ShopFairfieldFirst.com - Vegetable Planting Guide

Very Hardy (VH)

Very Hardy (VH) vegetables can withstand freezing temperatures and hard frosts without
injury. They may be planted as soon as the ground can be prepared, usually 4 to 6 weeks
before the approximate frost-free date in your area.
Suggested planting dates -   March 10 to 25

Frost-tolerant (FT)

Frost-tolerant (FT) vegetables withstand light frosts and can be planted 2 to 3 weeks before the
approximate frost-free date.
Suggested planting dates – March 25 to April 10

Tender
(T)

Tender (T) vegetables are injured or killed by frost, and their seeds do not germinate well in
cold soil. They are usually planted on or after the approximate frost-free date.
Suggested planting dates – April 10 to 25

Warm-loving (WL)

Warm-loving (WL) vegetables cannot tolerate cold. The require warm soils for germination
and good growth, and should be planted 1 to 2 weeks after the approximate frost-free date.
Suggested planting dates – April 25 to May 10

Sorted by Planting Date

Suggested planting dates

Sorted by Name

Asparagus VH 17-Mar March 10 to 25
Collards VH 17-Mar March 10 to 25
Kale VH 17-Mar March 10 to 25
Kohlrabi VH 17-Mar March 10 to 25
Lettuce, leaf VH 17-Mar March 10 to 25
Mustard VH 17-Mar March 10 to 25
Onion (sets) VH 17-Mar March 10 to 25
Onion (seed) VH 17-Mar March 10 to 25
Pea VH 17-Mar March 10 to 25
Potato, Irish VH 17-Mar March 10 to 25
Rhubarb VH 17-Mar March 10 to 25
Spinach VH 17-Mar March 10 to 25
Turnip VH 17-Mar March 10 to 25
Beet FT 2-Apr March 25 to April 10
Broccoli FT 2-Apr March 25 to April 10
Brussels sprouts FT 2-Apr March 25 to April 10
Cabbage FT 2-Apr March 25 to April 10
Carrot FT 2-Apr March 25 to April 10
Cauliflower FT 2-Apr March 25 to April 10
Celeriac FT 2-Apr March 25 to April 10
Celery FT 2-Apr March 25 to April 10
Chard FT 2-Apr March 25 to April 10
Chinese cabbage FT 2-Apr March 25 to April 10
Onion (plants) FT 2-Apr March 25 to April 10
Parsnip FT 2-Apr March 25 to April 10
Radish FT 2-Apr March 25 to April 10
Bean, bush snap T 17-Apr April 10 to 25
Bean, pole T 17-Apr April 10 to 25
Corn, sweet T 17-Apr April 10 to 25
Tomato T 17-Apr April 10 to 25
Bean, bush lima WL 2-May April 25 to May 10
Cucumber WL 2-May April 25 to May 10
Eggplant WL 2-May April 25 to May 10
Muskmelon WL 2-May April 25 to May 10
Okra WL 2-May April 25 to May 10
Pepper WL 2-May April 25 to May 10
Potato, Sweet WL 2-May April 25 to May 10
Pumpkin WL 2-May April 25 to May 10
Squash, summer WL 2-May April 25 to May 10
Squash, winter WL 2-May April 25 to May 10
Watermelon WL 2-May April 25 to May 10
Asparagus VH 17-Mar March 10 to 25
Bean, bush lima WL 2-May April 25 to May 10
Bean, bush snap T 17-Apr April 10 to 25
Bean, pole T 17-Apr April 10 to 25
Beet FT 2-Apr March 25 to April 10
Broccoli FT 2-Apr March 25 to April 10
Brussels sprouts FT 2-Apr March 25 to April 10
Cabbage FT 2-Apr March 25 to April 10
Carrot FT 2-Apr March 25 to April 10
Cauliflower FT 2-Apr March 25 to April 10
Celeriac FT 2-Apr March 25 to April 10
Celery FT 2-Apr March 25 to April 10
Chard FT 2-Apr March 25 to April 10
Chinese cabbage FT 2-Apr March 25 to April 10
Collards VH 17-Mar March 10 to 25
Corn, sweet T 17-Apr April 10 to 25
Cucumber WL 2-May April 25 to May 10
Eggplant WL 2-May April 25 to May 10
Kale VH 17-Mar March 10 to 25
Kohlrabi VH 17-Mar March 10 to 25
Lettuce, leaf VH 17-Mar March 10 to 25
Muskmelon WL 2-May April 25 to May 10
Mustard VH 17-Mar March 10 to 25
Okra WL 2-May April 25 to May 10
Onion (plants) FT 2-Apr March 25 to April 10
Onion (seed) VH 17-Mar March 10 to 25
Onion (sets) VH 17-Mar March 10 to 25
Parsnip FT 2-Apr March 25 to April 10
Pea VH 17-Mar March 10 to 25
Pepper WL 2-May April 25 to May 10
Potato, Irish VH 17-Mar March 10 to 25
Potato, Sweet WL 2-May April 25 to May 10
Pumpkin WL 2-May April 25 to May 10
Radish FT 2-Apr March 25 to April 10
Rhubarb VH 17-Mar March 10 to 25
Spinach VH 17-Mar March 10 to 25
Squash, summer WL 2-May April 25 to May 10
Squash, winter WL 2-May April 25 to May 10
Tomato T 17-Apr April 10 to 25
Turnip VH 17-Mar March 10 to 25
Watermelon WL 2-May April 25 to May 10
Reference: "Vegetable Planting Guide", James C. Schmidt, Horticulturist, University of Illinois
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