- Sun
- Full sun
- Spacing
- 10-15 ft (semi-dwarf)
- Maturity
- Yr 3-5 fruiting (perennial tree)
- Companions
- Chives, Nasturtium, Garlic, Comfrey
When to plant (from your frost dates)
- Transplant out~2026-03-14
Tip · Plant two different cultivars within 50 ft for cross-pollination. Prune to an open-vase shape.
Pests: Codling moth, apple maggot. Bag fruit or use kaolin clay.
Avoid near: Potato
Fertilizer plan
Ratio · Balanced 5-5-5, avoid fresh manure
Organic options · Compost mulch every spring · Blood meal + bone meal before flowering · Kelp meal after harvest
When · Once in spring, once after fruiting. Renovate strawberry beds every 3 yrs.
Watch for · Runner overload but few berries = too much N.
- Sun
- Full sun
- Spacing
- 12 in
- Maturity
- 60 days
- Companions
- Tomato, Pepper
When to plant (from your frost dates)
- Start seeds indoors~2026-03-14 (6 wks before last frost)
- Transplant out~2026-05-09
- Direct sow~2026-05-09
Tip · Pinch tips weekly. Once flowers open, leaves lose flavor — snip them fast.
Pests: Japanese beetle.
Fertilizer plan
Ratio · Low fertilizer — herbs go bland when overfed
Organic options · Compost once at planting · Weak fish emulsion once mid-season if pale · Nothing after that
When · Feed lightly if at all — Mediterranean herbs (rosemary, thyme, oregano) thrive in lean soil.
Watch for · Fast, floppy, weak-flavored growth = too rich.
- Sun
- Full sun, 6-8 hrs
- Spacing
- 10-12 in
- Maturity
- 60-90 days
- Companions
- Tomato, Pepper, Oregano
When to plant (from your frost dates)
- Start seeds indoors~2026-03-14 (6 wks before last frost)
- Transplant out~2026-05-09
- Direct sow~2026-05-09
Tip · Pinch flower spikes the moment you see them — leaves stay sweet all season.
Pests: Japanese beetle, aphids. Pinch weekly to keep it bushy.
Avoid near: Rue, Sage
Fertilizer plan
Ratio · Low fertilizer — herbs go bland when overfed
Organic options · Compost once at planting · Weak fish emulsion once mid-season if pale · Nothing after that
When · Feed lightly if at all — Mediterranean herbs (rosemary, thyme, oregano) thrive in lean soil.
Watch for · Fast, floppy, weak-flavored growth = too rich.
- Sun
- Full sun
- Spacing
- 3-4 in
- Maturity
- 50-70 days
- Companions
- Onion, Lettuce, Brassicas
When to plant (from your frost dates)
Tip · Each 'seed' is a cluster — thin ruthlessly, and eat the thinnings as greens.
Pests: Leaf miner.
Avoid near: Pole bean
Fertilizer plan
Ratio · Balanced 5-5-5, boron matters for beets
Organic options · Compost + wood ash · Kelp meal for micronutrients · Fish emulsion every 3 wks
When · Bed prep with compost + kelp, one side-dress mid-season.
Watch for · Black spot in beet roots = boron deficit; a pinch of borax per gallon foliar-sprayed fixes it.
- Sun
- Full sun
- Spacing
- 3-4 ft in rows 8 ft apart
- Maturity
- Yr 2 fruiting (perennial cane)
- Companions
- Bean, Garlic
When to plant (from your frost dates)
- Transplant out~2026-03-14
Tip · Choose thornless cultivars (Triple Crown, Chester). Tip-prune primocanes at 4 ft to force branching.
Pests: Spotted-wing drosophila, cane borers.
Avoid near: Raspberry, Nightshades
Fertilizer plan
Ratio · Balanced 5-5-5, avoid fresh manure
Organic options · Compost mulch every spring · Blood meal + bone meal before flowering · Kelp meal after harvest
When · Once in spring, once after fruiting. Renovate strawberry beds every 3 yrs.
Watch for · Runner overload but few berries = too much N.
- Sun
- Full sun
- Spacing
- 4-6 ft
- Maturity
- Yr 2-3 (perennial shrub)
- Companions
- Strawberry, Rhododendron
When to plant (from your frost dates)
- Transplant out~2026-03-14
Tip · Needs acidic soil (pH 4.5-5.5). Mulch with pine needles or coffee grounds; test annually.
