| Lettuce | Radishes |
| Melons | Soybeans |
| Okra | Spinach |
| Onion | Squash |
| Peas | Tomatoes |
| Peppers | Turnips |
| Pumpkins | Watermelons |
Back to the Gardener's Handbook Index
Lettuce, Head
Sow directly in the garden, or indoors for transplants. When transplanting, minimize shock by pinching or removing larger leaves. Fertilize at planting time, and again 4 weeks later. Harvest when centers are firm.
| Spring or Fall Gardens, Directly Sown in Ground, Indoors for Transplant | |
| 25 feet of Row | 1/8 oz. |
| Sewing Depth | 1/8 in. |
| Space Between Plants | 8 in. |
| Space Between Rows | 18 in. |
| Days to Maturity | 57-80 |
| Yield per 25 feet of Row | 20-25 heads |
Lettuce, Leaf
Fertilize at planting time and again 4 weeks later. Harvest entire plant or pick outside leaves when ready; new ones will form from the center.
| Spring or Fall Gardens, Directly Sown in Ground | |
| 25 feet of Row | 1/8 oz. |
| Sewing Depth | 1/8 in. |
| Space Between Plants | 3 in. |
| Space Between Rows | 12 in. |
| Days to Maturity | 40-58 |
| Yield per 25 feet of Row | 12 lbs. |
Melon
See Cucumber. Keep well-watered when growing, but on the dry side when ripening. Cantaloupes (Muskmelons) are ready when the stem slips easily from the melon with slight pressure. Honeydews and some Cantaloupes turn pale yellow or tan when ripe.
| Summer Garden, Directly Sown in Ground, Indoors for Transplant | |
| 25 feet of Row | 30 seed |
| Sewing Depth | 1/2 in. |
| Space Between Plants | *18 in. |
| Space Between Rows | 48 in. |
| Days to Maturity | 75-110 |
| Yield per 25 feet of Row | 12-20 fruit |
| *Can also sow 3-5 seeds in hills 4 feet apart (6 feet for pumpkins) and thin to 2-3 per hill. | |
Okra
Likes a long, warm growing season. May need to sow indoors 4 to 6 weeks before planting outdoors for northern areas. Fertilize at planting time, and again when 12 inches tall. Harvest pods when young and tender (3 to 4 inches long). Do not allow pods to mature or plants will cease production.
| Summer Garden, Directly Sown in Ground | |
| 25 feet of Row | 1/2 oz. |
| Sewing Depth | 3/4 in. |
| Space Between Plants | 12 in. |
| Space Between Rows | 30 in. |
| Days to Maturity | 50-75 |
| Yield per 25 feet of Row | 25 lbs. |
Onion
Can also be planted from sets or transplants. Fertilize at sowing time. Use thinnings for green onions. When tops fall, pull onions and allow to dry before storing. In Zone 8 and further south, may be sown outdoors in fall for spring harvest.
| Spring or Fall Gardens, Directly Sown in Ground, Indoors for Transplant | |
| 25 feet of Row | 1/8 oz. |
| Sewing Depth | 1/4 in. |
| Space Between Plants | 4 in. |
| Space Between Rows | 12 in. |
| Days to Maturity | 75-150 |
| Yield per 25 feet of Row | 15-20 lbs. |
Pea, Garden
Dust with innoculant before sowing. Plant taller varieties in a double row flanking a trellis, with 30 inches between each double row. Peas fresh from the garden have exceptional flavor. Harvest edible-podded types when young, before seeds form fully. Fertilize at planting time.
| Summer Garden, Directly Sown in Ground | |
| 25 feet of Row | 2 oz. |
| Sewing Depth | 1 in. |
| Space Between Plants | 2 in. |
| Space Between Rows | 24 in. |
| Days to Maturity | 50-80 |
| Yield per 25 feet of Row | 6-10 lbs. shelled |
Pepper
Fertilize lightly at planting time and again lightly after 6 weeks. Avoid heavy applications of fertilizer. Peppers can be harvested when mature and red or yellow, but are most often picked when green, as soon as the fruit is firm.
| Summer Garden, Indoors for Transplant | |
| 25 feet of Row | 15 plants |
| Sewing Depth | 1/4 in. |
| Space Between Plants | 18 in. |
| Space Between Rows | 24 in. |
| Days to Maturity | 60-100 |
| Yield per 25 feet of Row | 15 lbs. |
Pumpkin
See Cucumber. Allow more space for pumpkins than for cucumbers or melons. When the desired number of fruit has set, end of vine can be pinched off to prevent additional fruit production and encourage large fruit size. Harvest when rind is hard enough it can't be penetrated with a fingernail.
| Summer Garden, Directly Sown in Ground, Indoors for Transplant | |
| 25 feet of Row | 20 seed |
| Sewing Depth | 1 in. |
| Space Between Plants | *24 in. |
| Space Between Rows | 60 in. |
| Days to Maturity | 50-75 |
| Yield per 25 feet of Row | 25 lbs. |
| *Can also sow 3-5 seeds in hills 6 feet apart and thin to 2-3 per hill. | |
Radish
Harvest when crisp and mild (before roots become pithy). Excellent to interplant with slower germinating crops to mark rows.
