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Vegetable Growing Guide

Your complete guide to growing vegetables successfully at Metro Gardens. We follow organic practices and focus on varieties that thrive in our urban climate zone (USDA Zone 6b).

🌱 Planting Calendar​

Early Spring (March - Early April)​

Cool season crops that can handle light frost

  • Peas, fava beans, onions, leeks
  • Lettuce, spinach, arugula, kale
  • Carrots, radishes, turnips
  • Cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower (transplants)

Late Spring (Late April - May)​

After last frost date (typically April 15th)

  • Bush beans, pole beans
  • Summer squash, zucchini
  • Cucumbers, melons (under row covers initially)
  • Basil, tomatoes, peppers (transplants only)

Early Summer (June)​

Warm weather crops

  • Direct seed tomatoes (for fall harvest)
  • Corn, sunflowers
  • Late succession of beans and lettuce
  • Heat-loving herbs like basil and oregano

Mid-Summer (July - August)​

Fall harvest planning

  • Second planting of cool season crops
  • Fall brassicas: kale, collards, Brussels sprouts
  • Cover crops for unused beds
  • Succession planting of salads

🥬 Crop-by-Crop Guide​

Tomatoes 🍅​

Plot requirements: Large plot or 1/2 small plot per plant Varieties recommended:

  • Cherry: 'Surefire Red', 'Sweet 100'
  • Slicing: 'Cherokee Purple', 'Brandywine'
  • Paste: 'San Marzano', 'Roma'

Growing tips:

  • Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost
  • Plant deep - bury 2/3 of stem for strong roots
  • Support with stakes or cages (6-8 feet tall)
  • Water consistently to prevent blossom end rot
  • Remove suckers for indeterminate varieties

Harvest: 75-85 days from transplant, when fruit gives slightly to pressure

Lettuce & Salad Greens 🥗​

Plot requirements: Can fit many plants in small space Varieties recommended:

  • Leaf: 'Black Seeded Simpson', 'Red Sails'
  • Head: 'Buttercrunch', 'Sierra'
  • Mixed: Metro Mix salad blend

Growing tips:

  • Succession plant every 2 weeks for continuous harvest
  • Provide afternoon shade in summer heat
  • Keep soil consistently moist
  • Harvest outer leaves for cut-and-come-again

Harvest: 30-60 days from seed, depending on variety

Beans 🫘​

Plot requirements: Bush beans: 1 sq ft per plant, Pole beans: Support required Varieties recommended:

  • Bush: 'Provider', 'Royal Burgundy', 'Cherokee Trail of Tears'
  • Pole: 'Kentucky Blue', 'Scarlet Runner', 'Dragon Tongue'

Growing tips:

  • Wait until soil is warm (60°F+) before planting
  • Inoculate seeds with rhizobia bacteria for nitrogen fixation
  • Provide 6-8 foot support for pole varieties
  • Pick regularly to encourage production

Harvest: 50-65 days from seed for snap beans, 90+ days for dry beans

Carrots 🥕​

Plot requirements: Need loose, deep soil (12+ inches) Varieties recommended: 'Paris Market' (round), 'Danvers', 'Purple Haze'

Growing tips:

  • Direct seed only - do not transplant
  • Keep soil moist until germination (7-14 days)
  • Thin to 2 inches apart when 2 inches tall
  • Mulch to prevent green shoulders

Harvest: 60-80 days from seed, when shoulders are 1/2 to 3/4 inch diameter

Peppers 🌶️​

Plot requirements: Large plot or 1/3 small plot per plant Varieties recommended:

  • Sweet: 'California Wonder', 'Sweet Banana'
  • Hot: 'Jalapeño', 'Cayenne', 'Fish'

Growing tips:

  • Start indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost
  • Wait for warm soil (65°F+) before transplanting
  • Support tall varieties with stakes
  • Harvest regularly to encourage production

Harvest: 60-90 days from transplant, depending on variety and desired ripeness

Squash & Zucchini 🥒​

Plot requirements: Large plot - each plant needs 4-6 sq ft Varieties recommended:

  • Summer: 'Eight Ball', 'Costata Romanesco', 'Patty Pan'
  • Winter: 'Butternut', 'Acorn', 'Delicata'

Growing tips:

  • Direct seed after soil warms to 65°F+
  • Plant in hills with compost
  • Hand-pollinate if bee activity is low
  • Harvest summer squash when small and tender

