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The information below, and in a printable table, will help you to determine the best time to start your seeds.
You are watching: Growing Vegetables: When to Plant Your Vegetable Garden [fact sheet]
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You must first, determine the last frost date for your area. Do not seed or transplant frost-sensitive plants before this date. For central NH, Memorial Day is a conservative estimate for the last frost date.
Using a calendar, mark the date and count backwards the number of weeks the seed takes to grow from sowing. This will be the date you will start your seeds.
Example: Tomatoes take 6-8 weeks from sowing until transplant. If you want to plant in the garden on Memorial Day then count back 8 weeks and start seeds the first week of April.
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T – Crops marked with a (T) should be started from seed indoors and set out as transplants.
S – Crops marked with an (S) have a relatively short harvest season, which can be prolonged by doing multiple smaller “sequence” plantings.
Crops and Planting Information
Basil (T,S)
- Time from seed to transplant: 6-8 weeks
- Safe to set out in garden: 2 weeks after last frost
Bean (S)
- Plant seed in garden after last frost
Beet
- Plant seed in garden when soil warms to 45°F
Broccoli (S)
- Time from seed to transplant: 4-6 weeks
- Safe to set out in garden: 2-4 weeks before last frost
Brussels Sprout (T)
- Time from seed to transplant: 4-6 weeks
- Safe to set out in garden: 2-4 weeks before last frost
Cabbage (T)
- Time from seed to transplant: 4-6 weeks
- Safe to set out in garden: 4 weeks before last frost
Carrot
- Plant seed in garden when soil warms to 60°F
Cauliflower (T)
- Time from seed to transplant: 4-6 weeks
- Safe to set out in garden: 2 weeks before last frost
Celery (T)
- Time from seed to transplant: 10-12 weeks
- Safe to set out in garden: After last frost
Corn (S)
- Plant seed in garden when soil warms to 60°F
Cucumber
- Time from seed to transplant: 3-4 weeks
- Safe to set out in garden: 1-2 weeks after last frost
- Plant seed in garden when soil warms to 70°F
Eggplant (T)
- Time from seed to transplant: 8-10 weeks
- Safe to set out in garden: 2-3 weeks after last frost
Kale
- Time from seed to transplant: 4-6 weeks
- Safe to set out in garden: 4 weeks before last frost
Kohlrabi
- Time from seed to transplant: 4-6 weeks
- Safe to set out in garden: 4 weeks before last frost
Leek (T)
- Time from seed to transplant: 8-10 weeks
- Safe to set out in garden: 4 weeks before last frost
Lettuce (S)
- Time from seed to transplant: 4-5 weeks
- Safe to set out in garden: 3-4 weeks before last frost
Melon (T)
- Time from seed to transplant: 3-4 weeks
- Safe to set out in garden: 2 weeks after last frost
Onion (T)
- Time from seed to transplant: 8-10 weeks
- Safe to set out in garden: 4 weeks before last frost
Parsley (T)
- Time from seed to transplant: 9-10 weeks
- Safe to set out in garden: 2-3 weeks before last frost
Parsnip
- Plant seed in garden after last frost
Pea
- Plant seed in garden as soon as soil thaws
Pepper (T)
- Time from seed to transplant: 8-10 weeks
- Safe to set out in garden: 2 weeks after last frost
Potato
- Plant seed potatoes in garden 1-2 weeks before last frost
Pumpkin
- Time from seed to transplant: 3-4 weeks
- Safe to set out in garden: 2 weeks after last frost
- Plant seed in garden when soil warms to 70°F
Radish
- Plant seed in garden 2-4 weeks before last frost
Rutabaga
- Plant seed in garden from mid-June to mid-July
Spinach
- Time from seed to transplant: 4-6 weeks
- Safe to set out in garden: 3-6 weeks before last frost
Summer Squash
- Time from seed to transplant: 3-4 weeks
- Safe to set out in garden: 2 weeks after last frost
- Plant seeds in garden when soil warms to 70°F
Sweetpotato
- Plant slips (i.e. plants) in garden 1-2 weeks after last frost
Swiss Chard
- Time from seed to transplant: 4-6 weeks
- Safe to set out in garden 2 weeks before last frost
- Plant seed in garden 4 weeks before last frost
Tomato (T)
- Time from seed to transplant: 6-8 weeks
- Safe to set out in garden: 1-2 weeks after last frost
Turnip
- Plant seed in garden 2-4 weeks before last frost
Winter Squash
- Time from seed to transplant: 3-4 weeks
- Safe to set out in garden: 2 weeks after last frost
- Plant seed in garden when soil warms to 70°F
Zucchini
- Time from seed to transplant: 3-4 weeks
- Safe to set out in garden: 2 weeks after last frost
- Plant seed in garden when soil warms to 70°F
Special thanks Master Gardener Karen Downing for co-authoring the original fact sheet.
Source: https://gardencourte.com
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