Pests: Birds are the main threat — net at pinking.
Avoid near: Anything needing lime
- Sun
- Full sun
- Spacing
- 18-24 in
- Maturity
- 60-90 days
- Companions
- Onion, Beet, Herbs
When to plant (from your frost dates)
- Start seeds indoors~2026-03-14 (6 wks before last frost)
- Transplant out~2026-04-04
- Direct sow~2026-04-04
Tip · After cutting the main head, side shoots keep coming for weeks — don't pull the plant.
Pests: Cabbage worm, aphid. Row cover.
Avoid near: Tomato, Strawberry
Fertilizer plan
Ratio · High N (10-5-5) — heavy feeders
Organic options · Aged manure or compost worked in deep · Blood meal or feather meal side-dress at 3 wks · Fish emulsion every 2 wks
When · Feed heavily every 2-3 weeks — brassicas want steady nitrogen for tight heads.
Watch for · Pale/yellow leaves = needs N. Loose heads = feed harder next round.
- Sun
- Full sun
- Spacing
- 4-6 in
- Maturity
- 50-65 days
- Companions
- Corn, Cucumber, Carrot, Squash
When to plant (from your frost dates)
Tip · Don't fertilize with nitrogen — beans fix their own. Pick pods every 2-3 days.
Pests: Mexican bean beetle. Handpick early.
Avoid near: Onion, Garlic
Fertilizer plan
Ratio · LOW N — beans fix their own nitrogen
Organic options · Compost at planting is enough · Rock phosphate for pods · Wood ash for potassium if soil is deficient
When · Do not add nitrogen fertilizer — you'll get leaves, no pods. One compost dose at planting.
Watch for · Inoculate seeds with rhizobia the first time you grow legumes in a bed.
- Sun
- Full sun
- Spacing
- 24-36 in on a mound
- Maturity
- 70-90 days
- Companions
- Corn, Radish, Bean
When to plant (from your frost dates)
- Start seeds indoors~2026-04-04 (3 wks before last frost)
- Transplant out~2026-05-09
- Direct sow~2026-05-09
Tip · Ripe fruit slips off the vine with a gentle tug — the smell alone tells you.
Pests: Cucumber beetle, aphid.
Avoid near: Potato
Fertilizer plan
Ratio · Balanced 5-5-5, ease off N at flowering
Organic options · Compost + aged manure in the hill · Fish emulsion until first blossom · Kelp meal + wood ash at flowering
When · Big feed at transplant, side-dress once vines run, potassium boost at flowering.
Watch for · Female flowers dropping = pollination issue, not fertilizer.
- Sun
- Full sun
- Spacing
- 2-3 in
- Maturity
- 60-80 days
- Companions
- Onion, Rosemary, Lettuce, Tomato
When to plant (from your frost dates)
Tip · Keep soil surface consistently moist for 14 days after sowing — carrot seed hates a dry crust.
Pests: Carrot rust fly. Row cover; avoid disturbing tops.
Avoid near: Dill
Fertilizer plan
Ratio · Low N, higher P (3-6-6)
Organic options · Compost only in bed prep · Bone meal at sowing · Skip nitrogen top-dress
When · Feed the bed, not the plant — carrots/parsnips fork or hair-root with fresh manure.
Watch for · Forked roots = too much N or fresh manure; use only well-aged compost.
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
- Spacing
- 6-8 in
- Maturity
- 80-90 days (perennial)
- Companions
- Carrot, Tomato, Apple, Strawberry
When to plant (from your frost dates)
- Start seeds indoors~2026-02-28 (8 wks before last frost)
- Transplant out~2026-04-04
- Direct sow~2026-04-04
Tip · Divide the clump every 3 years — one plant becomes six with no effort.
Pests: Rarely bothered — repels aphids and Japanese beetles nearby.
Avoid near: Bean, Pea
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
- Spacing
- 6-8 in
- Maturity
- 45-70 days
- Companions
- Spinach, Bean, Tomato
When to plant (from your frost dates)
Tip · Succession sow every 3 weeks. Let a plant bolt at the end — the seed is coriander.
Pests: Aphids. Bolts fast in heat — sow in shoulder seasons.