Harvest: 50-55 days for summer squash, 90-120 days for winter squash

Root Vegetables (Beets, Turnips, Radishes) 🍠​

Plot requirements: Can plant densely, good for succession planting Varieties recommended:

  • Beets: 'Detroit Dark Red', 'Chioggia', 'Golden'
  • Radishes: 'Cherry Belle', 'Easter Egg', 'Watermelon'
  • Turnips: 'Purple Top', 'Hakurei'

Growing tips:

  • Direct seed for best results
  • Thin seedlings to proper spacing
  • Harvest radishes quickly before becoming woody
  • Both roots and greens are edible

Harvest: 25-30 days for radishes, 50-60 days for beets and turnips

🌿 Companion Planting​

Beneficial Combinations:​

  • Tomatoes + Basil: Basil repels pests and may improve tomato flavor
  • Carrots + Onions: Onions repel carrot fly, carrots loosen soil for onions
  • Beans + Corn + Squash: Traditional "Three Sisters" combination
  • Lettuce + Radishes: Radishes break soil for lettuce, harvest at different times
  • Peppers + Marigolds: Marigolds repel aphids and other pests

Plants to Separate:​

  • Tomatoes + Brassicas: Compete for similar nutrients
  • Onions + Beans: Onions can inhibit bean growth
  • Carrots + Dill: Mature dill can stunt carrot growth

🐛 Organic Pest Management​

Common Pests & Solutions:​

Aphids:

  • Spray with water, introduce ladybugs, plant trap crops like nasturtiums

Cabbage worms:

  • Use row covers, hand-pick, spray with BT (Bacillus thuringiensis)

Squash bugs:

  • Hand-pick eggs from undersides of leaves, use row covers early in season

Tomato hornworms:

  • Hand-pick (look for dark green caterpillars), encourage parasitic wasps

Prevention Strategies:​

  • Rotate crops annually to break pest cycles
  • Encourage beneficial insects with diverse plantings
  • Keep garden clean - remove diseased plants promptly
  • Use physical barriers like row covers when needed

💧 Watering Guidelines​

General Principles:​

  • Deep, infrequent watering is better than shallow, frequent watering
  • Water early morning to reduce evaporation and disease risk
  • Water at soil level rather than on leaves when possible
  • Mulch heavily to retain moisture and suppress weeds

Crop-Specific Needs:​

  • High water needs: Leafy greens, squash, cucumbers
  • Moderate water needs: Tomatoes, peppers, beans
  • Low water needs: Herbs (except basil), root vegetables (once established)

Signs of Water Stress:​

  • Wilting during heat of day (normal) vs. early morning wilting (needs water)
  • Slow growth or stunted development
  • Blossom end rot in tomatoes and peppers
  • Bitter taste in lettuce and other greens

🌾 Soil Health & Fertility​

Soil Testing:​

  • Annual soil test available through extension office
  • pH testing: Most vegetables prefer 6.0-7.0 pH
  • Nutrient analysis: Check nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium levels

Organic Amendments:​

  • Compost: Apply 2-4 inches annually, provides slow-release nutrients
  • Well-aged manure: High in nitrogen, apply in fall or early spring
  • Leaf mold: Excellent soil conditioner, improves structure
  • Bone meal: Phosphorus source for root development and flowering

Cover Crops (for unused beds):​

  • Crimson clover: Fixes nitrogen, beautiful flowers attract pollinators
  • Winter rye: Prevents erosion, adds organic matter when tilled in
  • Buckwheat: Quick summer cover crop, attracts beneficial insects

📝 Record Keeping​

Track Your Success:​

  • Planting dates: Note when you plant each crop
  • Harvest records: Track yields and harvest dates
  • Weather notes: Unusual weather events affecting crops
  • Pest/disease issues: What worked and what didn't
  • Variety performance: Which varieties performed best in your plot

Plan for Next Season:​

  • Crop rotation: Don't plant same family in same spot annually
  • Succession planting: Plan second and third plantings
  • Seed saving: Mark best performing plants for seed collection
  • Infrastructure needs: Note areas needing trellises, amendments, etc.

Happy growing! Remember, gardening is a learning process - every season teaches us something new. Don't hesitate to ask fellow gardeners for advice and share your successes! 🌱