Vegetables
Suggested Planting Dates1
for Seed or Transplants
Suggested Cultivars
Distance Between Plants inches
Planting Depth inches
Min. Soil Temp. °F2
Days to Maturity
Asparagus (crowns) Nov. 15-Mar. 15 Mary Washington, Jersey Giant, Jersey Gem 15 6.0 ‹ 2 years
Beans, snap Apr. 15-July 15 Tenderette, Harvester, Roma II (flat), Derby, Dandy 3 1.0 60 50-55
Beans, pole Apr. 15-July 1 Kentucky Wonder 191, Blue Lake Stringless, Romano, Kentucky Blue 6 1.0 50 65-70
Beans, bush lima May 1-July 1 Fordhook 242, Bridgeton, Early Thorogreen 6 1.5 65 65-80
Beans, pole lima May 1-June 15 King of the Garden, Carolina Sieva (small) 6 1.5 65 75-95
Beets Mar. 15-Apr. 15; July 15-Aug. 15 Ruby Queen, Early Wonder, Red Ace, Pacemaker II 2 0.5 50 55-60
Broccoli3, 4 Mar. 15-31; July 15-Aug. 15 DeCicco, Packman, Premium Crop, Green Duke, Emperor 18 0.5 45 70-80
Brussels sprouts3, 4 July 1-15 Long Island Improved, Jade Cross Hybrid 20 0.5 45 90-100
Cabbage (plants)3, 4 Feb. 1-Apr.1; Aug 1-15 Round Dutch, Early Jersey Wakefield, Red Express, Red Rookie, Sweetbase 12 0.5 45 70-80
Cabbage, Chinese Mar. 15-Apr. 1; Aug. 1-15 Pak Choi, Mei Ching, Jade Pagoda, China Pride 12 0.5 50 75-85
Cantaloupe Apr. 20-June 1 Classic, Magnum 45, Ambrosia, Honey Brew 24 1.0 70 85-99
Carrots Feb. 15-Mar. 1; July 1-15 Danvers Half Long, Spartan Bonus, Little Finger, Thumbelina, Scarlet Nantes 2 0.25 45 85-95
Cauliflower3, 4 Mar. 15-31; Aug 1-15 Early Snowball "A", Violet Queen, Snowcrown 18 0.5 45 55-65
Collards3, 4 July 15-Aug. 15 Vates, Morris' Improved Heading, Carolina, Blue Max 18 0.5 45 60-100
Corn, sweet Apr. 15-June 1 Silver Queen, Seneca Chief, Honey 'N Pearl, How Sweet It Is, Bodacious, Merit 12 1.5 50 85-90
Cucumbers, pickling Apr. 20-May 15; Aug. 1-15 Carolina, Calypso, Liberty (mtns.), County Fair '83 10 1.0 65 40-50
Cucumbers, slicing Apr. 20-May 15; Aug. 1-15 Poinsett 76, Sweet Slice, County Fair '83, Salad Bush, Fanfare 10 1.0 65 40-50
Eggplant (plants)3, 4 May 1-31 Florida Highbush, Special Hibush, Ichiban, Rosa Bianco 24 0.5 70 80-85
Kale Mar. 1-Apr. 1; Aug. 15-Sept. 1 Green Curled Scotch, Early Siberian, Vates, Dwarf Blue Curled Scotch, Blue Knight 6 0.5 45 40-50
Kohlrabi Mar. 1-Apr. 15; Aug. 1-Sept. 1 White Vienna, Grand Duke Hybrid 4 0.5 55 50-60
Lettuce (leaf) Mar. 1-Apr. 1; Aug. 1-Sept. 1 Grand Rapids, Salad Bowl, Buttercrunch, Red Sails, Romulus 6 0.25 45 40-50
Lettuce (head) Feb. 15-Mar. 15; Aug. 15-31 Great Lakes, Ithaca 10 0.25 45 70-85
Mustard Mar. 1-Apr. 1; Aug. 1-Sept. 15 Southern Giant Curled, Tendergreen, Savannah 2 0.5 40 30-40
Onions (seeds) Jan. 15-Mar. 31; Sept. 1-30 Texas 1015, Granex 33, Candy 4 0.5 50 130-150
Onions (sets or plants) Feb. 1-Mar. 15; Sept. 1-15 Ebenezer, Excell, Early Grano 4 ‹ ‹ 60-80
Okra May 1-31 Clemson Spineless, Lee, Annie Oakley, Burgundy 12 1.0 70 60-70
