Growing Vegetables

A practical guide to cultivating food crops.

Vegetable Categories

By Growing Season

Category	Temperature	Examples
Cool season	40-70°F	Lettuce, peas, broccoli, spinach
Warm season	65-85°F	Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, beans
Hot season	70-95°F	Melons, sweet potatoes, okra

By Plant Type

Type	Characteristics	Examples
Fruiting	Produce edible fruit	Tomatoes, peppers, squash
Leafy	Eat the leaves	Lettuce, spinach, kale
Root	Eat the root	Carrots, radishes, beets
Brassicas	Cole crops family	Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower
Alliums	Onion family	Onions, garlic, leeks
Legumes	Nitrogen fixers	Beans, peas, lentils
Cucurbits	Vine crops	Cucumbers, squash, melons

Starting Seeds vs Transplants

When to Start from Seed

Situation	Examples
Direct sow only	Carrots, beans, peas, corn
Succession planting	Lettuce, radishes
Large quantities needed	Beans, squash
Cost savings	Most crops

When to Buy Transplants

Situation	Examples
Long growing season needed	Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant
Beginner gardener	Start with transplants
Limited indoor space	Can't start indoors
Just a few plants	Not worth starting seeds

Starting Seeds Indoors

Factor	Details
Timing	Check packet (usually 6-8 weeks before transplant)
Light	14-16 hours under grow lights
Temperature	65-75°F for germination
Medium	Sterile seed-starting mix
Containers	Cell trays, pots with drainage
Watering	Keep moist, not soggy
Hardening off	Gradual outdoor exposure before transplanting

Direct Sowing

Step	Instructions
1. Prepare soil	Rake smooth, remove debris
2. Follow depth	Usually 2x seed diameter
3. Space properly	Per packet instructions
4. Water gently	Keep moist until germination
5. Thin seedlings	Remove extras at proper spacing

Popular Vegetables

Tomatoes

Aspect	Details
Type	Warm season, fruiting
Sun	Full sun (8+ hours)
Spacing	24-36" apart
Days to harvest	60-85 (from transplant)
Support	Cage, stake, or trellis

Types:

Type	Growth Habit	Best For
Determinate	Bush, stops growing	Containers, canning
Indeterminate	Keeps growing	Fresh eating, season-long
Cherry	Small fruit	Snacking, salads
Slicing	Large fruit	Sandwiches, fresh eating
Paste	Meaty, less juice	Sauce, canning

Common issues:

Problem	Cause	Solution
Blossom end rot	Calcium/water issue	Consistent watering, calcium
Cracking	Irregular watering	Even watering
Blossom drop	Temperature extremes	Be patient, will recover
Hornworm	Large caterpillar	Hand pick

Peppers

Aspect	Details
Type	Warm season, fruiting
Sun	Full sun (6-8 hours)
Spacing	18-24" apart
Days to harvest	60-90 (from transplant)
Support	May need stake when heavy

Types:

Category	Examples	Heat Level
Sweet	Bell, banana, pimento	None
Mild	Poblano, Anaheim	Low
Medium	Jalapeño, serrano	Medium
Hot	Habanero, cayenne	High

Cucumbers

Aspect	Details
Type	Warm season, vine
Sun	Full sun (6+ hours)
Spacing	12-18" (vining on trellis)
Days to harvest	50-70
Support	Trellis recommended

Tips:

Harvest frequently (promotes production)
Don't let fruits get too large
Need consistent water
Bitter taste = stress or old fruit

Squash (Summer and Winter)

Type	Examples	Days to Harvest
Summer	Zucchini, yellow, pattypan	45-65
Winter	Butternut, acorn, spaghetti	80-110

Tips:

One plant produces a LOT
Harvest summer squash small (6-8")
Pollination issues = hand pollinate
Watch for squash vine borer

Beans

Type	Growth	Support	Days
Bush	Compact	None	50-60
Pole	Climbing	Trellis/poles	60-70

Tips:

Direct sow after soil warms
Don't handle wet plants (spreads disease)
Harvest regularly for more production
Fix nitrogen (good for soil)

