Farm & Garden - Growing Vegetables

Growing Winter Squash

Sat, 20 Aug 2005 09:09:31 -0600

Family: Cucurbitaceae
Genus and Species: Cucurbita pepo

Climate

Winter squash needs 3 months of warm, frost free conditions to produce fruit. Winter squash plants are frost sensitive. Winter squash fruits will tolerate a light frost.

Growing Tomatoes

Sat, 20 Aug 2005 09:09:06 -0600

Family: Solanaceae
Genus and Species: Lycopersicon lycopersicum

Climate

Tomatoes are a hot weather crop. Tomatoes came from the tropics so it stands to reason that tomatoes like heat and humidity.

Growing Tomatillos

Sat, 20 Aug 2005 09:07:01 -0600

Family: Solanaceae
Genus and Species: Physalis ixocarpa

Climate

Tomatillos are a hot weather crop. Tomatillos need good soil, water, and heat to do well.

Growing Sweet Corn

Sat, 20 Aug 2005 09:05:01 -0600

Family: Gramineae
Genus and Species: Zea mays

Climate

Sweet corn is a warm season crop that requires a minimum soil temperature of 50°F for soil germination. For maximum growth and yield plant sweet corn in full sun.

Growing Summer Squash

Sat, 20 Aug 2005 09:01:51 -0600

Family: Cucurbitaceae
Genus and Species: Cucurbita pepo

Climate

Summer squash is extremely frost sensitive. Summer squash needs 3 months of warm, frost free conditions to produce fruit.

Growing Spinach

Sat, 20 Aug 2005 08:59:39 -0600

Family: Chenopodiaceae
Genus and Species: Spinacia oleracea

Climate

Spinach is a cool season crop that likes damp conditions. Spinach is one of the first greens up in the spring. Sow spinach seed in a sunny spot in the fall or spring for a spring harvest. Spinach prefers partial to full sun. But can't tolerate hot weather.

Growing Scallions

Sat, 20 Aug 2005 08:55:17 -0600

Family: Liliaceae
Genus and Species: Allium fistulosum

Climate

Scallions will grow in many climates. The most important factor for growing scallions is the amount of daylight they receive.

Growing Rutabaga

Sat, 20 Aug 2005 08:55:13 -0600

Family: Brassicaceae
Genus and Species: Brassica napus

Climate

Rutabagas can be grown as summer or fall crops in cool regions or as winter crops in warmer locales. Rutabagas need cool temperatures, even frosts, to finish perfecting their hearty flavor. Rutabagas do best in full sun although they will tolerate light shade.

Growing Radishes

Sat, 20 Aug 2005 08:52:29 -0600

Family: Brassicaceae
Genus and Species: Raphanus sativus

Climate

Radishes grow best in the cool months of early spring and early summer or in the autumn and winter. If radishes are grown in too much heat with sporadic watering, they will become spicy and tough. Given the right climactic conditions: cool temperatures and moist soil, radishes will be a tender crop.

Growing Radicchio

Sat, 20 Aug 2005 08:48:12 -0600

Family: Asteraceae
Genus and Species: Cichorium intybus

Climate

Radicchio grows well during the cooler spring and summer months in many locations. If radicchio matures during the warmest months of summer, the leaves turn bitter. Radicchio grown in the autumn or over the winter retains its sweet flavor. In cold climates, grow radicchio in a cold frame for continual harvest throughout the cold months.

Growing Pumpkins

Sat, 20 Aug 2005 08:46:39 -0600

Family: Cucurbitaceae
Genus and Species: Cucurbita pepo

Climate

Pumpkins are a warm season crop that need good soil, a lot of sun, and plenty of room to grow. Pumpkins are frost sensitive, but fast growing so they do well even in short growing season areas.

Growing Potatoes

Sat, 20 Aug 2005 08:44:34 -0600

Family: Solanaceae
Genus and Species: Solanum tuberosum

Climate

Potatoes are a cool weather crop. If you live in a cool climate, plant potatoes in early spring three weeks before the last frost. If you live in a warm to temperate region, plant your potatoes in late winter. In a truly hot climate, plant potatoes in the fall to grow over the winter.

Growing Pole Beans

Sat, 20 Aug 2005 08:41:19 -0600

Family: Fabaceae
Genus and Species: Phaseolus vulgaris

Climate

Pole beans are very easy to grow, as they will tolerate a variety of climates as long as there is good sunlight available. An air temperature of 70°F-80°F and a soil temperature of at least 60°F is ideal for beans.

Growing Peas

Sat, 20 Aug 2005 08:39:42 -0600

Family: Fabaceae
Genus and Species: Pisum sativum var. macrocarpon

Climate

Peas are a cool climate crop and prefer the cooler moist days of spring. Make sure you choose a variety or cultivar suited to your region. Grow peas during the cooler days of late spring and early summer. If growing peas during the summer choose a partly shady area.

Growing Parsnips

Sat, 20 Aug 2005 08:35:00 -0600

Family: Umbelliferae
Genus and Species: Pastinaca sativa

Climate

Parsnips require a long growing period but can still be grown in many climates. In warm climates, plant parsnips in the fall for a spring harvest. In cool climates, plant them in the spring for harvest the next spring. A hard frost or over-wintering will increase the flavor of parsnips significantly.