Seeds can be sown outdoors anytime after the last spring frost; minimum soil temperature is 48 degrees F. Plant 1 inch deep in normal soil, and a little deeper for sandier soils. Cover soil to warm if necessary.
• Bush beans: Plant 2 inches apart.
• Pole beans: Set up trellises, or “cattle panels,” and plant 3 inches apart.
• If you like pole beans, an easy support for them is a “cattle panel”—a portable section of wire fence—16 feet long and 5 feet tall. The beans will climb with ease and you won’t have to get into contorted positions to pick them.
• For a harvest that lasts all summer, sow beans every 2 weeks. If you’re going to be away, skip a planting. Beans do not wait for anyone.
• Rotate crops each year.

Source: https://www.almanac.com/plant/beans

Botanical Name: Brassica oleracea
Plant Type: Vegetable
Sun Exposure: Full Sun

Planting:

• Broccoli can germinate in soil with temperatures as low as 40ºF.Broccoli requires full sun and moist, fertile soil that’s slightly acidic. Work in 2 to 4 inches of rich compost or a thin layer of manure before planting. (Learn more about soil amendments and preparing soil for planting.)
• For spring plantings, seed or set transplants 2 to 3 weeks before last spring frost date. (See local frost dates.) If you transplant, assume 10 less days for growth or the “days to maturity” on the seed packet.
• For fall plantings, seed 85 to 100 days before your average first fall frost. If you live in a warm climate, a fall planting is best, as broccoli thrives in cool weather. Plant seeds in mid- to late-summer in most places.
• Plant seeds ½ inch deep, or set transplants slightly deeper than they were grown originally.
• Within a row, space your plants 12 to 24 inches apart with 36 inches between each row.
• Space plants 12 to 24 inches apart, depending on the side heads you want to harvest.
• If you overseed, you will need to thin seedlings to 12 inches apart to give room for the broccoli to grow.

Source: https://www.almanac.com/plant/broccoli

Botanical Name: Brassica oleracea
Plant Type: Vegetable
Sun Exposure: Full Sun

Planting:

• Start cabbage seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last spring frost. See frost dates for your area.
• Harden off plants over the course of a week. To prepare soil, till in aged manure or compost.
• Transplant outdoors 2 to 3 weeks before the last expected frost date. Choose a cloudy afternoon.
• Plant 12 to 24 inches apart in rows, depending on size of head desired. The closer you plant, the smaller the heads.
• Mulch thickly to retain moisture and regulate soil temperature.
• Practice crop rotation with cabbage year to year to avoid a buildup of soil borne diseases.
• Because cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower are closely related, and require similar nutrients, it’s best not to plant them together. They are all heavy feeders, depleting the soil faster of required nutrients; plus, they will attract the same pests and diseases. For cabbage, also avoid proximity to strawberries and tomatoes.
• Cabbage can be grown near beans and cucumbers.

Source: https://www.almanac.com/plant/cabbage

Botanical Name: Daucus carota
Plant Type: Vegetable
Sun Exposure: Full Sun

Planting:

• Plan to plant seeds outdoors 3 to 5 weeks before the last spring frost date. Find your local frost dates here.
• Tip: Plant additional seeds every 3 weeks or so for multiple harvests.
• Plant carrot seeds 3 to 4 inches apart in rows. Rows should be at least a foot apart.
• Carrots are slow to germinate. They may take 3 or more weeks to show any signs of life, so don’t panic if your carrots don’t appear right away!
• Keep the soil moist, not wet, but don’t let it dry out, either.
• Carrots are best grown in full sunlight, but can tolerate a moderate amount of shade.

Preparing the Soil:

One of the most important things to consider when growing carrots (and other root vegetables) is the condition of your soil. Follow these guidelines to ensure a healthy carrot harvest:

• Make sure your soil is free of stones. Stones obstruct the path of carrot roots, which can result in a stunted and misshapen crop.
• Till your soil before planting. Carrots need deeply-tilled, loose soil that they can easily push through.
• Use the right type of soil. Carrots grow best in sandy or loamy soil (as opposed clayey or silty soil), so supplement your soil as necessary. Learn more about soil types.
• Avoid using manure or too much fertilizer. Have you ever seen a carrot that has grown “legs” or has forked? Fresh manure, or even recently-applied rotted manure, can cause carrots to fork and send out little side roots. Don’t use it before you plant your carrot seeds.

Source: https://www.almanac.com/plant/carrots

Botanical Name: Zea mays
Plant Type: Vegetable
Sun Exposure: Full Sun

Planting:

• Corn plants are picky about their soil. Work in aged manure or compost the fall before planting and let it overwinter in the soil.Starting corn seeds indoors is not recommended.
• Plant seeds outdoors two weeks after the last spring frost date.
• Make sure the soil temperature is above 60°F (16°C) for successful germination. (Up to 65°F/18°C for super sweet varieties.) In colder zones, the ground can be warmed by a black plastic cover if necessary. Plant seeds through holes in the plastic.
• Plant seeds 1.5 to 2 inches deep and 4 to 6 inches apart. Rows 30 to 36 inches apart.
• For sufficient pollination, plan your plot right. Don’t plant two long rows, rather, plant corn blocks of at least four rows.
• You may choose to fertilize at planting time; corn is meant to grow rapidly. If you are confident that the soil is adequate, this can be skipped.
• Water well at planting time.

