Homegrown: Vegetables 101

“In the spring at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.” Margaret Atwood 

Time to get those hands dirty! Spring weather is upon us and it’s almost planting time, finally! If you're already overwhelmed with your veggie choices and not sure what to do next, no worries. I got you. Here is a little cheat sheet with your basic veggie planting/growing info. This will help you get started and know what to expect throughout the season. We’ll cover when to plant, spacing, general care, and when to expect harvest. This info is all for your starter plants you get from Benoit Greenhouses, not from seed.

There are many thoughts on when to plant, from phases to the moon to region-specific frost dates. If you abide by those, kudos to you! For the rest of us, I’m going to keep it as simple as possible. Just keep an eye on the weather and pay attention to when we’re no longer at risk for frosts. No need to rush, earlier is not always better. 

Keep in mind that spacing varies from plant to plant, so check the tags on your veggies for this info. A common mistake is planting too close to other plants. Everything is so teeny and misleading this early in the season, so don’t be fooled!

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Tomatoes (All varieties)

When to plant: 1-2 weeks after last frost, when temps are above 50F

How long is growing season: May through early October or first fall frost 

Companions: Good- cucumbers, basil, carrots, onion. Bad- broccoli, cabbage, kale, brussels sprouts

Green Beans (bush & pole)

When to plant: 1-2 weeks after last frost, when temps are above 50F

How long is growing season: May through early October or first fall frost 

Companions: Good- cucumber, carrots, kale, tomatoes. Bad- onions, peppers 


Zucchini

When to plant: 1-2 weeks after last frost, when temps are above 50F

How long is growing season: May through early October or first fall frost 

Companions: Good: parsley, spinach, beans, peas. Bad- potatoes 


Carrots

When to plant: early spring- week of last frost or anytime after 

How long is growing season: May through July 

Companions: Good- lettuce, onions, peppers, tomatoes. Bad- dill, potatoes

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Peppers (All varieties)

When to plant: 1-2 weeks after last frost, when temps are above 50F

How long is growing season: May through early October or first fall frost 

Companions: Good- basil, brussel sprouts, beans, onions. Bad- beans, cabbage, kohlrab

Cucumbers

When to plant: 1-2 weeks after last frost, when temps are above 50F

How long is growing season: May through early October or first fall frost 

Companions: Good- peas, carrots, beans, onions. Bad- basil, sage

Peas

When to plant: early spring- week of last frost or anytime after

How long is growing season: May through late October

Companions: cucumbers, peppers, carrots, beans. Bad- onions, garlic, chives 

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Summer Squash

When to plant: 1-2 weeks after last frost, when temps are above 50F

How long is growing season: May through early October or first fall frost

Companions: Good- radish, peas, beans. Bad- tomatoes, potatoes 

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Kale

When to plant: early spring- week of last frost or anytime after

How long is growing season: May through late October, can be replanted as a fall crop

Companions: Good- cucumbers, lettuce, spinach, onions. Bad- beans, strawberries, tomatoes 

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Lettuce

When to plant: early spring- week of last frost or anytime after

How long is growing season: May through late October, can be replanted as a fall crop

Companions: Good- carrots, mint, onions, cucumbers. Bad- cauliflower, kale, kohlrabi


Broccoli

When to plant: early spring- week of last frost or anytime after

How long is growing season: May through August, can be replanted late summer for a fall/winter harvest 

Companions: Good- lettuce, spinach, rosemary. Bad- peppers, tomatoes, peppers


Brussels Sprouts

When to plant: early spring- week of last frost or anytime after

How long is growing season: May through September/October 

Companions: Good- bush beans, peas, carrots, lettuce, kale. Bad- pole beans, strawberries

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Spinach

When to plant: 1-2 weeks after last frost, when temps are above 50F

How long is growing season: May through early October or first fall frost

Companions: Good- bush & pole beans, dill,  broccoli, kale, cabbage, peppers, tomatoes. Bad- potatoes

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Cabbage

When to plant: early spring- week of last frost or anytime after

How long is growing season: May through late October, can be replanted as a fall crop

Companions: Good- thyme, rosemary, onions. Bad- strawberries, tomatoes, pole beans



Happy planting!

-Megan 






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