Avoid near: Fennel
Fertilizer plan
Ratio · Low N, higher P (3-6-6)
Organic options · Compost only in bed prep · Bone meal at sowing · Skip nitrogen top-dress
When · Feed the bed, not the plant — carrots/parsnips fork or hair-root with fresh manure.
Watch for · Forked roots = too much N or fresh manure; use only well-aged compost.
- Sun
- Full sun
- Spacing
- 12 in (trellis)
- Maturity
- 50-70 days
- Companions
- Bean, Corn, Radish, Dill
When to plant (from your frost dates)
- Start seeds indoors~2026-04-04 (3 wks before last frost)
- Transplant out~2026-05-09
- Direct sow~2026-05-02
Tip · Trellis vertically to double yield in the same footprint and cut mildew.
Pests: Cucumber beetle, squash bug. Row cover until flowering.
Avoid near: Sage, Melons (share pests)
Fertilizer plan
Ratio · Balanced 5-5-5, ease off N at flowering
Organic options · Compost + aged manure in the hill · Fish emulsion until first blossom · Kelp meal + wood ash at flowering
When · Big feed at transplant, side-dress once vines run, potassium boost at flowering.
Watch for · Female flowers dropping = pollination issue, not fertilizer.
- Sun
- Full sun
- Spacing
- 10-12 in
- Maturity
- 40-60 days
- Companions
- Cabbage, Cucumber, Lettuce, Onion
When to plant (from your frost dates)
Tip · Let a few plants flower — dill flowers are pollinator magnets and self-sow reliably.
Pests: Attracts beneficial wasps — a garden ally.
Avoid near: Carrot, Tomato
Fertilizer plan
Ratio · Low N, higher P (3-6-6)
Organic options · Compost only in bed prep · Bone meal at sowing · Skip nitrogen top-dress
When · Feed the bed, not the plant — carrots/parsnips fork or hair-root with fresh manure.
Watch for · Forked roots = too much N or fresh manure; use only well-aged compost.
- Sun
- Full sun
- Spacing
- 4-6 in
- Maturity
- 240 days
- Companions
- Tomato, Cabbage, Beet
Tip · Plant cloves 4-6 weeks before first fall frost. Mulch heavily and forget until June.
Pests: Few — a garden protector.
Avoid near: Bean, Pea
- Sun
- Full sun, 8+ hrs
- Spacing
- 6-8 ft on a trellis
- Maturity
- Yr 3 fruiting (perennial vine)
- Companions
- Basil, Hyssop, Chives
When to plant (from your frost dates)
- Transplant out~2026-03-14
Tip · Dormant-prune hard every winter — remove 90% of last year's growth. Grapes fruit on new wood.
Pests: Japanese beetle, birds, powdery mildew.
Avoid near: Cabbage, Radish
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
- Spacing
- 18 in
- Maturity
- 50-65 days
- Companions
- Onion, Beet, Herbs
When to plant (from your frost dates)
- Start seeds indoors~2026-03-14 (6 wks before last frost)
- Transplant out~2026-04-04
- Direct sow~2026-04-04
Tip · Fall crop sweetens after first frost — plan a July sowing for the best flavor.
Pests: Cabbage worm. Row cover or Bt spray.
Avoid near: Tomato, Strawberry
Fertilizer plan
Ratio · High N (10-5-5) — heavy feeders
Organic options · Aged manure or compost worked in deep · Blood meal or feather meal side-dress at 3 wks · Fish emulsion every 2 wks
When · Feed heavily every 2-3 weeks — brassicas want steady nitrogen for tight heads.
Watch for · Pale/yellow leaves = needs N. Loose heads = feed harder next round.
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
- Spacing
- 8-12 in
- Maturity
- 30-60 days
- Companions
- Radish, Carrot, Onion, Strawberry
When to plant (from your frost dates)
- Start seeds indoors~2026-03-28 (4 wks before last frost)
- Transplant out~2026-04-11
- Direct sow~2026-03-28
Tip · Succession sow every 2 weeks. Harvest outer leaves for a cut-and-come-again supply.
Pests: Slugs, aphids. Water in the morning.
Avoid near: Broccoli (competes for water)
Fertilizer plan
Ratio · Balanced 5-5-5 with steady N
Organic options · Compost tea every 2 wks · Fish emulsion between cuttings · Aged manure in bed prep
When · Light and steady — lettuce wants constant slow N to stay tender and mild.