Peas (edible-podded) Jan. 1-Mar. 15 Sugar Snap, Mammoth Melting Sugar, Snowbird, Sugar Bon 1 1.0 40 60-70
Peas, garden Jan. 1-Mar. 15 Wando, Green Arrow, Freezonian, Tall Telephone 1 1.0 40 65-70
Peas, southern May 1-July 1 Dixilee, Mississippi Silver, Colossus, Hercules, Mississippi Purple Hull 4 1.0 70 55-65
Peppers, sweet (plants)3, 4 May 1-31 California Wonder, Yolo Wonder, Pimento, Mexi Bell, Jingle Bells, King Arthur, Lilac Bell, Lemon Bell 18 0.5 65 75-80
Peppers, hot (plants)3, 4 May 1-31 Red Chili, Cayenne, Hungarian Yellow Wax, Super Chili, Super Cayenne, Mitla, Surefire, Biscayne, Habanero, Thai Dragon 15 0.5 65 75-80
Potatoes (Irish) Feb. 15-Apr. 1 Kennebec, Red Pontiac, Yukon Gold, Superior 10 5.0 40 95-120
Pumpkins Apr. 15-June 15 Autumn Gold, Howden's Field, Spookie (small), Baby Bear, Connecticut Field, Big Moon (big), Jack Be Little (dwarf) 48 1.5 70 115-120
Radishes Feb. 1-Apr. 1; Aug. 15-Sept. 15 Early Scarlet Globe, Cherry Belle, Snowbells, White Icicle 1 0.5 45 25-30
Radish, Diakon Feb. 1-Apr. 1; Aug. 15-Sept. 15 April Cross, H. N. Cross 4 0.5 50 60-75
Rutabagas Feb. 1-Apr. 1; July 1-Aug. 1 American Purple Top, Laurentian 4 0.5 60 70-80
Spinach Feb. 15-Mar. 15; Aug. 1-15 Hybrid 7, Dark Green Bloomsdale, Tyee Hybrid 6 0.5 45 50-60
Squash, summer Apr. 15-May 15; Aug. 1-15 Seneca Prolific (yellow), Zucchini Elite (green), Sun Drop, Goldbar, Sunburst, Peter Pan 24 1.5 60 50-60
Squash, winter Apr. 15-May 15; Aug. 1-15 Sweet Mama, Early Butternut, Spaghetti, Cream of the Crop, Table Ace, Lakota, Butterbush 36 1.0 60 70-95
Sweetpotatoes4 May 15-June 15 Porto Rico 198, Jewel 10 ‹ 70 95-125
Swiss chard Mar. 15-May 1 Lucullus, Rhubarb Chard 6 0.5 50 60-70
Tomatoes (plants)3, 4 Apr. 20-July 15 Whopper5, Mountain Pride, Celebrity5, Better Boy5, Husky Gold, Patio, Big Beef5, Golden Boy 18 0.5 60 75-85
Turnips Feb. 1-Apr. 15; Aug. 1-31 Purple Top White Globe, Just Right, Tokyo Cross Hybrid, White Egg, All Top 2 0.5 60 55-60
Watermelons Apr. 15-June 1 Congo, Sweet Princess, Golden Crown, Yellow Doll, Tiger Baby
 60 1.5 70 90-100


1 Dates shown are for the upper coastal plain and lower piedmont. In western North Carolina delay planting 10 to 20 days in spring. In eastern North Carolina plant 7 to 14 days earlier in the spring and 7 to 10 days later in the fall.
2 At these temperatures germination and emergence should be rapid. Planting at lower soil temperatures would delay or prevent germination.
3 Seeding depths and soil temperatures are given for gardeners who wish to grow their own plants.
4 Set plants with at least 50 percent of their length below ground.
5 Carries resistance to verticillium wilt, fusarium wilt, and root-knot nematodes.

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