This appendix is vegetables by the numbers. All the distances, depths, and yields for more than 40 vegetables are listed in the section "Guidelines for Planting," which includes a chart that provides a great way for you to sketch your garden before you plant. The section "Frost Dates and the Length of the Growing Season" tells you what you need to know to avoid freezing out your veggies and stunting your crop. I also provide a guide to the hardiness zones and include a list of suppliers of vegetable seeds and other materials to get you started. And if you need even more information, I include a listing of Master Gardener organizations and Web sites by state.
Guidelines for Planting
The best way to plan your garden is to start by deciding how much produce you want. For example, if you like lettuce, 25 heads will take approximately 25 feet of row. The recommended distances between rows in Table A-1 tell you how much space to leave between crops.
Use the information in Table A-1 as a general guideline. You may choose to vary the distance between rows, for example, depending on the method of planting or cultivating. You usually can hand-hoe weeds between rows adequately in 18- or 24-inch-wide pathways; rototilling is faster, but pathways should be 30 or 36 inches wide to do so. If you garden intensively, such as in raised beds, you can space plants closer than indicated in the chart.
The days to maturity and the yield figures are averages. Depending on weather, soil fertility, pests, and weed pressure, yield and maturities in your garden can vary greatly. Just remember, you can always find friends, relatives, and bunnies who'd love some fresh, homegrown produce.
Frost Dates and the Length of the Growing Season
You can grow vegetables anywhere! Some of the largest, most beautiful vegetables I've ever seen are grown by avid gardeners in Alaska. If you can grow vegetables where the sun doesn't shine for 6 months of the year, you know that they must be easy to grow.
Table A-2 is a chart of the average annual first and last frost dates as well as the length of the frost-free growing season in 100 cities across the United States. Of course, this chart is only a guide, and your local climate will vary depending on many factors, including the variation in weather from year to year. Also, because of global warming, some gardeners are noticing longer growing seasons than in the past. So to get the most accurate dates, contact your local weather service or the Cooperative Extension Service office in your area. (To find your Extension Service office, check your state land grant university listings in the phone book.)
Keep in mind that just because your frost-free growing season is only so many days, many vegetables that I list can tolerate a light frost. And you can extend your growing season by using special growing techniques (described in Chapter 21). However, warm-season vegetables, such as tomatoes, don't like even a touch of frost, so Table A-2 is much more accurate for estimating how many days you have to grow your favorite heat-loving vegetables.
Hardiness Zones in North America
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has helpfully divided North America into plant hardiness zones based on average annual minimum temperatures; I refer to these hardiness zones throughout this book. Planting instructions regarding depth and timing may change depending on what zone you're in. Because of global warming, as with the length of the growing season (see the previous section), some gardeners find they now can grow less hardy plants in their area. Check with local Master Gardeners and garden centers to determine which plants are best for your area, and check out www.garden.org/zipzone to find out your own zone. (I list Master Gardener resources later in this appendix.)
Your hardiness zone isn't as critical for vegetable growing as it is for growing fruits, perennial flowers, trees, and shrubs. However, knowing your hardiness zone is a good idea because in some warm areas, such as zones 7 and 8, you can grow two or three crops of the same vegetable in 1 year or even grow vegetables throughout the winter.
Where to Find Seeds and Other Resources
Vegetable seeds are available seemingly everywhere in the spring. From grocery stores to local garden centers, home centers, and hardware stores, everyone seems to sell seed packets. If you're interested in the standard vegetable varieties, these locations are great places to get them. However, if you're interested in some of the more unusual varieties that I mention in this book, try the catalog companies listed in the following sections. These companies mostly sell seeds within North America. Check other Web sites, such as www.davesgarden.com, for listings of vegetable seed suppliers in other parts of the world.
You may, however, want to avoid seed starting altogether and buy transplants. Local garden and home centers offer a broad selection of vegetable and fruit plants for sale in spring. Also, catalog companies now offer transplants through the mail. In the following sections, I indicate which companies currently offer transplants through their catalogs.
Finally, I include a list of fruit and berry nurseries for a broader selection and cheaper prices than what you may find locally as well as a list of tool and equipment suppliers for many of the products and devices I mention in this book. Part of the fun of gardening is shopping for new stuff, so check out these companies online. Or, if you like the armchair experience, write for a printed catalog. Some companies charge a small fee for their catalogs, but most are free.
Vegetables, herbs, and flowers
Abundant Life Seeds, P.O. Box 279, Cottage Grove, OR 97424; phone 541-767-9606; Web site www.abundantlifeseeds.com. This seed company is dedicated to the preservation of unusual heirloom vegetable, herb, grain, and flower seeds. The organization offers organically grown and untreated seeds.
