As The Byrds said, to everything there is a season. Whether you're a first time gardener or a seasoned green thumb, it's important that you know when to plant certain vegetables and fruits. Of course, seasonality changes between regions. Luckily, the United States Department of Agriculture divides the country up into 11 "hardiness zones" that help you determine which plants will grow best at certain times during the year. After you find out which zone you live in, check out when plants grow best in your region. In this article, Pantano Power Equipment will cover the best planting times for Zones 1 through 6.
Tomatoes
Hardiness Zones 1 and 2 should plant tomatoes in May or June. Zones 3 and 4 should consider planting their tomatoes April through June. Tomatoes have a small window of opportunity in Zones 5 and 6. Gardeners in this region should have their tomatoes in the ground by mid to late May.
Watermelon
Unfortunately, watermelon doesn't grow well in Zone 1, but Zone 2 should plant this fruit as early as May. For Zones 3 and 4, watermelon has a short planting season. Gardeners in this region have May through June to get these seeds in the ground. To grow watermelon in Zones 5 and 6, the seeds need to planted by mid to late May.
Lettuce
For Zone 1 farmers interested in growing lettuce, they should plant the seeds in February. They can continue harvesting until late July. Zone 2 can produce lettuce anytime between April and July. Zones 3 and 4 will need to plant lettuce as early as March and can continue harvesting through June. Lettuce grows well in Zones 5 and 6. It can be planted April through May, and then again in September.
By knowing when to plant specific seeds, you can greatly increase your garden's yield.Carrots
This vegetable will grow in Zone 1 January through July. In Zone 2, carrots should be planted in March and can be harvested through mid July. Carrots seeds in Zones 3 and 4 have a short growth. Gardeners in this region have April through June. To grow carrots in Zones 5 and 6, plant the seeds by mid March through April, and then again in September.
Cucumbers
Zones 1 and 2 have similar planting times for cucumbers. Both regions require cucumber seeds to be in the ground by April by no later than June. Zones 3 and 4 are just slightly later. There, gardeners will need to plant cucumbers in May and can harvest through June. Gardeners in Zones 5 and 6 will have to be quick to grow cucumbers. The seeds should be planted here in mid to late March.
Onions
Gardeners in Zone 1 will want to plant onions between January and harvest them through May. Zone 2 gardeners have a smaller window between March and May. Mid April is the absolute best time for gardeners in Zones 3 and 4 to plant onion seeds. Onions grow relatively well in Zones 5 and 6. For the best return, gardeners in these regions should plant the seeds between late March and mid April. They can be planted again in September through December.
Pantano Power Equipment wants you to get the most out of your garden, and that's why it's outlined the best times to plant seeds by region. It also has a number of quality gardening tools to help you get the job done right. With the advice above and the right tools, your garden could produce its best output ever. Be sure to check back for part two of this article where we will cover the best planting times for Hardiness Zones 7 through 11.