Backyard Garden Regional Planting Guides

February 8th, 2013 by Loretta Lanphier, NP, BCTN, CN, CH, HHP

Backyard Garden Regional Planting Guides

Spring is here, and most people who plant a spring backyard garden are more than ready to get their hands in the warm, rich soil. There are so many positive things to be said for having a backyard garden, but for me personally, a backyard garden is an excellent stress-reliever. And, of course, I love the abundance of organic veggies and fruit as well as the miracle of watching seeds produce plants that I have personally nurtured.

Those less experienced in planting a backyard garden may not be exactly sure when they should plant seeds or set out transplants in their particular area of the USA. Believe me (personal experience), using guesswork as your guide in planting a backyard garden can result in a most unpleasant experience — even though many people seem to have the proverbial “green thumb,” just as many do not. You will experience much more success if you follow a regional planting guide for your backyard garden.

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Below under the heading Backyard Garden Planting Guide, is the info you need as far as when to plant your seeds – quick and easy. Just click on the link, put in your specific zip code, and it will take you to a wonderful chart that will inform you as to what vegetables should be planted (or transplanted) each month. I highly suggest bookmarking this page to share with others and for easy reference in the future.

     Happy Backyard Gardening!

Backyard Garden Planting Guide

The Old Farmer’s Almanac Planting Calendar

What is a Planting Calendar?

Find the best dates for planting vegetables and fruit in your garden! Our free planting calendar calculates the best time to start seeds indoors and outdoors, as well as when to plant young plants outside.

Simply put, a planting calendar is a guide that tells you the best time to start planting your garden. Most planting calendars are based on frost dates, which dictate when you should start seeds and when it’s safe to plant outdoors. Our planting calendar also shows dates for planting by the Moon (learn more about this technique below).

Frequently Asked Backyard Garden Questions

Why Should You Start Seeds Indoors?

Starting seeds indoors gives your crops a head start on the growing season and the chance to grow in a stable, controlled environment. Outdoors, the unpredictability of rain, drought, low and high temperatures, sunlight, and pests can take a toll on young plants, especially when they’re just getting started. Indoors, you can control these elements to maximize your plants’ growth and give them the best shot at thriving when they are eventually transplanted outdoors. In regions with a short growing season, starting seeds indoors lets you get a jump on the season and have more time to grow, resulting in a greater harvest.

What is Planting by the Moon?

Planting by the Moon (also called Gardening by the Moon) is a traditional way to help plan your above- and below-ground crops. Here’s how it works:

  • Plant annual flowers and vegetables that bear crops above ground during the light, or waxing, of the Moon. In other words, plant from the day the Moon is new until the day it is full.
  • Plant flowering bulbs, biennial and perennial flowers, and vegetables that bear crops below ground during the dark or waning of the Moon. In other words, plant from the day after the Moon is full until the day before it is new again.

Old-time farmers swear that this practice results in a larger, tastier harvest, so we’ve included planting by the Moon dates in our planting calendar, too.

Which Seeds Should You Start Indoors?

You can start many seeds indoors, but some are better off being sown directly into the garden. Some crops, such as root vegetables, do not transplant well and should be started outdoors. Tomatoes and peppers, on the other hand, can tolerate being transplanted and are typically started indoors. Consult our table below to see where other crops are commonly started.

Whether you start seeds indoors or outdoors also depends on the length of your growing season, as well as your climate. In cool regions with shorter growing seasons, most seeds should be started indoors, as they need to get a head start on the growing season and should be protected from potentially freezing spring temperatures. In warm regions with longer growing seasons, more seeds can be started outdoors, as they don’t need as much of a head start on the season and are not in danger of being killed by a spring frost.

When Should You Start Seeds Indoors?

For most crops, you should start seeds indoors about 6–8 weeks before your last spring frost date. This gives the plants plenty of time to grow large and healthy enough to survive their eventual transplanting to the garden. Consult our Planting Calendar to see the best time to start seeds in your area.

When Should You Transplant Seedlings?

When seedlings have grown too large for their seed trays or starter pots, it’s time to transplant. If it’s not yet warm enough to plant outdoors, transplant the seedlings to larger plastic or peat pots indoors and continue care. If outdoor conditions allow, start hardening off your seedlings approximately one week before your last frost date, then transplant them into the garden.

Resources

The Old Farmer’s Almanac

Loretta Lanphier is a Naturopathic Practitioner, Board Certified Traditional Naturopath, Certified Clinical Nutritionist, Holistic Health Practitioner, and Certified Clinical Herbalist as well as the CEO / Founder of Oasis Advanced Wellness in The Woodlands TX. She has studied and performed extensive research in health science, natural hormone balancing, anti-aging techniques, nutrition, natural medicine, weight loss, herbal remedies, non-toxic cancer support and is actively involved in researching new natural health protocols and products.  A 20-year stage 3 colon cancer survivor, Loretta can relate to both sides-of-the-health-coin as patient and practitioner regarding health and wellness. “My passion is counseling others about what it takes to keep the whole body healthy using natural and non-toxic methods.” Read Loretta’s health testimony Cancer: The Path to Healing. Loretta is a Contributor and Editor of the worldwide E-newsletter Advanced Health & Wellness
†Results may vary. Information and statements made are for education purposes and are not intended to replace your doctor’s advice. Oasis Advanced Wellness/OAWHealth does not dispense medical advice, prescribe, or diagnose illness. The views and nutritional advice expressed by Oasis Advanced Wellness/OAWHealth are not intended to be a substitute for conventional medical service. If you have a severe medical condition or health concern, see your physician of choice.

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