Planning Your Vegetable And Fruit Garden For The New Season

Planning your vegetable and fruit garden for the new season can be done by taking a few simple steps. You can easily get ready for your upcoming vegetable garden by germinating from seeds. Of course this can be done indoors, a greenhouse or a cold frame. In the spices and herb section, there is an article about herb growing from seed. This is a great way to sow your seeds indoors.

This vegetable and fruit page is about germinating your seeds directly into the ground. An important tip for you if you want to directly sow your vegetable seeds. Even though the air temperature may be warming up in the spring, what is important is the actual ground temperature. The success of growing vegetables directly into the ground not only depends on how you are properly planning and prepping the garden, but the right climatic situations for each of the plant specimens to grow. Lets say your ground is around 65 degrees and you can't wait to get the eggplant started. Ideally eggplant will germinate best when the soil temperature is running between 73 and 85 degrees. You could go ahead and sow the seeds but your chances of developing a good yield for the season will diminish due to planting too soon. This is one reason whether you are doing a large vegetable garden or creating a small bed, make sure you are aware of what your ideal growing conditions are for the vegetables and fruits you choose.

Tomato

Broccoli

Snap Beans

Carrots

There is nothing like sinking your mouth into a fresh slice of tomato, or steaming some broccoli, beans or carrots. Once the vegetables are steamed the way you like them, chop up some of your favorite spices and herbs. Sauté the herbs and spices and drizzle the sauté over your vegetables. Absolutely delicious!

Below is some basic information for different vegetable and fruit crops and also the best temperatures for germinating for each specie. The first five are some cooler weather vegetables. These plants will do well if the ground temperatures are between 65 - 75 degrees. These temperatures can vary a few degrees and this is an average for most geographic locations.

• Broccoli - will germinate in five to ten days and will be ready to eat anywhere from 40 to 60 days. This will depend on the variety.


• Cabbage - 67 to 75 degrees - germinate in seven to ten days and the early hybrid is ready to devour in about 50 to 55 days. The other varieties are ready in 70 -75 days.


• Cauliflower - 60 - 75 degrees -germinate in 10 days and will be ready for eating around 65 to 70 days.


• Lettuce - 65 to 75 degrees -germinate in seven to ten days. Ready to pick anywhere from 50 to 70 days.


• Radishes - germinate in five to seven days - ready for your table in about 60 days.

The next group of vegetables are for a regular temperature range. This range is between in temperatures from 70 to 75 degrees.

• Collard - germinates in five to ten days and ready to eat in 60 to 70 days. This is one of the favorite vegetables in the southern United States and a traditional vegetable on New Years day. Other greens such as Turnip and Mustard will also do well in this temperature range when planning your garden.


• Carrot - germinates in ten to fifteen days and ready to eat in 60 to 70 days.

New Zealand Spinach - germinates in ten to fifteen days and ready to pick in 30 to 40 days. You can also pick the young leaves.

• Pumpkin - germinates in seven to ten days and ready for harvesting in around 70 to 90 days. Pumpkins are slow growers.

The final group of seeds are considered warm weather vegetables and do best in ground temperatures 75 to 85.

• Melon - germinates in five to ten days and ready to cut this rich flavored fruit in 85 to 90 days.


• Okra - germinates in seven to fourteen days and ready to pick in 45 to 55 days. Great vegetable for pickling.


• Summer and Winter Squash - germinates in seven to fourteen days and ready for culinary use in 40 to 60 days.


• Tomato - germinates anywhere from seven to fourteen days. The harvesting time will vary due to so many different varieties available. Generally tomatoes will be ready for your table anywhere from 65 to 80 days. Planning and planting the right type of tomato will give your family fresh tomatoes the entire growing season.