Vegetable Gardens: A Schedule
This table should be very helpful in helping you plan your veggie garden, and hopefully lead you to successful fall harvests. Much like our schedule for annuals, I developed this table because I got tired of trying to track down my seed packets and looking in several different books to find these dates. Plants that are started indoors should be hardened off for about a week in a sheltered outdoor area or a cold frame.
Note: These dates are for the Detroit metro area and most of the southern Lower Peninsula. If you are in the Northern Lower Peninsula, your dates will be two weeks later. If you are in the U.P. they will be four weeks later. ITGO
| Vegetable | Start Seeds (Spring) | Plant Outdoors (Spring) | Start Seeds (Fall) | Plant Outdoors (Fall) |
| Beets | April 15 (Direct Sow) | N/A | August 15 (Direct Sow) | N/A |
| Vegetable | Start Seeds (Spring) | Plant Outdoors (Spring) | Start Seeds (Fall) | Plant Outdoors (Fall) |
| Broccoli | March 1 | April 15 | July 1 | August 15 |
| Vegetable | Start Seeds (Spring) | Plant Outdoors (Spring) | Start Seeds (Fall) | Plant Outdoors (Fall) |
| Cabbage | March 1 | April 15 | July 1 | August 15 |
| Vegetable | Start Seeds (Spring) | Plant Outdoors (Spring) | Start Seeds (Fall) | Plant Outdoors (Fall) |
| Cauliflower | March 15 | April 15 | July 15 | August 15 |
| Vegetable | Start Seeds (Spring) | Plant Outdoors (Spring) | Start Seeds (Fall) | Plant Outdoors (Fall) |
| Greens (Collard, Kale, Mustard) | March 1 | April 1 | July 15 (Direct Sow) | N/A |
| Vegetable | Start Seeds (Spring) | Plant Outdoors (Spring) | Start Seeds (Fall) | Plant Outdoors (Fall) |
| Corn | May 1 (Direct Sow) | N/A | July 1 (Direct Sow) | N/A |
| Notes: Does not transplant well.. | ||||
| Vegetable | Start Seeds (Spring) | Plant Outdoors (Spring) | Start Seeds (Fall) | Plant Outdoors (Fall) |
| Cucumber | April 15 | May 30 | July 1 (Direct Sow) | N/A |
| Notes: There is no need to start the fall crop indoors. Conditions are fine outside fo the seed to germinate. |
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| Vegetable | Start Seeds (Spring) | Plant Outdoors (Spring) | Start Seeds (Fall) | Plant Outdoors (Fall) |
| Eggplant | March 1 | May 15 | N/A | N/A |
| Vegetable | Start Seeds (Spring) | Plant Outdoors (Spring) | Start Seeds (Fall) | Plant Outdoors (Fall) |
| Lettuce | March 1 | April 1 | August 15 (Dirct Sow) | N/A |
| Notes: There is no need to start the fall crop indoors. Conditions ar fine outside fo the seed to germinate. |
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| Vegetable | Start Seeds (Spring) | Plant Outdoors (Spring) | Start Seeds (Fall) | Plant Outdoors (Fall) |
| Melons | April 15 | May 15 | N/A | N/A |
| Vegetable | Start Seeds (Spring) | Plant Outdoors (Spring) | Start Seeds (Fall) | Plant Outdoors (Fall) |
| Peas | March 15 (Direct Sow) | N/A | August 1 (Direct Sow) | N/A |
| Notes: Peas grow very easily. There is no need to start them indoors. | ||||
| Vegetable | Start Seeds (Spring) | Plant Outdoors (Spring) | Start Seeds (Fall) | Plant Outdoors (Fall) |
| Peppers | March 1 | May 15 | N/A | N/A |
| Vegetable | Start Seeds (Spring) | Plant Outdoors (Spring) | Start Seeds (Fall) | Plant Outdoors (Fall) |
| Pumpkins | April 15 | May 15 | N/A | N/A |
| Vegetable | Start Seeds (Spring) | Plant Outdoors (Spring) | Start Seeds (Fall) | Plant Outdoors (Fall) |
| Spinach | March 15 | April 1 | August 15 (Direct Sow) | N/A |
| Notes: There is no need to start the fall crop indoors. Conditions are fine outside fo the seed to germinate. |
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| Vegetable | Start Seeds (Spring) | Plant Outdoors (Spring) | Start Seeds (Fall) | Plant Outdoors (Fall) |
| Swiss Chard | March 15 | April 15 | N/A | N/A |
| Notes: Fall sowing is not necessary. Simply keep harvesting the outermost leaves. | ||||
| Vegetable | Start Seeds (Spring) | Plant Outdoors (Spring) | Start Seeds (Fall) | Plant Outdoors (Fall) |
| Tomatoes | March 15 | May 15 | July 1 | July 31 |
| Notes: If you planted determinate tomatoes this pring, they will be just about done in mid summer. A second sowing will give you late-season tomatoes. |
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| Vegetable | Start Seeds (Spring) | Plant Outdoors (Spring) | Start Seeds (Fall) | Plant Outdoors (Fall) |
| Summer Squash (Zucchini) | April 15 | May 15 | N/A | N/A |
| Vegetable | Start Seeds (Spring) | Plant Outdoors (Spring) | Start Seeds (Fall) | Plant Outdoors (Fall) |
| Beans (Bush) | May 15 (Direct Sow) | N/A | August 15 (Direct Sow) | N/A |
| Notes: Sow more seeds every two weeks between 5/15 and 8/15 for continual harvest. | ||||
| Vegetable | Start Seeds (Spring) | Plant Outdoors (Spring) | Start Seeds (Fall) | Plant Outdoors (Fall) |
| Beans (Pole) | May 15 (Direct Sow) | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Notes: Pole beans produce well throughout the season. | ||||
| Vegetable | Start Seeds (Spring) | Plant Outdoors (Spring) | Start Seeds (Fall) | Plant Outdoors (Fall) |
| Carrots | April 15 (Direct Sow) | N/A | August 15 (Direct Sow) | N/A |
| Notes: Sow some seed every two weeks for continual harvest. | ||||
| Vegetable | Start Seeds (Spring) | Plant Outdoors (Spring) | Start Seeds (Fall) | Plant Outdoors (Fall) |
| Radishes | May 1 (Direct Sow) | N/A | October 1 (Direct Sow) | N/A |
| Notes: Sow some seed every two weeks for continual harvest. | ||||
| Vegetable | Start Seeds (Spring) | Plant Outdoors (Spring) | Start Seeds (Fall) | Plant Outdoors (Fall) |
| Winter Squash | June 1 (Direct Sow) | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Vegetable | Start Seeds (Spring) | Plant Outdoors (Spring) | Start Seeds (Fall) | Plant Outdoors (Fall) |
| Brussels Sprouts | March 1 | April 15 | July 1 | August 15 |
Copyright 2005-2008, Colleen Vanderlinden. All Rights Reserved.
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