Amishland Heirloom Seeds, Box 365, Reamstown, PA 17567; Web site www.amishlandseeds.com. This small, one-woman, organic seed company is devoted to saving heirloom varieties in the Lancaster, Pennsylvania, area.
Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, 2278 Baker Creek Rd., Mansfield, MO 65704; phone 417-924-8917; Web site www.rareseeds.com. This company, which offers a beautiful color catalog, specializes in a wide range of unusual heirloom vegetables and flowers from around the world.
Bountiful Gardens, 18001 Shafer Ranch Rd., Willits, CA 95490; phone 707-459-6410; Web site www.bountifulgardens.org. This company specializes in untreated, unusual varieties of vegetables, cover crops, herbs, and grains.
Burrell Seed Co., P.O. Box 150, Rocky Ford, CO 81067; phone 719-254-3318; Web site www.burrellseeds.us. This seed company offers a complete line of vegetables, specializing in cantaloupes and watermelons.
The Cook's Garden, P.O. Box C5030, Warminster, PA 18974; phone 800-457-9703; Web site www.cooksgarden.com. This company provides a wide selection of culinary vegetables, herbs, and flowers, including European and hard-to-find salad greens.
Dill's Atlantic Giant Pumpkins, RR#1 400 College Rd., Windsor, N.S., Canada B0N 2T0; phone 902-798-2728; Web site www.howarddill.com. Howard Dill sells seed for the world's largest pumpkins, including ‘Atlantic Giant' and other pumpkin varieties.
Dixondale Farms, P.O. Box 129, Carrizo Springs, TX 78834; phone 877-367-1015; Web site www.dixondalefarms.com. Specialists in onion plants.
Evergreen Y.H. Enterprises, P.O. Box 17538, Anaheim, CA 92817; phone 714-637-5769; Web site www.evergreenseeds.com. This company specializes in Oriental vegetables.
Fedco Seeds, P.O. Box 520, Waterville, ME 04903; phone 207-873-7333; Web site www.fedcoseeds.com. This seed company offers a full line of vegetables, including a good selection of potatoes. It also offers fruit trees, bulbs, books, tools, and products.
Filaree Farm, 182 Conconully Hwy., Okanogan, WA 98840; phone 509-422-6940; Web site www.filareefarm.com. This company offers more than 100 unique strains of garlic.
Gourmet Seed International, HC 12 Box 510, Tatum, NM, 88267; phone 575-398-6111; Web site www.gourmetseed.com. Specialists in vegetable seeds from Europe, especially Italy. The company also carries flower and herb seeds, tools, and products.
Gurney's Seed & Nursery Co., P.O. Box 4178, Greendale, IN 47025; phone 513-354-1492; Web site gurneys.c
om. Gurney's offers a full-line seed and nursery catalog.
Harris Seeds, 355 Paul Rd., P.O. Box 24966, Rochester, NY 14624; phone 800-544-7938; Web site www.harrisseeds.com. Through this company, you can purchase vegetable and flower seeds, gardening accessories, and vegetable transplants.
Henry Field's Seed & Nursery Co., P.O. Box 397, Aurora, IN 47001; phone 513-354-1495; Web site henryfields.com. This company offers a basic vegetable, flower, and fruit catalog with some products.
High Mowing Organic Seeds, 76 Quarry Rd., Wolcott, VT 05680; phone 802-472-6174; Web site www.highmowingseeds.com. This seed company specializes in organic vegetable, flower, and herb seeds as well as cover crop seeds.
Jersey Asparagus Farms, Inc., 105 Porchtown Rd., Pittsgrove, NJ 08318; phone 856-358-2548; Web site www.jerseyasparagus.com. This company specializes in asparagus and small fruits, such as strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and goji berries. It also carries horseradish and rhubarb plants.
Johnny's Selected Seeds, 955 Benton Ave., Winslow, ME 04901; phone 877-564-6697; Web site www.johnnyseeds.com. Johnny's sells vegetable, herb, cover crop, and flower seeds. It also offers vegetable seeds for sprouting and organic seeds.
J.W. Jung Seed Company, 335 S. High St., Randolph, WI 53956; phone 800-297-3123; Web site www.jungseed.com. This company offers a wide selection of vegetable seeds, fruits, plants, bulbs, and products.