Watch for · Bitter greens = heat or under-water, not fertilizer.
- Sun
- Part shade to full sun
- Spacing
- 18-24 in (contain!)
- Maturity
- 60-90 days (perennial)
- Companions
- Cabbage, Tomato
When to plant (from your frost dates)
- Transplant out~2026-04-11
Tip · Grow only in a pot or sunk container. In-ground mint will swallow a bed in one season.
Pests: None serious; deters cabbage moths and ants.
Avoid near: Everything perennial nearby — it takes over
Fertilizer plan
Ratio · Low fertilizer — herbs go bland when overfed
Organic options · Compost once at planting · Weak fish emulsion once mid-season if pale · Nothing after that
When · Feed lightly if at all — Mediterranean herbs (rosemary, thyme, oregano) thrive in lean soil.
Watch for · Fast, floppy, weak-flavored growth = too rich.
- Sun
- Full sun
- Spacing
- 4-6 in
- Maturity
- 90-120 days
- Companions
- Carrot, Beet, Lettuce, Tomato
When to plant (from your frost dates)
- Start seeds indoors~2026-02-14 (10 wks before last frost)
- Transplant out~2026-04-11
- Direct sow~2026-04-04
Tip · Match day-length to your latitude — long-day north of 37°, short-day south.
Pests: Thrips.
Avoid near: Bean, Pea
- Sun
- Full sun
- Spacing
- 12-18 in
- Maturity
- 80-90 days (perennial)
- Companions
- Pepper, Tomato, Basil
When to plant (from your frost dates)
- Start seeds indoors~2026-02-28 (8 wks before last frost)
- Transplant out~2026-05-09
Tip · Harvest just before flowering for the strongest flavor. Dries beautifully.
Pests: Rarely bothered.
Fertilizer plan
Ratio · Low fertilizer — herbs go bland when overfed
Organic options · Compost once at planting · Weak fish emulsion once mid-season if pale · Nothing after that
When · Feed lightly if at all — Mediterranean herbs (rosemary, thyme, oregano) thrive in lean soil.
Watch for · Fast, floppy, weak-flavored growth = too rich.
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
- Spacing
- 8-10 in
- Maturity
- 70-90 days
- Companions
- Tomato, Asparagus, Carrot
When to plant (from your frost dates)
- Start seeds indoors~2026-02-28 (8 wks before last frost)
- Transplant out~2026-04-11
- Direct sow~2026-04-11
Tip · Soak seeds 24 hrs before sowing. Cut outer stems and it comes back for years in mild zones.
Pests: Swallowtail caterpillars (leave them — the butterflies are worth it).
Avoid near: Mint, Lettuce
Fertilizer plan
Ratio · Low N, higher P (3-6-6)
Organic options · Compost only in bed prep · Bone meal at sowing · Skip nitrogen top-dress
When · Feed the bed, not the plant — carrots/parsnips fork or hair-root with fresh manure.
Watch for · Forked roots = too much N or fresh manure; use only well-aged compost.
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
- Spacing
- 2-4 in
- Maturity
- 55-70 days
- Companions
- Carrot, Radish, Cucumber
When to plant (from your frost dates)
Tip · Sow as soon as soil can be worked. A trellis keeps pods clean and doubles yield.
Pests: Aphid, pea moth.
Avoid near: Onion, Garlic
Fertilizer plan
Ratio · LOW N — beans fix their own nitrogen
Organic options · Compost at planting is enough · Rock phosphate for pods · Wood ash for potassium if soil is deficient
When · Do not add nitrogen fertilizer — you'll get leaves, no pods. One compost dose at planting.
Watch for · Inoculate seeds with rhizobia the first time you grow legumes in a bed.
- Sun
- Full sun
- Spacing
- 12-15 ft (semi-dwarf)
- Maturity
- Yr 2-4 fruiting (perennial tree)
- Companions
- Basil, Chives, Garlic
When to plant (from your frost dates)
- Transplant out~2026-03-14
Tip · Thin fruit to 6 in apart in June — you get bigger, sweeter peaches and prevent limb breakage.
Pests: Peach leaf curl (spray dormant oil), oriental fruit moth, borers.
