when to plant vegetables

Vegetables differ not only in size, color, shape, and taste, but in their preferred growing conditions, too. Understanding when to plant vegetables depends on your climate and conditions—and the vegetable itself.

Relative to climate, vegetables are divided into two groups: cool season and warm season. Here are the steps you should take into consideration when planting vegetables.

Plants are classified by the coldest temperature they can endure, using a system developed by the United States Department of Agriculture. Regions of North America have been divided into Zones based on the lowest recorded temperatures, from the coldest, Zone 1, to the warmest, Zone 11.

For example, plants hardy to Zone 6 survive where winter temperatures drop to minus 10 degrees F, while those hardy to the warmer Zone 8 die long before it gets that cold. In Zones colder than their hardiness Zone, these plants must be brought indoors over winter or treated as annuals and replaced each year.

Soil conditions and sun, shade, and wind exposure all influence a plant's ability to overwinter. Plants rated for a range of hardiness Zones can usually survive winter in the coldest region as well as tolerate the summer heat of the warmest one. To find your garden Zone, see the USDA Hardiness Zone Map.

A plant tag or seed packet will list a plant's Zone unless the plant is typically grown as an annual, meaning it grows from seed, bears fruit, and dies in one year. Tomatoes, peppers, and beans—in fact, most vegetables—are annuals.

Consider Your Microclimates

A microclimate is the climate in a small area that is different from the climate around it. This small area may be warmer or colder than the nearby area. Consider locating tender plants in microclimates that are warmer than the rest of your yard.

Houses and other buildings, plus paved surfaces, such as patios, driveways, and sidewalks, can create microclimates by absorbing heat during the day and radiating it into the landscape at night. The south side of a building is usually the warmest. The west side is also warm.

Balconies and rooftops have unique microclimates because they're above the ground. They may often escape frosts that kill plants at ground level. However, cold, dry winds may offset any heat gain.

Fences, walls, and large rocks can protect plants from wind and radiate heat.

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