When to Plant
For most annual vegetables, planting time is the week after the last date of frost in your zone. Even if you’re familiar with it, check it again. Seasons have shifted, and now we experience frosts a lot later in the year than we used to. Remember the May snow from three years ago?
This poses a problem for the vegetable gardener, because, judging by the timetables below, waiting until mid-May to plant all but guarantees nothing will ripen by the fall equinox, when plants stop production and begin slowing down for the winter no matter how warm the weather.
Start vegetables in pods indoors as early as February, or outside in greenhouses or cold frames when the soil can be worked.
Plant trees and shrubs when dormant, in early or late winter.
Plant hard wheat with the first snow and the rest of the grains as soon as the soil can be worked in spring.
Plant cold weather plants like asparagus, peas, garlic and onions in early spring and again in late fall.
One last thought, for those who garden by the moon, plant leafy and fruit crops during its first quarter and root vegetables after the full moon.
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