Plant Profiles
Tomato:
Plant Transplants in late May to early June.
Bury two thirds of the stem when planting to encourage root growth along the buried stem. Use this deep planting method ONLY with tomatoes. Plant 2-3 feet apart.
Plants need 6-8 hours full sun. Plants should be staked or supported with trellis or cage. Prune plants of axillary shoots also known as suckers to produce more high quality fruit. Leave tomatoes on the vine until fully ripe.
To harvest, hold the vine in one hand and gently pull the fruit with the other. Tomatoes taste better when stored at room temperature.
Bell and Hot Peppers:
Plant transplants in late May to early June.
Plant at the same depth as they are growing in container. Plant 18-24 inches apart.
Plants need 6-8 hours of full sun. Stake plants to keep from falling over.
To harvest, Use a clean, sharp knife or pruning shears. Pulling peppers by hand can cause entire branches to break off.
Eggplant:
Plant transplants in late May to early June.
Plant at the same depth as they are growing in container. Plant 2 feet apart.
Plants need 6-8 hours of full sun. Plants should be staked or supported with trellis or cage because the fruit is heavy and can cause the plant to fall over.
To harvest, use a clean, sharp knife or pruning shears: the eggplant will not pull off free hand.
Summer Squash (zucchini or yellow):
Plant transplants or direct seed in late May to early June.
Plant 3 seeds one half inch deep, 2-3 inches apart within mounts which are 18 inches apart. Thin to 2 largest seedling. Plant transplants at depth of container. Plant transplants 18 inches apart.
Plants need 6-8 hours of full sun. You can start a second crop 6 weeks after first planting to spread out harvest.
To harvest, pick when 6-8 inches long. Frequent harvesting encourages fruit production. Use sharp, clean knife or pruning shears.
Winter Squash (butternut, pumpkins):
Plant transplants or direct seed in late May to early June.
Plant 3 seeds one half inch deep, 2-3 inches apart within mounts which are 3-4 feet apart. Thin to 2 largest seedling. Plant transplants at depth of container. Plant transplant 3-4 feet apart.
Plants need 6-8 hours of full sun. Squash require a lot of space in the garden. You can prune back the growing tip once the vine reaches 5 feet long. This encourages fruit growth. Wait until plants die back and shell are hard before harvesting.
To harvest, use sharp clean knife or pruning shears. Cure squash in sun until stems shrivel and turn grey.
Cucumber:
Plant transplants or direct seed in late May or early June.
Plant 3 seeds one half inch deep, 2-3 inches apart within mounts which are 3-4 feet apart. Thin to 2 largest seedlings. Plant transplants at depth of container. Plant transplant 1 foot apart.
Plants need 6-8 hours of full sun. Plants should be supported with trellis or cage. To make good use of garden space, consider planting cucumbers alongside early cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli which will be ready to harvest when the cucumber seedlings emerge.
To harvest, pick cucumbers frequently and before they become too mature. Cucumbers like to hide! Search under leaves to find hidden fruit.
Beans (Pole or Bush):
Direct seed in late May or early June.
May be planted continuously every 2 weeks through July. Plant 2 -3 seeds 1 and Half inches deep. Thin to strongest plant. Plants should be 1 foot apart.
Plants need 6-8 hours of full sun. Pole beans require a trellis or cage for support. Install trellis at planting time.
To harvest, pick fresh beans when they are pencil width and tender: before the seeds form a bump on the pod. For dried beans (black bean or black-eyed pea) leave the bean on the plant until they are brown and seeds rattle inside.
Broccoli :
This is a cool season crop. Plant transplants or direct seed in April.
Start indoors or direct seed in July for fall harvest. When plants are 6" tall with 2-4 true leaves, plant 2" deeper than pot depth. Plants should be 1-2 feet apart.
Plants need 6-8 hours full sun. Two weeks after transplant, fertilize with compost tea or bloodmeal and water deeply. Repeat monthly until a week before harvest.
To harvest, cut just below point where stems separate, before florets open and turn yellow.
Cabbage:
This is a cool season crop. Plant seedlings in April.
Start indoors or direct seed in July for fall harvest. When plants are 6" tall with 2-4 true leaves, plant 2" deeper than pot depth.
Plants should be 12-18 inches apart and need 4-6 hours full sun. Two weeks after transplanting, fertilize with compost tea or bloodmeal and water deeply. Repeat monthly until a week before harvest.
To harvest, cut heads with a sharp knife when heads are firm.
Carrots:
This is a cool season crop. Plant 3 weeks before last frost in April.
Seed every 2-3 weeks until 2 weeks before first frost in October. Plants need loose, rock free soil. Consider adding mature compost. Scatter seeds in a row and cover lightly with sand or compost to aid in germination.
Thin seedlings to 1" apart when green tops are 2" tall and again 2 weeks later to 3" apart. Plants need 6-8 hours of full sun. White, purple, red and yellow varieties are available. Good drainage is important to prevent rot and disease.
Harvest 70-80 days after sowing. Dig with finger next to carrot to determine size. The center leaves will be stiff when ready. Use a trowel to loosen soil and pull by hand.
Collards/Kale:
This is a cool season crop. Plant seedlings in April.
Start indoors or direct seed in July for fall harvest. When plants are 6" tall with 2-4 true leaves, plant 2" deeper than pot depth.
Space plants 1 foot apart. Plants need 6-8 hours of full sun. Two weeks after transplant, fertilize with compost tea or bloodmeal and water deeply. Repeat monthly until a week before harvest.
Harvest when plants reach 1 foot tall. Frost improves flavor.
Lettuce:
This is a cool season crop but certain varieties can be planted throughout the growing season. Direct sow on top of soil, rake in and lightly water. Can seed every 2-3 weeks for continual harvest.
Seed 1/4 inch apart. Plants need 4-6 hours of full sun. In mid summer, to allow a tall crop provide shade in afternoon sun. Keep soil moist to prevent bolting (flowering) which makes lettuce bitter. Incorporating compost helps retain moisture in soil. Look for cool season cultivars for spring and fall, heat resistant cultivars for summer.
Depending on type of lettuce, you can harvest leaf lettuce by picking outside leaves making sure to leave 3-4 inner leaves per plant. For head forming lettuce (iceberg or buttercrunch), use a knife to cut off directly under head.
Onions:
Plant transplants in April to May. Onions grow leaf tops in cool spring weather and bulbs grow in warm weather.
Plant 2 inches deep. Plants should be 4-6 inches apart and need 6-8 hours of full sun. Onions require fertile soil, well prepared with lime and slow-release 5-10-5 fertilizer. Remove all stones to ensure good root development. Keep area well weeded.
To harvest, when leaves turn yellow, use back of rake to push onions horizontally. Two days later when leaves are brown, pull onions on a sunny day and leave them in the sun to cure. Lay brown leaves on top of bulb to prevent sun scald. Dust off any remaining soil when skins are thoroughly dry.