Fertilizer plan
Ratio · Balanced 5-5-5, avoid fresh manure
Organic options · Compost mulch every spring · Blood meal + bone meal before flowering · Kelp meal after harvest
When · Once in spring, once after fruiting. Renovate strawberry beds every 3 yrs.
Watch for · Runner overload but few berries = too much N.
- Sun
- Full sun
- Spacing
- 12-20 ft (standard)
- Maturity
- Yr 4-6 fruiting (perennial tree)
- Companions
- Chives, Garlic, Nasturtium
When to plant (from your frost dates)
- Transplant out~2026-03-14
Tip · Pick pears firm and ripen in the fruit bowl — tree-ripened pears turn gritty.
Pests: Codling moth, pear psylla, fire blight — plant resistant varieties.
Fertilizer plan
Ratio · Balanced 5-5-5, avoid fresh manure
Organic options · Compost mulch every spring · Blood meal + bone meal before flowering · Kelp meal after harvest
When · Once in spring, once after fruiting. Renovate strawberry beds every 3 yrs.
Watch for · Runner overload but few berries = too much N.
- Sun
- Full sun
- Spacing
- 18 in
- Maturity
- 60-90 days
- Companions
- Basil, Onion, Carrot
When to plant (from your frost dates)
- Start seeds indoors~2026-02-28 (8 wks before last frost)
- Transplant out~2026-05-09
Tip · Pinch first flowers on transplants so the plant invests in roots before setting fruit.
Pests: Aphids, flea beetles. Row cover early season.
Avoid near: Beans, Fennel
Fertilizer plan
Ratio · Low N (5-10-10) once fruiting starts
Organic options · Compost 2-3 in. at planting · Fish emulsion every 2 wks while young · Bone meal + kelp at flowering for calcium/potassium
When · Compost at planting → light nitrogen through vegetative → switch to P/K when flowers appear.
Watch for · All leaves, no fruit = too much N. Blossom-end rot = calcium deficit + uneven watering.
- Sun
- Full sun
- Spacing
- 12 in
- Maturity
- 70-120 days
- Companions
- Bean, Corn, Marigold
When to plant (from your frost dates)
Tip · Hill soil up around stems as plants grow — every buried inch of stem produces more tubers.
Pests: Colorado potato beetle. Handpick daily.
Avoid near: Tomato, Cucumber
Fertilizer plan
Ratio · Low N (5-10-10) once fruiting starts
Organic options · Compost 2-3 in. at planting · Fish emulsion every 2 wks while young · Bone meal + kelp at flowering for calcium/potassium
When · Compost at planting → light nitrogen through vegetative → switch to P/K when flowers appear.
Watch for · All leaves, no fruit = too much N. Blossom-end rot = calcium deficit + uneven watering.
- Sun
- Full sun
- Spacing
- 1-2 in
- Maturity
- 22-30 days
- Companions
- Carrot, Lettuce, Cucumber
When to plant (from your frost dates)
Tip · Interplant with slow crops (carrots, parsnips) — radishes mark rows and are gone before the others crowd.
Pests: Flea beetle.
Avoid near: Hyssop
Fertilizer plan
Ratio · High N (10-5-5) — heavy feeders
Organic options · Aged manure or compost worked in deep · Blood meal or feather meal side-dress at 3 wks · Fish emulsion every 2 wks
When · Feed heavily every 2-3 weeks — brassicas want steady nitrogen for tight heads.
Watch for · Pale/yellow leaves = needs N. Loose heads = feed harder next round.
- Sun
- Full sun
- Spacing
- 24-36 in in rows 6 ft apart
- Maturity
- Yr 2 fruiting (perennial cane)
- Companions
- Garlic, Chives, Yarrow
When to plant (from your frost dates)
- Transplant out~2026-03-14
Tip · Prune old floricanes (fruited canes) to the ground each winter — everbearers can be mowed for one fall crop.
Pests: Japanese beetle, spotted-wing drosophila, cane borer.
Avoid near: Potato, Tomato, Blackberry (shared disease)
Fertilizer plan
Ratio · Balanced 5-5-5, avoid fresh manure
Organic options · Compost mulch every spring · Blood meal + bone meal before flowering · Kelp meal after harvest
When · Once in spring, once after fruiting. Renovate strawberry beds every 3 yrs.
