I know that July is probably too late, but when is the best time to plant a vegetable garden in New England?

Question

I would like to grow tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, just to start.

Answer 1

Where in New England are you? If you are in the southern New England states, or in the southern parts of the northern states, you could try getting started today.

Tomatoes need to be started from seed in March or April. They can be transplanted outdoors after the last frost (generally around June 1 in much of New England). Fortunately, nursery growers already thought of that. A few nurseries, Agway, or hardware stores may still have a few tomato starts left. Call up today and try to find them. Get them in the ground by the end of this week, if possible.

Cucumbers like to be started either in May or early June. They are very sensitive to frost, so early starts must be indoors, and they can't go outside until all danger of frost is over (after June 1, around here). Again, many nurseries carry cucumber starts and you may be able to find some that are already well along, although they will be harder to locate than tomato starts at this time of year.

Onion seeds need to be started in January or February, but most people grow onions from sets (which are small bulbs started last year). Onions sets can be put out as early as April. But if you put some out this week, you might get some moderately sized onions by fall. Check with Agway or other feed stores for onion sets.

Other vegetables that you could put out right now are: pepper seedlings, lettuce seed, spinach seed, mustard green seed, radish seed, brussels sprouts seedlings, broccoli seedlings, dill seed, coriander seed, perhaps even kale seed.

Since time is short, you may run up against the frost in the fall before your vegetables are ripe. Be prepared with old sheets to cover the tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers. Brussels sprouts taste best after they get frosted, and the other plants can take the frost as well. If you don't think you will have enough time before the frost for tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers to mature, grow them in self-watering containers. That way, you can move the containers inside at night in the fall.

Answer 2

i think that new england is a cold state, am right? this might be the best time to plant for you. when does it warm up there? you can buy already started plants from a greenhouse, and at least enjoy some fruits of your labor. lettuce grows fast, too. you can get some good young green onions, cucumbers take a little longer. the best way for you to find out is to just jump in there, plant what you want, and see what happens. in ohio i had tomatoes growing past october.might have been a mild season, not sure.

Answer 3

Most vegetables are best started indoors and transplanted to the garden in late May or early June. Of course onion sets may be planted directly in the garden in early May. And cucumbers grow like weeds whenever and wherever you plant them! I've always planted a little bit of everything directly in the garden in mid-April, just in case the weather cooperates. I never expect anything to do well, but once in a while I am pleasantly surprised! Good luck.

Answer 4

The advice from the pros is to plant seedlings in the colder climates (like yours) to help give them a head start in places with shorter growing seasons. Also, they say to plant them after the last average frost would occur. Here in Minnesota, it's about mid May. However, I always get too excited to get my hands into the dirt after a long cold winter, so I usually push it a few weeks earlier and cover them if we get a frost advisory.

Make sure you have plenty of room, and lots of sunshine, as cukes and tomatoes like hot, humid weather and warm soil. I like to help the tomatoes out by putting black plastic around the base. This way, the sun warms our frozen soil more quickly so the plant grows at a faster rate.
So while it is too late to get started this year with a good garden, take this time to read up a bit and plan where your garden will be for next year, what time you get your last frost, and what you will put in your garden. My advice is to visit a local nursery and ask the oldest gardener there. They have experience and knowledge to help you further.

Happy eating!

Answer 5

Here in the midwest we start gardening around the end of February to the beginning of March with potatoes. Potatoes are started earliest. Late March to Early April is about the earliest you can start planting other stuff. You may want to start them in a window box or put a wall-o-water around them to help the early plants from dying to the frost. Mid-April is when you should be able to start planting in full swing so you can get the most out of your garden. Onions also need to be planted early especially if they are started from seed. Peanuts are also something that needs to be planted early.

An easy way is to figure when you want the plants to have vegetables by an work backwards. Sweet corn takes about 70 days. So if you wanted sweet corn by the 4th of July, you are looking at planting in mid-April.

Also you want to stage your plants like green beans and sweet corn. Plant one crop. Then another about 1-2 weeks later. That way you have vegetables ready to pick for most of the summer.

Answer 6

Try to start your plants inside , about 6- 8 weeks before last frost
( which is , here in Massachusetts , about the first of April )
If you plan on buying your plants started , you can buy them early , to get the best selection , but don't plan on really puting anything other than peas in the ground till about Memorial Day . I sneek my plants in a couple weeks early by driving wood stakes in a row along my plants , and then build a tent over them with plastic, which protects them from frost. Anchor the ends well , or the wind may well take your tent ...
Please feel free to check out my garden group , at :

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PlayingInTheDirt/

..LOTS of good info and helpful people there ...

Answer 7

Look on the back of the Seeds package, it shows when to plant- but most likely for NE is late may and June- after the danger of the last Frost- you can start the plants inside much earlier -

Answer 8

In Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut you can plant radishes in the middle of August for a September harvest. Also some types of lettuce can be grown in window boxes that are movable (keep out of very hot sun) at this time of year.

Answer 9

hello been a gardener for 50 yrs may 15 is the date we go by here in western mass, near greenfield

Answer 10

Go to the store and get you a Farmer's Almanac