Leafy Greens

Crop	Days	Notes
Lettuce	30-60	Cut and come again
Spinach	40-50	Bolts in heat
Kale	50-65	Cold tolerant, cut outer leaves
Swiss chard	50-60	Heat tolerant, harvest outer
Arugula	40-50	Spicy, reseeds

Tips:

Cool season crops
Succession plant for continuous harvest
Shade in summer heat
Bolting = seed production (bitter leaves)

Root Vegetables

Crop	Spacing	Days	Notes
Carrots	2-3"	70-80	Deep, loose soil
Radishes	1-2"	25-35	Fast, easy
Beets	3-4"	50-65	Eat roots and greens
Turnips	4-6"	45-60	Fast, cool season

Tips:

Loose, rock-free soil essential
Thin to proper spacing
Don't transplant root crops
Consistent moisture

Brassicas

Crop	Spacing	Days	Season
Broccoli	18-24"	55-80	Cool
Cabbage	12-18"	70-100	Cool
Cauliflower	18-24"	55-80	Cool
Brussels sprouts	24"	90-120	Cold tolerant

Tips:

Start indoors or buy transplants
Watch for cabbage worms
Row covers protect from pests
Frost improves flavor

Alliums

Crop	Planting	Harvest
Onions	Sets or transplants, early spring	When tops fall over
Garlic	Cloves, fall planting	Following summer
Leeks	Transplants	When 1" diameter

Tips:

Long growing season
Plant garlic in fall for best bulbs
Don't water near harvest
Cure before storage

Succession Planting

What It Is

Planting the same crop at intervals for continuous harvest.

Crop	Interval	Season
Lettuce	Every 2 weeks	Spring through fall
Radishes	Every 1-2 weeks	Spring and fall
Bush beans	Every 3 weeks	Summer
Carrots	Every 3 weeks	Spring through summer

Crop Rotation

Why Rotate

Reason	Benefit
Disease prevention	Pathogens don't build up
Pest management	Breaks pest cycles
Nutrient balance	Different needs/contributions
Soil health	Variety benefits soil

Basic Rotation Plan

Year	Bed 1	Bed 2	Bed 3	Bed 4
1	Nightshades	Brassicas	Legumes	Root crops
2	Brassicas	Legumes	Root crops	Nightshades
3	Legumes	Root crops	Nightshades	Brassicas
4	Root crops	Nightshades	Brassicas	Legumes

Family Groupings

Family	Members
Nightshades	Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, potatoes
Brassicas	Broccoli, cabbage, kale, cauliflower
Cucurbits	Cucumbers, squash, melons
Legumes	Beans, peas
Alliums	Onions, garlic, leeks
Umbellifers	Carrots, parsley, celery

Harvesting

General Guidelines

Principle	Application
Harvest in morning	Coolest, most hydrated
Harvest frequently	Promotes more production
Don't wait too long	Most vegetables best young
Use sharp tools	Clean cuts heal better
Handle gently	Bruising leads to rot

Specific Timing

Crop	When to Harvest
Tomatoes	Full color, slight give
Peppers	Any color for green, full color for sweet
Cucumbers	Before yellowing, 6-8"
Zucchini	6-8" long, daily check
Beans	Before seeds bulge, tender
Lettuce	Before bolting, outer leaves
Carrots	Shoulders at soil level
Broccoli	Before flowers open

Common Problems

Pest Management

Pest	Crops Affected	Organic Control
Aphids	Many	Water spray, ladybugs
Tomato hornworm	Tomatoes, peppers	Hand pick
Cabbage worm	Brassicas	Bt, row covers
Squash bug	Cucurbits	Hand pick eggs, neem
Flea beetle	Brassicas, eggplant	Row covers
Cutworm	Transplants	Collars around stems

Disease Prevention

Practice	Benefit
Crop rotation	Breaks disease cycle
Spacing	Air circulation
Water at base	Keeps leaves dry
Remove sick plants	Stops spread
Clean tools	Prevents transmission
Resistant varieties	Genetic protection

Key Takeaways

Match crops to season - Cool vs warm season matters
Start with easy crops - Build skills gradually
Provide proper spacing - Plants need room
Water consistently - Most problems from irregular water
Harvest frequently - Promotes more production
Rotate crops - Prevents disease buildup
Keep records - Learn from each season