Vegetable Planting Guide and Recommended Planting Dates

Author: Allen Straw, Extension Horticulturist, Southwest Virginia Agricultural Research and Extension Center

Publication Number 426-331, Revised December 2006

Recommended Planting Dates

Instructions:

To use this chart, write in the day of your average last spring frost on the line above the 00 column. From there, fill in the dates before that frost, to the left of the 00 column, each 10 days prior to the last. For example, if your average last frost date is April 15, write April 15 on the line above 00. Then write April 5 above the column marked 10 to the left of the 00 column, March 26 in the next column to the left, etc. To the right of the 00 column, write April 25, May 5, May 15, etc. Also make note of the approximate first frost date in the fall so you will know dates of end of harvest for tender crops. This will vary for different areas. For more information on fall gardens, use the fall planning calendar in Fall Vegetable Gardening, Virginia Cooperative Extension Publication 426-334.

Legend:
x = Planting Period
# = Plant and Harvest
o = Harvest Period
- = No Action
** = do not harvest freshly planted asparagus the first year
* = Transplants
+ = Use Special Two-Season Varieties Only
CROP 6
0		 5
0		 4
0		 3
0		 2
0		 1
0		 0
0		 1
0		 2
0		 3
0		 4
0		 5
0		 6
0		 7
0		 8
0		 9
0		 1
0
0		 1
1
0		 1
2
0		 1
3
0		 1
4
0		 1
5
0		 1
6
0		 1
7
0		 1
8
0		 1
9
0		 2
0
0
asparagus** x x x x x o o o o o o o - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
beans,bush - - - - - x x x x x # # # # # # o o o o o o - - - - -
beans,lima - - - - - - - - x x x x x x - o o o o o o o o - - - -
beans,pole - - - - - x x x x x x x x # # o o o o o o o - - - - -
beans,wax - - - - - x x x x x x x # # # # o o o o o o - - - - -
beets - - x x x x x - o o o o o o - - - - - - - - - - - - -
broccoli* - - - x x x x x - - o o o o o # x x - - - - o o o o -
brusselsprouts*+ - - - x x x x x - - - o o o o # # # - - - - o o o o -
cabbage* - - x x x x x - o o o o o o - x x x - - - o o o o - -
carrots - - x x x x - - o o o o o o - - - - - - - - - - - - -
cauliflower* - - - x x x - - o o o o - - - x x x x - o o o o o o -
chard,swiss - - x x x x x x o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
chinesecabbage* - - - x x - - - - - o o o o - x x x - - - o o o o o -
collards x x x x x - - - o o o o o - - x x x x - o o o o o o -
cucumbers - - - - - - x x x x x # # # # # # # # o o o o o - - -
eggplant* - - - - - - x x x x x x x x o o o o o o o o o - - - -
leeks - x x x x x - - - - - - - - o o o o o o o o o o o o o
lettuce,bibb - - x x x x x - - o o o o - - x x x - - o o o o o - -
lettuce,leaf - - x x x x x o o o o o - - - x x x - o o o o o - - -
muskmelons - - - - - - x x x x x x x o o o o o o o o o o - - - -
mustard - x x x # o o o o o - - - - - x x x x o o o o o o o o
okra - - - - - - - x x x x x x x - o o o o o o o o o - - -
onion(set) x x x x # # # # # o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
peas,garden x x x x - - o o o o o - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
peppers* - - - - - - x x x x x x x # o o o o o o o o o - - - -
potatoes - x x x x - - - - - o o o o o o o o o o o o o o - - -
pumpkins - - - - - - x x x x x x x - o o o o o o o o o o - - -
radish x x # # # # o o o o - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
rutabaga - - F A L L - P L A N T - O N L Y - - - - - - - - - -
southernpea - - - - - - - - x x x x x x x # # o o o o o o o - - -
spinach x x x x o o o o o o - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
squash,summer - - - - - - x x x x # # # # # # # # o o o o o - - - -
squash,winter - - - - - - x x x x x x x x - o o o o o o o o - - - -
sweetcorn - - - - - x x x x x x x # # # # o o o o o o o - - - -
sweetpotato - - - - - - x x x x x x - - - o o o o o o o o - - - -
tomatoes* - - - - - - x x x x x x # # o o o o o o o o o - - - -
turnips x x x x o o o o o o o - - - - x x x x o o o o o o o o
watermelon - - - - - - x x x x x - - - o o o o o o o o o - - - -

Legend:
x = Planting Period
# = Plant and Harvest
o = Harvest Period
- = No Action
** = do not harvest freshly planted asparagus the first year
* = Transplants
+ = Use Special Two-Season Varieties Only

Go to Vegetable Planting Guide for recommendations on amounts to plant.

Go to Planting Area Map to see the average date of the last frost.

Return to the Vegetable Planting Guide and Recommended Planting Dates home page.

This publication was originally authored by Diane Relf, Extension horticulturist (retired), and Alan McDaniel, associate professor, Department of Horticulture, Virginia Tech.