Vegetable Planting Guide
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A Note About Germination Temperatures
Minimum soil temperature is the lowest temp in which a seed will germinate. 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.
Seeding Notes
Recommended seeding dates are for Maine's climate.
| Vegetable | Outdoor Direct Seed: (*= succession plant every 2-3 weeks spring-fall) | Indoor Start Dates | Weeks till transplant | Transplant Dates | thin to / space transplants | row spacing | minimum soil temperature | ideal germ temp | frost tolerance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Artichoke | – | late Feb. | 10-12 | after frost | 3' | 4' | 60° | 70-80° | moderate |
| Arugula | ASAP - Aug.* | – | – | – | 4-6" | 12–18" | 40° | 40-55° | moderate |
| Asian Greens | ASAP - Aug.* | April | 3-4 | May | varies | varies | 50° | 65-85° | moderate |
| Basil | after frost | May | 4-6 | after frost | 4" | 18" | 65° | 70-85° | – |
| Bean, Bush | after frost - July* | – | – | – | 3-4" | 2-3' | 60° | 70-80° | – |
| Bean, Pole | after frost | – | – | – | 3-4" | 6' | 60° | 70-80° | – |
| Bean, Fava | ASAP | – | – | – | 3-4" | 2-3' | 40° | 40-75° | hardy |
| Bean, Soy | after frost | – | – | – | 3-4" | 3' | 60° | 65-80° | – |
| Beet | ASAP / Aug 1.* | – | – | – | 2-4" | 12-18" | 40° | 55-75° | hardy |
| Broccoli | May | April - June | 3-4 | May - July | 18-24" | 18-36" | 40° | 65-85° | moderate |
| Brussels Sprouts | – | April | 4-6 | May | 24-30" | 30-36" | 40° | 65-85° | hardy |
| Cabbage | May | April - May | 4-6 | May-June | 24-30" | 24-30" | 40° | 45-85° | moderate |
| Cannabis | – | April 1 | 8-10 | after frost | 8-10' | 8-10' | 60° | 70-80° | – |
| Carrot | ASAP - July 1* | – | – | – | 2" | 16-24" | 40° | 75-85° | hardy |
| Cauliflower | – | April | 4-6 | May | 24-30" | 24-30" | 40° | 55-80° | moderate |
| Celery/Celeriac | – | March 1 | 10-12 | May | 8" | 2-3' | 40° | 70-75° (fluctuating temps required) | – |
| Chard | ASAP | April | 4-6 | May | 12-16" | 18-24" | 40° | 50-85° | hardy |
| Chicory | ASAP - June | April / June | 3-4 | May / July | 1' | 2' | 50° | 60-85° | hardy |
| Chinese Cabbage | May | April | 3-4 | May | 12-18" | 24-30" | 50° | 70-80° | moderate |
| Corn | after frost | – | – | – | 1' | 3' | 55° | 60-85° | – |
| Cucumber | after frost* | May | 3-4 | after frost | 1' | 4-6' | 65° | 65-90° | – |
| Eggplant | – | April | 6-8 | after frost | 18-24" | 30-36" | 60° | 75-90° (fluctuating temps required) | – |
| Endive | ASAP - July 1* | April | 3-4 | May | 1" | 2' | 35° | 60-85° | hardy |
| Fennel | ASAP - May | April | 3-4 | May-June | 8-12" | 2' | 40° | 60-70° | hardy |
| Gourd, large | – | May | 2-3 | after frost | 2-3/hill | 6' | 60° | 70-90° | – |
| Gourd, small | late May | May | 2-3 | after frost | 2-3/hill | 4-6' | 60° | 70-90° | – |
| Kale/Collards | ASAP - July* | April - June | 4-6 | May - July | 12" | 2' | 40° | 45-85° | very hardy |
| Kohlrabi | – | April | 4-6 | May | 18-24" | 24" | 40° | 45-85° | moderate |
| Leek | ASAP | March 1 | 6-8 | May | 6-12" | 2' | 45° | 60-70° | moderate |
| Lettuce | ASAP - Aug.* | March - July | 3-4 | May - Aug. | 1' | 12-18" | 35° | 40-70° | hardy |
| Mâche | ASAP | – | – | – | 2" | 18" | 48° | 50-68° | very hardy |
| Melon/Watermelon | – | May | 2-3 | after frost | 2-3' | 6-8' | 60° | 75-95° | – |
| Mustard | ASAP - Aug.* | – | – | – | 4-6" | 2' | 40° | 65-85° | moderate |
| Okra | – | late April | 4-5 | after frost | 2' | 2-3' | 60° | 70-90° | – |
| Onion/shallot | – | March 1 | 6-8 | May | 6-8" | 1-2' | 40° | 60-70° | moderate |
| Pac Choi | May / Aug.* | April | 3-4 | May | 6-12" | 2' | 50° | 70-80° | moderate |
| Parsley | ASAP | March | 6-8 | May | 8-12" | 12-18" | 40° | 50-80° | very hardy |
| Parsnip | April - May | – | – | – | 2-3" | 18-24" | 46° | 55-77° | very hardy |
| Pea | ASAP / July | – | – | – | 2" | 3-5' | 40° | 50-75° | hardy |
| Pepper | – | late March | 8-10 | after frost | 12-18" | 2-3' | 60° | 68-95° | – |
| Pumpkin | late May | May | 2-3 | after frost | 2-3/hill | 6' | 60° | 70-90° | – |
| Radicchio | May-June | April - May | 3-4 | May - June | 8-12" | 18" | 50° | 60-85° | hardy |
| Radish | ASAP - Aug.* | – | – | – | 2-3" | 18" | 40° | 55-85° | hardy |
| Spinach | ASAP - Aug.* | – | – | – | 2-3" | 12-18" | 35° | 45-65° | very hardy |
| Squash, summer | late May | May | 2-3 | after frost | 2-3/hill | 4' | 60° | 70-90° | – |
| Squash, winter | late May | May | 2-3 | after frost | 2-3/hill | 4-6' | 60° | 70-90° | – |
| Tomatillo/Husk Ch. | – | May 1 | 4-6 | after frost | 2-3' | 3' | 60° | 75-85° | – |
| Tomato | – | mid-April | 6-8 | after frost | 2-3'' | 3-5' | 60° | 75-90° | – |
| Turnip/Rutabaga | ASAP - July* | – | – | – | 3-6" | 1-2' | 40° | 60-85° | hardy |
| Zucchini | late May | May | 2-3 | after frost | 2-3/hill | 4' | 60° | 70-90° | – |