| Spring or Fall Gardens, Directly Sown in Ground | |
| 25 feet of Row | 1/4 oz. |
| Sewing Depth | 1/4 in. |
| Space Between Plants | 1 in. |
| Space Between Rows | 12 in. |
| Days to Maturity | 25-35 |
| Yield per 25 feet of Row | 25 bunches |
Soybean
Dust seed with Legume-Aid before sowing. Fertilize at planting time and again when plants are 8 to 10 inches high. Soybeans require a long, warm growing season. Harvest immature beans when pods are plump and seeds are full size but still green, or for dry use, pick when fully mature.
| Summer Garden, Directly Sown in Ground | |
| 25 feet of Row | 2 oz. |
| Sewing Depth | 1 in. |
| Space Between Plants | 3 in. |
| Space Between Rows | 24 in. |
| Days to Maturity | 80-115 |
| Yield per 25 feet of Row | 12-15 lbs. |
Spinach
Does well in cool weather. Soil should be kept moist. Best in soil of nearly neutral pH.
| Spring or Fall Gardens, Directly Sown in Ground | |
| 25 feet of Row | 1/4 oz. |
| Sewing Depth | 1/2 in. |
| Space Between Plants | 4 in. |
| Space Between Rows | 15 in. |
| Days to Maturity | 40-50 |
| Yield per 25 feet of Row | 14 lbs. |
Squash, Summer
See Cucumber. If planting in hills, space hills 4 feet apart and thin to 2 plants per hill. Pick fruit when small (4 to 6 inches) for best flavor and continued production.
| Summer Garden, Directly Sown in Ground, Indoors for Transplant | |
| 25 feet of Row | 20 seed |
| Sewing Depth | 1 in. |
| Space Between Plants | *24 in. |
| Space Between Rows | 48 in. |
| Days to Maturity | 50-70 |
| Yield per 25 feet of Row | 20-25 lbs. |
| *Can also sow 3-5 seeds in hills 4 feet apart and thin to 2-3 per hill. | |
Squash, Winter
See Cucumber. If planting in hills, space hills 4 to 6 feet apart, and thin to 2 plants per hill. Harvest after vines die or just before frost, when skin is tough. Cut squash, leaving 2 to 3 inches of stem attached to fruit and allow to cure with plenty of air circulation before storing under low humidity at 50 to 55° F.
| Summer Garden, Directly Sown in Ground, Indoors for Transplant | |
| 25 feet of Row | 20 seed |
| Sewing Depth | 1 in. |
| Space Between Plants | *30 in. |
| Space Between Rows | 60 in. |
| Days to Maturity | 85-120 |
| Yield per 25 feet of Row | 75-100 lbs. |
| *Can also sow 3-5 seeds in hills 4 feet apart and thin to 2-3 per hill. | |
Tomato
Set plants deeper than in the original container. Tall or leggy plants can be planted by stripping away all but the top leaves, and laying the plant horizontally in a shallow trough, with only the upper leaves above the soil. Mulch, after the soil has warmed, to maintain even soil temperature and moisture. A light side-dressing of fertilizer may be applied when first blossoms appear. Soil should be well-limed before planting -- this and even moisture levels will help prevent Blossom-End Rot. Avoid use of tobacco products near tomatoes. Select varieties with genetic resistance to disease. Harvest when red and juicy. At end of season, pick green tomatoes before frost, wrap in a single layer of newspaper and bring indoors to ripen.
| Summer Garden, Indoors for Transplant | |
| 25 feet of Row | 12 plants |
| Sewing Depth | 1/4 in. |
| Space Between Plants | 24 in. |
| Space Between Rows | 36 in. |
| Days to Maturity | 53-90 |
| Yield per 25 feet of Row | 37-63 lbs. |
Turnip
Fertilize at planting time and again when plants are 4 inches tall. Keep well-watered. Harvest when roots are 2 to 3 inches across. Leaves are also highly edible when young.
| Summer Garden, Indoors for Transplant | |
| 25 feet of Row | 1/16 oz. |
| Sewing Depth | 1/4 in. |
| Space Between Plants | 3 in. |
| Space Between Rows | 12 in. |
| Days to Maturity | 35-60 |
| Yield per 25 feet of Row | 25-28 lbs. |
Watermelon
See Cucumber. If grown in hills, space hills 4 to 6 feet apart and thin to 2 plants per hill. Keep well-watered when growing, but on the dry side when fruit is ripening. Several clues indicate ripeness -- thumping on the side of the fruit should produce a dull rather than a sharp sound; the side of the fruit touching the ground will turn from white or light yellow to gold, and the tendril next to the point of attachment of stem and vine will turn brown and die. Seedless watermelons require special care for good germination. They usually do best sown indoors and set out soon after germination. This allows control of moisture and temperature levels. To avoid disturbing the roots, sow seeds in individual Jiffy Pots or Jiffy 7's. Avoid excess water during germination. Allow sowing medium to drain for 24 hours before sowing and after sowing, cover with clear plastic to avoid having to rewater. Maintain a warm temperature; 85° F is best during germination, dropped to 75° F after growth emerges. Set out after 1 to 2 true leaves appear.
| Summer Garden, Directly Sown in Ground, Indoors for Transplant | |
| 25 feet of Row | 30 seed |
| Sewing Depth | 1 in. |
| Space Between Plants | *24 in. |
| Space Between Rows | 48 in. |
| Days to Maturity | 75-100 |
| Yield per 25 feet of Row | 10 fruit |
| *Can also sow 3-5 seeds in hills 4 feet apart and thin to 2-3 per hill. | |