Watch for · Runner overload but few berries = too much N.
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
- Spacing
- 36-48 in
- Maturity
- Yr 2 harvest (perennial)
- Companions
- Cabbage, Bean, Broccoli
When to plant (from your frost dates)
- Transplant out~2026-03-14
Tip · Never eat the leaves (oxalic acid). Don't harvest year 1; take a light crop year 2; full harvest year 3+.
Pests: Rarely bothered.
- Sun
- Full sun
- Spacing
- 18-24 in
- Maturity
- 75 days (perennial)
- Companions
- Rosemary, Cabbage, Carrot
When to plant (from your frost dates)
- Start seeds indoors~2026-02-28 (8 wks before last frost)
- Transplant out~2026-05-09
Tip · Prune hard in spring to prevent woody stems and keep the plant productive for 5+ years.
Pests: Deters cabbage moths and carrot fly.
Avoid near: Cucumber, Onion
Fertilizer plan
Ratio · Low fertilizer — herbs go bland when overfed
Organic options · Compost once at planting · Weak fish emulsion once mid-season if pale · Nothing after that
When · Feed lightly if at all — Mediterranean herbs (rosemary, thyme, oregano) thrive in lean soil.
Watch for · Fast, floppy, weak-flavored growth = too rich.
- Sun
- Part shade in summer
- Spacing
- 4-6 in
- Maturity
- 35-45 days
- Companions
- Strawberry, Radish
When to plant (from your frost dates)
Tip · Bolts fast in heat. Grow it early spring and again as days shorten in fall.
Pests: Leaf miner. Row cover.
Fertilizer plan
Ratio · Balanced 5-5-5, boron matters for beets
Organic options · Compost + wood ash · Kelp meal for micronutrients · Fish emulsion every 3 wks
When · Bed prep with compost + kelp, one side-dress mid-season.
Watch for · Black spot in beet roots = boron deficit; a pinch of borax per gallon foliar-sprayed fixes it.
- Sun
- Full sun
- Spacing
- 12 in
- Maturity
- Perennial
- Companions
- Spinach, Lettuce, Onion
When to plant (from your frost dates)
- Transplant out~2026-04-11
Tip · Renew beds every 3 years. Pinch first-year flowers to build a stronger crown.
Pests: Slugs, birds. Straw mulch + netting.
Avoid near: Brassicas
Fertilizer plan
Ratio · Balanced 5-5-5, avoid fresh manure
Organic options · Compost mulch every spring · Blood meal + bone meal before flowering · Kelp meal after harvest
When · Once in spring, once after fruiting. Renovate strawberry beds every 3 yrs.
Watch for · Runner overload but few berries = too much N.
- Sun
- Full sun
- Spacing
- 12-18 in
- Maturity
- 60-90 days first year (perennial)
- Companions
- Bean, Lettuce, Spinach, Borage
When to plant (from your frost dates)
- Transplant out~2026-04-04
Tip · Pinch runners the first year so the crown builds strength — you'll double yield in year two.
Pests: Slugs, birds, spider mites. Straw mulch keeps berries clean and named the plant.
Avoid near: Brassicas
Fertilizer plan
Ratio · Balanced 5-5-5, avoid fresh manure
Organic options · Compost mulch every spring · Blood meal + bone meal before flowering · Kelp meal after harvest
When · Once in spring, once after fruiting. Renovate strawberry beds every 3 yrs.
Watch for · Runner overload but few berries = too much N.
- Sun
- Full sun
- Spacing
- 12 in (block plant)
- Maturity
- 65-90 days
- Companions
- Bean, Squash, Cucumber
When to plant (from your frost dates)
Tip · Plant in a block at least 4×4 for wind pollination — not a long row.
Pests: Corn earworm. A drop of mineral oil on the silks after pollination helps.
Avoid near: Tomato
Fertilizer plan
Ratio · High N (10-5-5) — corn is a nitrogen hog
Organic options · Compost + aged manure deep in the row · Blood meal side-dress at knee-high · Fish emulsion at tasseling
When · Feed at planting, knee-high, and tasseling — three big meals.
Watch for · Small ears / missing kernels = under-feeding or poor pollination.
