When is the best time to plant vegetable seeds?
Planting vegetable seeds or transplants at the correct time is important for getting the most out of your garden. Knowing your first and last frost dates will help you start your vegetable seeds at the right time.
What can I plant in Michigan in June?
Cool weather crops that have a bit longer growing period, such as Brussels sprouts, parsnips, and artichokes, are another great option for the colder areas of Michigan. But at the end of the day, for most common garden vegetables in Michigan zones 4 and 5, planting will have to wait until things warm up in June.
When should you start a home garden?
Classic home garden produce, such as cucamelons, cayenne peppers, habanero peppers, and yellow squash are great options for mid-to-late spring planting. For warm weather crops such as these, start seedlings indoors in March. In April and May, once temperatures at night are consistently above 50 degrees, transplant established plants to the garden.
Can you grow seedlings in Michigan zones 4 and 5?
In Michigan growing zones 4 and 5, spring is considerably cold compared to most other areas. As a result, the viable growing season in these locations is fairly short. To get the most out of your garden in Michigan zones 4 and 5, seedlings should to be started indoors.
What vegetables are frost tolerant?
What vegetables are in season?
What vegetables are susceptible to frost?
How to determine when to plant seeds?
What are some vegetables that are considered Cole crops?
Who is Jasey Kelly?
Does Michigan have a cold winter?
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When should I plant my vegetables in Michigan?
In Michigan, the first frost usually occurs in the spring, so planting on Memorial Day is a good idea. Then, plant your seedlings or transplants in mid-to-late May, and cover them if temperatures dip below 40 degrees.
What can I plant now in Michigan?
From seed we can now plant peas, lettuce, parsley, spinach, swiss chard, bok choy, and onion (sets), Rebecca Finneran advises. There are also transplants at your local greenhouse that are ready to go in the ground now: celery, cabbage, broccoli, and kohlrabi.
What month do you plant tomatoes in Michigan?
MayIn Michigan, many gardeners plant tomato transplants around Memorial Day at the end of May. If you like to start your tomatoes inside from seed, it is best to start six to eight weeks before moving them outside.
What can be planted in April in Michigan?
What to Plant in April in MichiganBeets.Broccoli.Brussels sprouts.Cabbage.Carrots.Cauliflower.Kale.Lettuces.More items...•
What's the easiest vegetable to grow in Michigan?
Cucumbers. ... Beans. ... Carrots. ... Broccoli. ... Onions. ... Lettuce. Because lettuce is a cool-weather crop, it grows in Michigan. ... Radishes. Radishes are another easy-growing vegetable in your garden. ... Cabbage. Cabbage is another cool-season crop that grows in Zone 5.More items...
What month should you start a garden?
Generally March and April, when the soil begins to warm, are the best months to begin sowing many hardy annual vegetable seeds outdoors including broccoli, cabbage, chard, carrots, peas and parsnips.
What zone is Michigan?
With its northern position and being near the Great Lakes, Michigan is a little cooler than other states. Its USDA Hardiness Zones are 4, 5 and 6. The zones are cooler in the upper peninsula of the state, with Zone 4 encompassing the entire northern part of the state.
What kind of tomatoes grow best in Michigan?
Top 10 Best Tomatoes to Grow In Michigan 2022Roma Tomatoes. Day to Maturity: 50 days. ... Brandywine Tomatoes. Day to Maturity: 80 Days. ... Early Girl Tomatoes. Day to Maturity: 50 days. ... Beefsteak Tomatoes. Day to Maturity: 80 Days. ... Grape Tomatoes. Day to Maturity: 60 days. ... Celebrity Tomatoes. ... Green Zebra Tomatoes. ... Cherry Tomatoes.More items...•
When can you plant lettuce in Michigan?
Lettuce is a cooler weather crop, so it grows well in Michigan. Greens, including spinach and lettuce, need well-draining soil that are rich in nutrients. Most varieties are frost hardy, so plan to plant them outside in April.
What vegetable is easiest to grow?
10 Easiest Vegetables to Grow YourselfPeas. ... Radishes. ... Carrots. ... Cucumbers. ... Kale. ... Swiss Chard. ... Beets. ... Summer Squash (Zucchini) Summer squash and zucchini like well-composted soil and need plenty of space (plant them 3 to 6 feet apart in warm soil and lots of sun.)More items...
When should I start planting seeds in Michigan?
Generally, start planting seeds indoors 6-10 weeks before the last frost date. Michigan's last frost date is generally recognized as May 15th. Seeds are best sown directly in the garden when the soil has warmed to approximately 70 degrees. In Michigan, this is usually in May or June.
What is the last frost date in Michigan?
The last frost dates in northern Michigan are May 16 to June 30. The last frost dates in southern Michigan are May 1 to 15. A small pocket in southeastern Michigan's last frost dates is April 16 to 30. The first frost dates in northern Michigan are September 1 to 30.
Can I plant flowers in Michigan now?
In general, when there hasn't been a frost for two weeks, you are SAFE to plant your spring flowers outside in Michigan! For your reference, I have created this table for average frost dates for most major cities in Michigan.
What can I plant in fall in Michigan?
Veggie tips:VegetableDays to harvestBrussels Sprouts100Cabbage (head)80Cabbage (Chinese)80Carrots605 more rows•Jan 23, 2015
What planting zone is Michigan?
In Michigan, our hardiness zones range from 4a in the western Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Peninsula, to 6b in the southeast and along the Lake Michigan lakeshore. East Lansing, Michigan is in zone 5b (-10 to -15 F) (Figure 2).