Native Seeds/SEARCH, 526 N. 4th Ave., Tucson, AZ 85705; phone 520-622-5561; Web site www.nativeseeds.org. This organization specializes in Native American varieties of vegetables adapted to the desert Southwest.
Nichols Garden Nursery, 1190 Old Salem Rd. NE, Albany, OR 97321; phone 800-422-3985; Web site www.nicholsgardennursery.com. This company offers Asian and unusual vegetables and a good selection of herb seeds and plants.
Nourse Farms, Inc., 41 River Rd., South Deerfield, MA 01373; phone 413-665-2658; Web site www.noursefarms.com. This farm has a good selection of small fruits and asparagus.
Park Seed Company, 1 Parkton Ave., Greenwood, SC 29647; phone 800-213-0076; Web site www.parkseed.com. This company offers a wide variety of vegetable, herb, and flower seeds. Good selection for the South.
The Pepper Gal, P.O. Box 23006, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33307; phone 954-537-5540; Web site www.peppergal.com. The Pepper Gal offers many varieties of sweet and hot peppers as well as tomatoes and products.
Pinetree Garden Seeds, P.O. Box 300, New Gloucester, ME 04260; phone 207-926-3400; Web site www.superseeds.com. This company sells a large selection of vegetables, herbs, and flowers as well as tools and books. Small-sized packets are available at low prices.
Renee's Garden Seeds, 6116 Hwy. 9, Felton, CA 95018; phone 888-880-7228; Web site www.reneesgarden.com. Renee's Garden offers a wide variety of vegetables, herbs, and flowers. Packets often contain two or three different varieties whose seeds are color coded.
R. H. Shumway's, 334 W. Stroud St., Randolph, WI 53956; phone 800-342-9461; Web site www.rhshumway.com. This company sells a wide selection of vegetable seeds, fruits, and bulbs.
Richters Herbs, 357 Hwy. 47, Goodwood, Ontario, Canada L0C 1A0; phone 905-640-6677; Web site www.richters.com. At Richters, you can choose from an extensive selection of herb seeds, plants, and products.
Ronniger's Potato Farm LLC, 12101 2135 Rd., Austin, CO 81410; phone 877-204-8704; Web site www.ronnigers.com. This company specializes in potatoes and offers many varieties; it also has a good selection of onions and garlic.
Seed Savers Heritage Farm, 3094 N. Winn Rd., Decorah, IA 52101; phone 563-382-5990; Web site www.seedsavers.org. This farm offers a large selection of heirloom vegetable varieties from the United States and Europe. It also has herbs, flowers, and fruits and is associated with the largest nonprofit seed-saving organization in the United States: Seed Savers Exchange.
Seeds for the South, 410 Whaley Pond Rd., Graniteville, SC 29829; Web site www.seedsforthesouth.com. Through this company, you can purchase heirloom vegetable varieties that are particularly adapted to the Southeast.
Seeds of Change, P.O. Box 15700, Santa Fe, NM 87506; phone 888-762-7333; Web site www.seedsofchange.com. This company sells organic, open-pollinated vegetable, flower, and herb seeds and seeds for sprouting.
Seeds Trust, P.O. Box 596, Cornville, AZ 86325; phone 928-649-3315; Web site www.seedstrust.com. Seeds Trust offers a wide number of open-pollinated vegetables for high-altitude gardens. It also has a good selection of Russian heirloom tomatoes, herbs, flowers, and tools.
Southern Exposure Seed Exchange, P.O. Box 460, Mineral, VA 23117; phone 540-894-9480; Web site www.southernexposure.com. This company sells many varieties of heirloom and traditional vegetables, flowers, and herbs that are especially adapted in the South.
Steele Plant Company, LLC, 202 Collins St., Gleason, TN 38229; phone 731-648-5476; Web site www.sweetpotatoplant.com. The Steel Plant Company specializes in sweet potato plants.
Stokes Seeds, Inc., P.O. Box 548, Buffalo, NY 14240; phone 800-396-9238; Web site www.stokeseeds.com. This company offers a complete listing of flower and vegetable seeds, including how-to growing information.
Territorial Seed Company, P.O. Box 158, Cottage Grove, OR 97424; phone 800-626-0866; Web site www.territorialseed.com. At the Territorial Seed Company, you can purchase vegetable, herb, and flower seeds, especially varieties suited to the Pacific Northwest. It also sells transplants.
Thompson & Morgan Seedsmen, Inc., 220 Faraday Ave., Jackson, NJ 08527; phone 800-274-7333; Web site www.tmseeds.com. Through this company, you can choose from a wide selection of English flowers and vegetables. The company also sells transplants.