- Sun
- Full sun
- Spacing
- 10-12 in
- Maturity
- 75-90 days (perennial)
- Companions
- Cabbage, Strawberry, Eggplant
When to plant (from your frost dates)
- Start seeds indoors~2026-02-28 (8 wks before last frost)
- Transplant out~2026-05-09
Tip · Needs sharp drainage — plant in gravelly soil or a raised bed edge. Never wet feet.
Pests: Deters cabbage worms.
Fertilizer plan
Ratio · Low fertilizer — herbs go bland when overfed
Organic options · Compost once at planting · Weak fish emulsion once mid-season if pale · Nothing after that
When · Feed lightly if at all — Mediterranean herbs (rosemary, thyme, oregano) thrive in lean soil.
Watch for · Fast, floppy, weak-flavored growth = too rich.
- Sun
- Full sun, 8+ hrs
- Spacing
- 24-36 in
- Maturity
- 60-85 days
- Companions
- Basil, Marigold, Carrot, Onion
When to plant (from your frost dates)
- Start seeds indoors~2026-03-14 (6 wks before last frost)
- Transplant out~2026-05-09
Tip · Bury 2/3 of the transplant stem — roots form along the buried stem for a stronger plant.
Pests: Hornworm, aphids, blight. Rotate 3-year cycle to break disease.
Avoid near: Brassicas, Fennel, Corn
Fertilizer plan
Ratio · Low N (5-10-10) once fruiting starts
Organic options · Compost 2-3 in. at planting · Fish emulsion every 2 wks while young · Bone meal + kelp at flowering for calcium/potassium
When · Compost at planting → light nitrogen through vegetative → switch to P/K when flowers appear.
Watch for · All leaves, no fruit = too much N. Blossom-end rot = calcium deficit + uneven watering.
- Sun
- Full sun, 8+ hrs
- Spacing
- 36-72 in on a mound
- Maturity
- 70-100 days
- Companions
- Corn, Radish, Nasturtium
When to plant (from your frost dates)
- Start seeds indoors~2026-04-04 (3 wks before last frost)
- Transplant out~2026-05-09
- Direct sow~2026-05-09
Tip · Ripe = tendril nearest the fruit is brown and the ground spot has turned buttery yellow.
Pests: Cucumber beetle, squash bug.
Avoid near: Cucumber, Potato
Fertilizer plan
Ratio · Balanced 5-5-5, ease off N at flowering
Organic options · Compost + aged manure in the hill · Fish emulsion until first blossom · Kelp meal + wood ash at flowering
When · Big feed at transplant, side-dress once vines run, potassium boost at flowering.
Watch for · Female flowers dropping = pollination issue, not fertilizer.
- Sun
- Full sun
- Spacing
- 36-48 in
- Maturity
- 80-110 days
- Companions
- Corn, Bean, Nasturtium
When to plant (from your frost dates)
- Start seeds indoors~2026-04-04 (3 wks before last frost)
- Transplant out~2026-05-09
- Direct sow~2026-05-09
Tip · Cure 10 days in a warm dry spot after harvest — the skin toughens and storage doubles.
Pests: Squash bug, vine borer.
Avoid near: Potato
Fertilizer plan
Ratio · Balanced 5-5-5, ease off N at flowering
Organic options · Compost + aged manure in the hill · Fish emulsion until first blossom · Kelp meal + wood ash at flowering
When · Big feed at transplant, side-dress once vines run, potassium boost at flowering.
Watch for · Female flowers dropping = pollination issue, not fertilizer.
- Sun
- Full sun
- Spacing
- 24-36 in
- Maturity
- 45-55 days
- Companions
- Nasturtium, Corn, Bean
When to plant (from your frost dates)
- Start seeds indoors~2026-04-04 (3 wks before last frost)
- Transplant out~2026-05-09
- Direct sow~2026-05-09
Tip · One plant feeds a family. Pick at 6-8 in for the sweetest fruit.
Pests: Squash vine borer. Wrap stem base in foil early.
Avoid near: Potato
Fertilizer plan
Ratio · Balanced 5-5-5, ease off N at flowering
Organic options · Compost + aged manure in the hill · Fish emulsion until first blossom · Kelp meal + wood ash at flowering
When · Big feed at transplant, side-dress once vines run, potassium boost at flowering.
Watch for · Female flowers dropping = pollination issue, not fertilizer.
