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When to Plant Vegetables

Source: NDSU Extension Service Horticulturist

If spring fever gets you while the soil is still cold, choose the kinds of vegetable seeds that can live with cool soil. Do not rush Mother Nature, since seeds that love warm soil may rot in cold, wet soil. Avoid working the soil too early. Heavy clay soils compact if cultivated when the soil is too wet.

Frost hardy vegetables can be planted the last week of April in southern areas of North Dakota. These include: asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, onions, peas, radishes, rhubarb and spinach.

Half-hardy vegetables are best planted from May 10-20. These include: beets, carrots, cauliflower, lettuce, parsnips, potatoes and chard.

Tender vegetables may be planted after May 20 or later--beans, cucumbers, melons, peppers, sweet corn, squash and tomatoes.

Additional information on this topic is included in the Extension bulletin H-618, "Everybody's Garden Guide," which is available at your county office of the NDSU Extension Service.

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For More Information Contact your North Dakota County Extension Office of the NDSU Extension Service for additional information or see our main NDSU Web Page for publications and articles on Agriculture, Horticulture, Youth and Family, Business and Community and Food and Nutrition at  http://www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/