Source: https://www.almanac.com/plant/corn

Botanical Name: Cucumis sativus
Plant Type: Vegetable
Sun Exposure: Full Sun

Planting:

• Cucumber plants are seeded or transplanted outside in the ground no earlier than 2 weeks after last frost date. Cucumbers are extremely susceptible to frost damage; the soil must be at least 70ºF for germination. Do not plant outside too soon!Before you plant outside, select a site with full sun.
• Soil should be neutral or slightly alkaline with a pH of 7.0.
• Cucumbers require fertile soil. Mix in compost and/or aged manure before planting to a depth of 2 inches and work into the soil 6 to 8 inches deep. Make sure that soil is moist and well-drained, not soggy.
• Improve clay soil by adding organic matter. Improve dense, heavy soil by adding peat, compost or rotted manure. (Get a soil test if you are unsure of your soil type; contact your local county cooperative extension.) Light, sandy soils are preferred for northern gardens, as they warm quickly in the spring. See our guide to soil amendments.
• Plant seedlings one inch deep and about 36 to 60 inches apart, depending on variety. For vines trained on a trellis, space plants 1 foot apart.
• For an early crop, start cucumber seeds indoors about 3 weeks before you transplant them in the ground. They like bottom heat of about 70ºF (21ºC). If you don’t have a heat mat, put the seeds flat on top of the refrigerator or perch a few on top of the water heater.
• If you live in the cooler climates, you can help warm the soil by covering the hill or row with black plastic.
• Once the ground is warm, mulch with pine straw, chopped leaves, or another organic mulch to keep pests at bay, and also keep bush types off the ground to avoid disease.
• A trellis is a good idea if you want the vine to climb, or if you have limited space. Trellising also protects the fruit from damage from lying on the moist ground. See how to build a trellis and support for vining vegetables.

Source: https://www.almanac.com/plant/cucumbers

Morning Glories

Botanical Name: Ipomoea
Plant Type: Flower
Sun Exposure: Full Sun

Planting:

• Grow morning glories in a sunny site. They need a lot of sun to bloom their best!
• Plant in moderately fertile, well-drained soil.
• Choose a site that is sheltered from cold or drying winds.
• Sow morning glory seeds early in the season once the ground has warmed to 64°F (18°C).
• Germination rates are improved by filing down the seeds just long enough to break the coat, then soaking them for 24 hours before planting. This encourages them to send out a root. (They look like little worms.)
• Cover lightly with ¼-inch of soil. Space about 6 inches apart. Water thoroughly at planting.

Source: https://www.almanac.com/plant/morning-glories

Arugula

Botanical Name: Eruca sativa
Plant Type: Vegetable
Sun Exposure: Full Sun

Planting:

• Arugula prefers humus-rich, well-drained soil, but will tolerate a wide variety of conditions.
• Plant outdoors in full sun or part shade as soon as the soil can be worked in spring. See local frost dates.
• Sow in late-summer for a fall or early-winter harvest.
• Plant ¼-inch deep and about 1 inch apart in rows 10 inches apart. Alternatively, broadcast arugula seeds alone or mix with other greens.
• Seeds germinate in a few days.
• Sow new seeds every 2 to 3 weeks for a continuous harvest.

Source: https://www.almanac.com/plant/arugula

Watermelon

Botanical Name: Citrullus lanatus
Plant Type: Fruit
Sun Exposure: Full Sun

Planting:

• If you live in warmer climes, you can sow seeds directly outdoors, but wait until the soil temperature warms to at least 70°F to avoid poor germination.Watermelon vines are very tender and should not be transplanted until all danger of frost has passed. (To be safe, wait at least two weeks past your last frost date.)
• If you are in a cooler zone, start seeds indoors about a month before transplanting.
• Amend soil with aged manure, seaweed, and/or compost before planting. Watermelons are heavy feeders. Learn more about soil amendments and preparing soil for planting.
• Watermelons prefer a soil pH between 6 and 6.8.
• Growing the vines in raised rows, known as hills, ensures good drainage and will hold the sun’s heat longer. Space the plants about 2 feet apart in a 5-foot-wide hill.
• If you’re growing in rows, space 6 feet by 6 feet apart.
• Watermelons like loamy, well-drained soil. Handle them gently when you transplant.
• After you transplant, cover the plants with row covers to keep pests at bay. You’ll remove the row covers when you see both male and female flowers on the vine.
• Find even more tips for planting watermelon in your home garden.

Source: https://www.almanac.com/plant/watermelons