Tomato Growers Supply Company, P.O. Box 60015, Fort Myers, FL 33906; phone 888-478-7333; Web site www.tomatogrowers.com. Specialists in tomatoes and peppers.
Totally Tomatoes, 334 W. Stroud St., Randolph, WI, 53956; phone 800-345-5977; Web site www.totallytomato.com. Totally Tomatoes offers many varieties of tomatoes and peppers.
Vermont Bean Seed Company, 334 W. Stroud St., Randolph, WI 53956; phone 800-349-1071; Web site www.vermontbean.com. This company specializes in varieties of beans, but it also offers other vegetable seeds and fruits.
Veseys Seeds Ltd., P.O. Box 9000, Calais, ME 04619; phone 800-363-7333; Web site www.veseys.com. Veseys offers a wide selection of vegetable and flower seeds adapted to short-growing-season conditions.
W. Atlee Burpee & Co., 300 Park Ave., Warminster, PA 18974; phone 800-333-5808; Web site www.burpee.com. Through Burpee, you can choose from a wide selection of flower and vegetable seeds, plants, and supplies.
Wild Garden Seeds, P.O. Box 1509, Philomath, OR 97370; phone 541-929-4068; Web site www.wildgardenseed.com. This company offers a selection of vegetables and beneficial-insect-attracting plants. All seed is bred on the Gathering Together Farm.
Willhite Seed, Inc., P.O. Box 23, Poolville, TX 76487; phone 800-828-1840; Web site www.willhiteseed.com. Willhite Seed offers a good selection of vegetable seeds for warm growing areas. It also has a selection of Indian vegetable varieties.
William Dam Seeds Ltd., 279 Hwy. 8, RR 1, Dundas, Ontario, Canada L9H 5E1; phone 905-628-6641; Web site www.damseeds.ca. You can choose from a full line of vegetable, flower, and wildflower seeds and some products for Northern gardeners.
Wood Prairie Farm, 49 Kinney Rd., Bridgewater, ME 04735; phone 800-829-9765; Web site www.woodprairie.com. This farm specializes in potato varieties.
Seed savers
The following are some seed-saving organizations and small, nonprofit organizations specializing in historic and unusual heirloom varieties. The seed-saving organizations often have seed swaps for members so you can share and try unusual heirloom varieties from around the world. They also offer special programs promoting the reintroduction of heirloom plants. You may have to become a member to receive the seeds.
Appalachian Heirloom Seed Conservancy, P.O. Box 519, Richmond, KY 40476; phone 859-623-2765; e-mail [email protected]. This conservancy is dedicated to preserving Appalachia's edible heritage.
/> Colonial Williamsburg, P.O. Box 1776, Williamsburg, VA 23187; phone 757-229-1000; Web site www.history.org/history/CWLand/nursery1.cfm. Seeds of 18th century plants commonly grown in America are available for sale from the Colonial Nursery.
Garden State Heirloom Seed Society, P.O. Box 15, Delaware, NJ 07833; phone 908-475-2730; Web site www.historyyoucaneat.org. This society of gardeners, farmers, and historians preserves, grows, and sells heirloom varieties of seeds from the Mid-Atlantic region.
Landis Valley Museum, 2451 Kissel Hill Rd., Lancaster, PA 17601; phone 717-569-0401; Web site www.landisvalleymuseum.org/index.php. The Landis Valley Museum is home to the Heirloom Seed Project, which is dedicated to the preservation of heirloom vegetable, flower, and herb varieties grown by the Pennsylvania Dutch farmers.
Native Seeds/SEARCH. See the description for this organization in the preceding section to find out more.
Seed Savers Exchange. See the description for the Seed Savers Heritage Farm in the preceding section for more information.
Seeds of Diversity, P.O. Box 36, Station Q., Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4T 2L7; phone 866-509-7333; Web site www.seeds.ca. This organization is Canada's source for heritage seed, seed savings, and garden history.
Southern Seed Legacy, Department of Anthropology, 250A Baldwin Hall, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602; phone 706-542-1430; Web site www.uga.edu/ebl/ssl. The Southern Seed Legacy maintains a collection of more than 440 named varieties of southern heirloom seeds.
Thomas Jefferson Center for Historic Plants, Monticello, P.O. Box 217, Charlottesville, VA 22902; phone 434-984-9822; Web site www.monticello.org/chp/index.html. Through the Center for Historic Plants, you can find listing of flowers, trees, shrubs, vegetable, herbs, and fruits grown at Thomas Jefferson's home in Virginia.
Vegetable Gardening Page 38