Crop

Weeks before last frost date to start indoors

Onions, leeks: bulb-forming leeks and sweet Spanish and Bermuda onions require a long growing season to reach maturity, so give them a good head start. Bunching onions are ready in 55 days, dry onions in 100 days; leeks in 130 days.

10 to 12 weeks: seed germinates best at 65°F, but will germinate at any temperature between 45° and 85°F. Start seed in the fall in warm-winter regions or where spring turns to summer quickly.

Early tomatoes: push the season with cold and cool weather tolerant varieties; early tomatoes reach maturity in as little as 55 days from transplanting into the garden.

10 to 12 weeks: tomatoes need plenty of time to develop strong root systems. Grow on seedlings indoors at 75°F day and 65°F night to as low as 50°F night to prepare for early transplanting. Protect seedlings when they go into the garden: hot caps, baskets, plastic or glass jugs. Warm garden soil with black plastic before transplanting.

Celery: start indoors for spring crop; seeds for fall or winter crop are usually sown outside in spring. Allow 5 to 6 months for plants to reach harvest from seed.

8 to 10 weeks: Frost resistant and can be set out while the weather is still cool. Do not expose seedlings to temperatures below 50°F for extended period or they may bolt.

Mid-season and late-season tomatoes: these tomatoes require from 70 to 110 days from transplanting to reach maturity.

6 to 8 weeks. Seed germinates in 8 to 10 days at 70°F. For a long season, plant several varieties with differing days to maturity.

Early peppers: reach maturity in 70 to 90 days after transplanting.

6 to 8 weeks: Grow on seedling at 65°F day and 55°F night. Set out transplants two weeks after the last frost when the soil has warmed; set in garden two to three weeks earlier if plants are protected by cloche or plastic tunnel.

Eggplant: reaches maturity in 90 to 125 days.

6 to 8 weeks: Seed germinates in 10 to 12 days at 70°F. Grow on seedling at 65°F day and 55°F night. Do not set transplants in the garden without protection until daily temperature stays above 65°F; set out earlier under hot caps or cloches, Use deep mulch to protect seedlings in garden from wind.

All other peppers

4 to 6 weeks: Grow on seedling at 65°F day and 55°F night. Transplant to garden two weeks after the last frost.

Cabbage: transplant to the garden a week or two before the average last frost date allowing this cool-weather crop to reach maturity before warm weather arrives. Reaches maturity in 65 to 125 days.

4 to 6 weeks: germinates quickly at 70° to 75°F started indoors. Grow on seedlings at 65°F day and 55°F night. Frost resistant and can be set out while the weather is still cool but after the last severe freeze.

Cauliflower: transplant to the garden a week or two before the average last frost date allowing this cool-weather crop to reach maturity before warm weather arrives. Reaches maturity in 90 to 150 days.

4 to 6 weeks: germinates in 7 to 9 days at 70° to 75°F started indoors. Grow on seedlings at 65°F day and 55°F night. Frost resistant and can be set out while the weather is still cool. Spring crop must mature before hot weather; fall crop must mature before first fall frost.

Broccoli: transplant to the garden a week or two before the average last frost date allowing this cool-weather crop to reach maturity before warm weather arrives. Reaches maturity in 65 to 100 days.

4 to 6 weeks: germinates quickly at 70° to 75°F started indoors. Grow on seedling at 65°F day and 55°F night. Frost resistant and can be set out while the weather is still cool. For fall crop, sow seed in garden midsummer.

Head lettuce: unlike loose-leaf lettuce, head lettuce needs more time--80 to 90 days―in cool weather to form a firm head.

3 to 4 weeks: germinates in 6 to 8 days at 65°F. Great Lakes is a popular home garden head variety. If weather turns hot, heads will not form; start in fall in warm-winter regions.

Melons and cucumbers: these crops are transplanted to the garden small while there is less risk of disturbing their sensitive roots.

3 to 4 weeks: Time melon sowing so that plant is set outside when the soil temperature has risen to 50°F nights and near 80°F days. Cucumber seed germinates indoors in less than 3 days with bottom heat of 80°F; grow on seedlings at temperatures not less than 65°F. Set transplants in garden when melon and cucumber starts have no more than 4 leaves to avoid disturbing developing roots.