When should I start planting seeds in Michigan?
Generally, start planting seeds indoors 6-10 weeks before the last frost date. Michigan's last frost date is generally recognized as May 15th. Seeds are best sown directly in the garden when the soil has warmed to approximately 70 degrees. In Michigan, this is usually in May or June.
What zone is Michigan in for planting seeds?
Knowing your first and last frost dates will help you start your vegetable seeds at the right time. Michigan is in the 4, 5 & 6 USDA plant hardiness zones.
What zone is Michigan in?
Michigan is in the 4, 5 & 6 USDA plant hardiness zones. *Based on statistics there is a 10% chance that frost will occur before or after these dates. Watch your local weather for more accurate dates. Michigan on average has approximately 140 days between the last and first frost. Follow the planting schedules below for when to plant tomatoes, ...
How many days between the last frost and the first frost in Michigan?
Michigan on average has approximately 140 days between the last and first frost. Follow the planting schedules below for when to plant tomatoes, peppers and other vegetables. Zone 4 Planting Schedule. Zone 5 Planting Schedule. Zone 6 Planting Schedule.
When to plant?
Many people plant after the 50 percent probability date. If you plant before this date, there is a greater chance your transplants will freeze or seeds rot and will need to be replaced.
What is heirloom seed?
Heirloom seeds are open-pollinated varieties that have been handed down for generations in a particular region or area, hand-selected by gardeners for a special trait.
What is hybrid seed?
Each seed type has something to offer depending on your needs, interests and values. Hybrid seeds are created by crossing two different parent varieties from the same species. They combine the best traits of these varieties to produce greater disease resistance, yield and uniformity.
How to grow tomatoes and lettuce?
Lettuce is shallowly rooted and will grow as living mulch atop root crops such as beets and carrots. Plant carrots around developing tomato transplants or lettuce around developing root crops such as onions or radish. You can also increase your garden’s yield by growing vining crops such as tomatoes, melons, pole beans and cucumbers on trellises or any vertical structure. Harvesting is also easier, as there’s no stooping or hunching over!
What temperature do beets germinate?
Beets, carrots and radishes will germinate at a minimum of 40 F. Planting seeds before reaching this soil temperature will result in little to no seed sprouting. See a condensed table of soil temperatures required for seed germination by University of California at Davis below.
How to keep a plant from weeding?
Apply a 1- to 3-inch layer of organic mulch around the plant’s base and not against the stem. Mulch will help maintain an even soil temperature, conserve water and help reduce competition from weeds. If transplants are tall, provide staking as necessary.
What vegetables grow best in the early season?
Cool-season vegetables such as lettuce, peas and spinach will thrive early in the season. Tomatoes, peppers and melons will perform best when air and soil temperatures are much warmer. Warm-season crops are more sensitive to late-season frosts, and may show signs of stunted growth if set out too early.
What vegetables are frost tolerant?
Many are frost-tolerant, some to temperatures as low as 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Onions ( Allium sepa ), peas ( Pisum sativum ), spinach ( Spinacia oleracea ), leafy lettuces ( Lactuca sativa) and cole crops ...
What vegetables are in season?
These include sweet corn ( Zea mays var. saccharata ), cucumbers ( Cucumis sativa ), tomatoes ( Solanum lycopersicum ), peppers ( Capsicum spp.) and melons ( Cucumis melo ); all of these are tender crops that are susceptible to frost damage or even death by frost. Cool-season vegetables, on the other hand, prefer the cooler temperatures of fall and spring. Many are frost-tolerant, some to temperatures as low as 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Onions ( Allium sepa ), peas ( Pisum sativum ), spinach ( Spinacia oleracea ), leafy lettuces ( Lactuca sativa) and cole crops ( Brassica oleracea) are all cool-season vegetables. Cole crops include kale, broccoli, cauliflower, kohlrabi and cabbage. Cool-season vegetables tend to bolt, become tough or woody or have otherwise adverse flavors or textures when grown in summer.
What vegetables are susceptible to frost?
These include sweet corn ( Zea mays var. saccharata ), cucumbers ( Cucumis sativa ), tomatoes ( Sola num lycopersicum ), peppers ( Capsicum s pp.) and melons ( Cu cumis melo ); all of these are tender crops that are susceptible to frost damage or even death by frost. Cool-season vegetables, on the other hand, prefer the cooler temperatures ...
How to determine when to plant seeds?
For fall planting, knowing the days to harvest, sometimes called days to maturity, of each crop will help you determine when to plant the seeds. The days to harvest is listed on each seed packet and determines how many days a seed takes to mature and produce harvest-ready fruit. For warm-season crops with short growing times, you can often plant twice during the summer. Subtract the days to harvest from your last average fall frost date to give you a planting date for frost-tender vegetables.
What are some vegetables that are considered Cole crops?
Cole crops include kale, broccoli, cauliflower, kohlrabi and cabbage. Cool-season vegetables tend to bolt, become tough or woody or have otherwise adverse flavors or textures when grown in summer. Advertisement.
Who is Jasey Kelly?
With a professional background in gardening, landscapes, pests and natural ecosystems, Jasey Kelly has been sharing her knowledge through writing since 2009 and has served as an expert writer in these fields. Kelly's background also includes childcare, and animal rescue and care.
Does Michigan have a cold winter?
Michigan gardeners, for example, have cold winters and sometimes late springs, depending on which part of the state they live in. Timing for warm-season, cool-season and tender crops varies greatly and relies heavily on soil temperature and frost dates. Advertisement.