Vegetable Growing Seasons
The following is a very general table indicating when various common vergetables can be grown. Keep in mind that in many cases where "No" is indicated for a particular season, the plant may be started indoors or under protected conditions. For specifics, you pick varieties appropriate to your climate and follow the instructions from the seed supplier or nursery you are purchasing from.
| Vegetable | Spring | Summer | Fall | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beans Needs warm soil for seed germination. Soil should be well-drained. Best in full sun. |
No | Yes | No | No |
| Broccoli Tolerates cool soil for seed germination. Soil should be nitrogen-rich. Tolerates partial shade. |
Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Cabbage Tolerates cool soil for seed germination. |
Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Carrots Tolerates cool soil for seed germination. No fresh manure. Tolerates partial shade. |
Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes, if protected |
| Cauliflower Tolerates cool soil for seed germination. |
Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Chard, Swiss Tolerates cool soil for seed germination. |
Yes | No | No | Yes, if protected |
| Corn Needs warm soil for seed germination. Soil should preferably be loose and well-drained. |
No | Yes | No | No |
| Cucumbers Needs warm soil for seed germination. Soil should be well-drained. Full sun. |
No | Yes | No | No |
| Leaks Tolerates cool soil for seed germination. |
Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Lettuce Needs cool soil for seed germination. |
Yes | Some areas, if protected | Yes | Yes, if protected |
| Muskmelon, Watermelon Needs warm soil for seed germination. Light, fertile, sandy or loamy soil. Full sun. |
No | Yes | No | No |
| Onions, Shallots, Garlic Needs cool soil for seed or set germination. Tops grow in cool weather, bulbs in warm. |
Yes | Yes | Yes, in mild climates | No |
| Peas Needs cool soil for seed germination. Preferred soil is fertile, well-drained, sandy loam. Does best in full sun, high humidity, cool weather. Provide partial shade in summer. Note: Peas add nitrogen to the soil through nitrogen-fixing bacteria that live in nodules on the pea plants' roots. The bacteria obtain nitrogen from the air in proportion to how poor the soil is in nitrogen. If barnyard manure has been added, grow a couple of crops before growing peas. Then grow peas, first treating them with an innoculant of nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Follow the peas with a crop that needs lots of nitrogen. |
Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Peppers Needs warm soil for seed germination. Preferred soil is well-drained sandy loam. Full-sun. |
No | Yes | No | No |
| Potatoes Seed potates tolerate cool soil. Cool nights are required for good tuber formation. |
Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Summer Squash and Zucchini Needs warm soil for seed germination. Rich, well-drained soil. Full-sun. | No | Yes | No | No |
| Tomatoes Needs warm soil for seed germination. Well-drained sandy soil. Full-sun. |
No | Yes | No | No |