Virginia Cooperative Extension Service VIRGINIA TECH AND VIRGINIA STATE • VIRGINIA'S LAND GRANT UNIVERSITIES

Vegetable Planting Guide Publication 426-331 Revised September 1986

and Recommended Planting Diane Relf and Alan McDaniel Extension Specialist, Horticulture, Va. Tech Dates Vicki Karagianis

Urban Gardening Coordinator GARDENER Department of Horticulture, Va. Tech

The Planting Area Map which follows can be used to detennine the average date of last frost in your area. The actual dates will vary due tp local condi-tions and yearly temperature fluctuations. The av-erage date of last killing frost in the spring can be used to adapt the Recommended Planting Dates Chart on pages 2 and 3 to your particular area. Specific instructions accompany this chart.

This chart can be used to tell the approximate earli-est and latest date for a spring planting of each crop and the average length of harvest for each crop. This is particularly important in making maximum use of your garden space by following one crop with another one as soon as the first harvest is complete.

The Vegetable Planting Guide on page 4 can be used to determine the approximate proper amount of a

MOUNTAIN AREA

average last killing frost in spring

5/10-5/15

average first killing frost in fall

10/10 - 10/15

average number of frost free days

165 days

crop to plant to get the desired yield, the amount of seeds or transplants required to plant that amount of a crop, and the proper spacing between plants in a row.

In intensive, raised-bed gardens use the in-row fig-ures between all plants; i.e., use equidistant spacing between plants. Sow seeds to a depth 3-5 times the diameter of the seed. For mid-summer plantings, sow up to twice this depth.

PIEDMONT AREA

average last killing frost in spring

4/20 - 4/30

average number of frost free days

182 days

average first killing frost in fall

10/19 - 10/29

TIDEWATER AREA

average last killing ' frost in spring

4/10 - 4/21

average first killing frost in fall 11 /8 - 11 /28

average number of frost free days

230 days

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VEGETABLE PLANTING GUIDE

Planting Distance Approximate Approximate no. Transplants or in feet or inches yield per 10 of row feet to seed required per

feet of row plant per person 10 feet of row

In Between No. of Amount of rows rows plants seed

Asparagus 18" 48-60" 3-4 lbs. 15-20' 7-8 crowns Beans, bush 1-2" 24-30" 3-5 lbs. 20-50' 1 oz. Beans, pole 4-12" 36-48" 6-10 lbs. 10-30' 1 oz. Beans, lima 3-4" 24-36" 3-5 lbs. 20-30' 1 oz. Beans, wax 2" 24-36" 3-5 lbs. 20-50' 1/8 oz. Deets 2-3" 12-24" 8-10 lbs. 10' 1/8 oz. Broccoli 15-24" 24-36" 4-6 lbs. 10-20' 5-8 or 1/10 oz. Brussels sprouts 18-24" 30-36" 3-4 lbs. 10' 5-7 or 1/10 oz. Cabbage 15-18" 30-36" 10-25 lbs. 10-15' 5-8 or 1/ 10 oz. Chinese cabbage 12-24" 18-30" 20-30 lbs 10-15' 8-12 or 1/5 oz. Carrots 1-2" 15-30" 7-10 lbs. 10-20' 1/5 oz. Cauliflower 14-24" 24-36" 8-10 lbs. 10-15' 5-8 or 1/10 oz. Chard, Swiss 6-12" 18-30" 8-12 lbs. 5-10' 1/5 oz. Collards 18-24" 24-36" 8-15 lbs. 10-15' 5-7 or 1/ 10 oz. Cucumbers 12-18" 48-72" 8-10 lbs. 15-20' 1/ 10 oz. Eggplant 18-24" 30-42" 10-12 lbs. 3-6' 5-7 or 1/40 oz. Endive 9-12" 18-30" 3-6 lbs. 5-10' 5-10 or 1/40 oz. Kale 10-18" 18-36" 4-8 lbs. 10-15' 6-10 or 1/10 oz. Kohlrabi 4-6" 12-36" 4-8 lbs. 5-10' 1/10 oz. Leeks 3-6" 12-30" 10-20 lbs. 3-6' 1/10 oz. Lettuce (Bibb) 6-10" 14-24" 4-8 lbs. 15-20' 1/40 oz. Lettuce (leaf) 4-6" 12-18" 5-10 lbs. 10-15' 1/40 oz. Muskmelons 24-36" 60-90" 15-25 lbs. 8-12' 3-5 1/8 oz. Mustard 3-4" 18-30" 3-6 lbs. 5-10' 1/10 oz. Okra 12-18" 36-48" 5-10 lbs. 5-10' 7-10 or 1/5 oz. Onions (sets) 2-4" 12-24" 7-10 lbs. 15-25' 30-60 l lb. Peas (English) 1-3" 12-30" 2-6 lbs. 40-60' 1/2 oz. Peppers 18-24" 30-36" 5-18 lbs. 5-10' 5-7 NA Potatoes, Irish 10-21 H 24-36" 10-20 lbs. 75-100' l lb. Pumpkins 4-7' 6-8' 10-20 lbs. 10' 1/20 oz. Rutabaga 3-6" 15-30" 8-12 lbs. 5-10' 1/8 oz. Southern peas 2-4" 24-30" 5-18 lbs. 25-30' 1 oz. Sweet corn 9-12" 24-36" 7-lOlbs. 40-60' 1/2 oz. Spinach 3-6" 15-30" 4-6 lbs. 30-40' 1/8 oz. Squash, summer 24-36" 36-60" 20-80 lbs. 5-10' l/ 10 oz. Squash, winter 3-7' 3-10' 10-80 lbs. 10' 1/10 oz. Sweet potatoes 12-18" 36-48" 8-12 lbs. 75-100' 7-10 NA Tomatoes 18-36" 36" 15-45 lbs. 10-15' 3-7 NA Turnips 2-3" 12-24" 8-12 lbs. 10' 1/8 oz. Watermelons 6-8' 7-10' 8-40 lbs. 10-15' 1-2 1/ 1 oz.

Virginia Cooperative Extension Service programs, activities, and employment opportunities are available to all people regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, handicap, or political affiliati on. An equal opportunity/ affirmative action employer.

Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, and September 30, 1977, In cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Mitchell R Gcasler. Director, Virgin ia Cooperative Extension Service, and Vice Provost for Extension, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061; Clinton V. Turner, Administrator, 1890 Extension Program, Virginia State University, Petersburg, Virginia 23803.