Vegetable Gardening: Keep Your Garden Growing — Plant from Spring to Fall

Maine Vegetable Gardening: Keep Your Garden Growing — Plant from Spring to Fall (PDF)

Early Spring Midspring Early Summer Midsummer to Fall
Plant as soon as the ground can be worked. Plant two weeks before the average last frost date. Plant when soil and sun are warm. Plant in late June-early July
PLANTS:

  • Broccoli
  • Cabbage
 PLANTS:

  • Cauliflower
 PLANTS:

  • Eggplant
  • Pepper
  • Tomato
 PLANTS:

  • Beet
  • Broccoli
  • Carrot
  • Cauliflower
  • Lettuce
  • Radish
SEEDS:

  • Endive
  • Lettuce
  • Onion Sets
  • Pea
  • Radish
  • Spinach
  • Turnip
 SEEDS:

  • Beet
  • Carrot
  • Onion Sets
  • Parsnips
  • Swiss Chard
 SEEDS:

  • Cucumber
  • Lima Beans
  • Melon
  • Okra
  • Pumpkin
  • Squash
  • Winter Potatoes
 SEEDS:

  • Beet
  • Broccoli
  • Carrot
  • Cauliflower
  • Lettuce
  • Radish
Plant 1 week later:

  • Bean
  • Corn
  • Early Potatoes
 Plant in early August:

  • Broccoli*
  • Cabbage*
  • Cauliflower*

SEEDS:

  • Lettuce
  • Spinach
  • Turnip
*Plants are set out later than seeds as sown because hot weather is not favorable for growth. Plant 10 weeks before last frost (SEEDS):

  • Beet
  • Carrot
Planting Seeds Indoors Weeks to Sow Indoors Before Last Frost Weeks to Germination Set Out Transplants
Broccoli 5-7 1-2 After frost, late summer
Brussels Sprout 4-6 1-2 After frost, late summer
Cabbage 5-8 1-2 After frost, late summer
Cauliflower 5-8 1-2 After frost, late summer
Cucumbers 2-3 1-2 2 weeks after frost
Eggplant 8-9 2-3 Midspring, early summer
Leeks 10-12 2-3 Mid to late spring
Head Lettuce 3-5 2-3 After frost
Onions (globle) 6-8 2-3 After frost
Peppers 8-10 1-2 Mid to late spring
Tomatoes 6-8 2-3 Mid to late spring

Average Dates of last spring and first fall occurrences of 32, 28, 24, 20, 16 and 0 degrees F. and average length of the freeze free period at each station.

Average Dates of Last Spring Occurrence of:

Station 32 28 24 20 16 0
Bridgton May 12 April 25 April 15 April 3 March 24 February 27
Brunswick May 2 April 14 April 3 March 25 March 20 February 22
N. Bridgton May 17 May 4 April 19 April 6 March 27 March 8
Portland May 13 April 29 April 13 March 29 March 23 February 27
West Buxton May 21 May 7 April 20 April 10 March 29 March 5

Average Dates of First Fall Occurrence of:

Station 32 28 24 20 16 0
Bridgton October 7 October 18 November 4 November 15 November 25 December 22
Brunswick October 12 October 23 November 10 November 18 December 1 December 27
N. Bridgton September 29 October 6 October 23 November 6 November 18 December 14
Portland September 26 October 7 October 24 November 9 November 24 December 24
West Buxton September 21 October 4 October 19 October 28 November 17 December 16

Average Length of Freeze Free (32 degree) Period Days:

Station Days
Bridgton 148
Brunswick 163
North Bridgton 135
Portland 136
West Buxton 120