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Can I Grow That Here? Vegetable Seed and Transplant Schedules for Garden or Container

Includes information on days to maturity, planting dates, sun requirements, weeks to transplant size and frost tolerance for 34 vegetables.

Last Updated: 11/18
by Amy Grandpre, MSU Extension horticulture assistant, Yellowstone County

THIS MONTGUIDE IS DESIGNED TO HELP AGENTS

or individuals in different areas of Montana calculate the specific time to plant seeds or start transplants and plant them at the proper time. With a limited growing season in much of Montana, this should help gardeners get the most from the growing season they do have. This guideline can be completed by either the agent (if the county has uniform frost dates throughout) or by the individual gardener, once frost dates are determined.

 

Procedure

Define the average first frost date in the fall and the average last frost date in the spring for your area. Then, with the aid of a calendar, calculate from those dates the spring planting dates for your area and the transplant starting dates. Remember to calculate both dates if a variable is given.

Example: Weeks to transplant size, 3–5. Calculate both three weeks before your planting date and also five weeks before your planting date to give you a wider range of time in which to start transplants. This is also the way to calculate your planting dates if variables are given.

For example, snap beans can be planted one week before the last frost to 12 weeks before first frost. Calculate the date one week before last frost date and then the date 12 weeks before first frost. This is your planting range of time. For more information on particular varieties, check seed packets for special instructions and transplant guidelines.

You can also use this publication to answer the title question: Can I grow that here? Once you know the average dates of the last frost in spring and the first frost in fall, count the number of days between. If the “days to maturity” figure for the vegetable you want to grow is a larger number of days and the “frost tolerance” column indicates “none,” the sad truth is that you probably can’t grow that particular vegetable. But as you will see, there are many things that can be grown in most of Montana. Begin by establishing the specific dates for your garden space.

 

Average date of last frost in spring:______________

Average date of first frost in fall:________________

Number of frost-free growing days:_____________

 


Vegetable		 Days to maturity
Spring/fall planting dates		 Weeks totransplant size Sun requirement Frost tolerance Greenhouse grown? Soil temperature for germination
Container size


BEAN, LIMA

Bush: 75—80

Pole: 85—90

1 week before last frost to 12 weeks before first frost

Dates:

 Direct seed Needs full sun None No 65–85 degrees

12 inches wide

8–10 inches deep

Succession plant bush varieties every week or two, up to last planting date

 Container varieties: Bush Baby, Fordhook Bush Lima, Fordhook 242, Henderson
BEAN, SNAP 52–70

1 week before last frost to 12 weeks before first frost

Dates:

 Direct seed

Needs full sun

 None  No 60–85 degrees

8 inches wide

8–10 inches deep

Pole beans tend to mature later than most varieties of bush bean. Succession plant bush types once a week, up to last planting date.

Container varieties: Bush Romano, Contender, Provider and Tendercrop Stringless

BEET

50–80

4 weeks before last frost to 8–10 weeks before first frost

Dates:

Direct seed

Needs full sun

Hardy

No

50–75 degrees

2–12 inches deep

Succession plant every 2–3 weeks, up to last planting date.

Container varieties: Baby Canning and Spinel Baby Beets

BROCCOLI

60–80 after transplanting

6 weeks before last frost to 14 weeks before first frost

Dates:

6–8; Start transplants:

At least 5 hours daily

Hardy

 No

50–65 degrees

20 inches deep

Succession planting: If summers are not too hot, plant more broccoli one month after first planting, up to last planting date.

Container variety: Any will work. Crusader Hybrid is smaller and more compact.

BRUSSELS SPROUTS

80–90 after transplanting

6 weeks before last frost to 3 weeks after last frost

Dates:

 

6–8; Start transplants:

At least 6 hours daily

Hardy

No

65–75 degrees

12 inches wide

12 inches deep

Sprouts harvested after moderate freezes are much sweeter in taste.

 

 

 

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