A well-planned vegetable garden provides an economical and continuous supply of fresh, nutritious vegetables throughout the season. An urban gardener with a fairly small plot can expect to raise a substantial amount of fresh vegetables from a good garden. A suburban or farm gardener with plenty of space can raise quantities of vegetables to can, freeze, or otherwise store.

A successful garden begins with planning. First of all, plant what you enjoy, If space and time are limited, select crops that are especially tasty when freshly picked and difficult to buy in your area. There are many techniques for making the most of garden space, including succession planting of the same crop at different planting dates, interplanting of quick-maturing crops next to long-season crops next to long-season crops, and double-cropping one crop after another has been harvested.

Gardening is fun, but it's also hard work. Planting and caring for a family garden is easy during the first few weeks of spring. The real work starts when the weather gets hot. Weeding, thinning, replanting late crops, and many other jobs are essential to maintaining a good garden.

Location and Soil

Urban gardeners have little choice as to garden location, but rural gardeners should give careful

consideration to these important points:

The garden should be convenient to the house, water and tools.
Soil should be well drained and the best available.
For maximum sunlight, locate the garden away from trees and buildings.

The size of a family garden depends on the number in the family, the time available, and the amount of canning, freezing and storing to be done. It's better to do a good job with a small garden than a poor job with a large garden.

A backyard vegetable garden with raised beds

The garden plan

A good gardener plans the garden on paper long before spring. The early arrival of seed catalogs stimulates this desire.

An important reason to plan is to stretch the harvest season. A well-planned garden provides a continuous supply of vegetables from early spring to late fall. Spinach planted in the fall will live over winter and can be picked in early spring. Delaware Cooperative Extension HG-34. 1. Vegetable Planting/Harvest Calendar suggests such a planting.

Careful planning also reduces the need to can, freeze and store large quantities of food. Vegetables picked over a seven—or eight-month period not only decrease the amount of preserving necessary but also provide a continuous source of fresh vegetables for the family table.

In planning your garden, keep in mind the area available and the needs, likes and dislikes of the family. A rough sketch will do, but it must be fairly accurate to be useful. Make the plan to scale if possible, using 1/8-inch to I foot. Determine the shape, length and width of the garden, the space between rows, vegetables to be planted in each row, and late vegetables that will follow the early ones. Consider these factors:

Perennial crops such as asparagus, strawberries and rhubarb should be located on one side of the garden.
Tall crops such as com should not shade small crops such as beets and carrots.
Include succession crops, a fall garden, small fruits, and overwintered crops to mature in the spring.
Crops and varieties to be planted. Consider planting dates, whether seeded or transplant crops. Use HG 34.1 to assist you.
Rotate crops so similar vegetables are not planted in the same location consecutively, if possible.
Choose varieties that are disease-resistant.
Your Delaware Cooperative Extension Office has additional fact sheets on specific crops to assist you.

Your diagram may resemble the simple plan [Del Coop Ext HG-36.2] following this section.

Other sources of gardening information

The HG (Home and Garden) series of fact sheets is intended to be a useful guide for Delaware gardeners. However, there are hundreds of creative and reliable sources on vegetable gardening. Newspapers and magazines often contain good information. The Internet has volumes of material as well as local libraries. Garden and farm supply stores are valuable resources. One of the best sources of gardening know-how is a friend, neighbor, or relative who has gardened for a long time.

Also, the Delaware Master Gardeners staff the Garden Line in each of the three counties to answer your gardening questions. New Castle County 302-831-8862

Prepared by NCCo Master Gardeners, assisted by University of Delaware Cooperative Extension Service Agents and Specialists

17 February 2004


SUGGESTED GARDEN PLAN and PLANTING DATES FOR A HOME VEGETABLE GARDEN	Minimum Distance to Adjacent Rows
Spinach — 4/1 - 3/31 (5/15 - 6/10) Spinach — 4/7 - 4/15 (5/25 - 6/15) Chard — 410 - 5/30 (6/10 - 11/1)	2-1/2'
Lettuce - 7/15 - 9/1 (9/15 11/10)
Lettuce - 4/1- 4/15 (5/15-6/25) Lettuce - 4/15- 4/30 (6/1-7/5) Onions - 3/25- 4/15 (7/4-8/30)	2-1/2'
Carrots - 7/10 - 8/15 (9/15 -10:20)
Carrots — 4/1 - 4/30 (6/1 - 7/15) Carrots — 5/1 - 5/15 (6/25 - 8/1) Beets — 4/1 - 4/15 (6/10 - 8/1)	2-1/2'
Spinach - 8/15 - 9/10 (10/1 - 11/15) Greens-7/20-8/20- 9/1-10/30 Kohlrabi- 8/1 - 8/15 (9/15 - 10/15)
Peas - 3/15 - 4/1 (5/20 - 8/20) Peas - 4/10 - 4/30 (5/25 - 7/10) Bush Beans - 5/5 - 5/15 (7/5-7/20) Bush Beans - 5/20 - 5/30 (7/20 - 8/10)	2-1/2'
Kale -- 7/10 - 810 (9/15 - 11/30 Cabbage - 7/20 - 8/20 (9/20 - 11/15)
Peas - 3/15 - 4/1 (5/20 - 6/20) Peas - 4/10 - 4/30 (6/25 -7/10) Bush Beans - 5/5 - 5/15(7/5-7/20) Bush Beans - 5/20 - 5/30 (7/20 - 8/10)	2-1/2'
Brussels Sprouts - 7/10 - 8/1 (10/1- 11/30) Cauliflower - 7/10 - 8/15 (9/10 - 11/15] Broccoli - 7/20 - 8/20 (9/20 - 11/15)]
Radishes - 3/25 - 4/1 (5/1 - 5/10) Radishes — 4/7 - 4/15 (5/8 -6/1) Greens - 4/7 - 5/10 (5/20 - 6/30) Kohlrabi - 3/25 - 4/15 (6/1 -6/30)	2-1/2'
Beets - 6/20 - 8/1 (9/1 - 10/30) Radishes - 8/1-8/10 (9/1-9/20) Radishes - 8/15 - 9/10 (9/20 - 10/15)
Cabbage - 3/25 - 4/15 (6/1 - 7/10) Kale - 3/25 - 4/15 (6/5 - 7/30)	2-1/2'
Peas - 7/25- 8/5 (10/1 - 10/30) Bush Beans — 7/25 - 8/15 (9/25 - 10/15)
Broccoli - 3/25 - 4/10 (6/1 - 6/15) Cauliflower - 4/1 - 4/15 (6/1 - 7/1)	2-1/2'
Peas - 7/25- 8/5 (10/1 - 10/30) Bush Beans — 7/25 - 8/15 (9/25 - 10/15)
Tomatoes - 5/10 - 5/30 (7/20 - 10/15)	3'
Summer Squash - 5/10 - 5/30 (7/1 - 9/15) Peppers - 5/10 - 5/30 (7/15 - 10/20) Eggplant - 5/10 - 5/30 (7/20 - 10/15)	3'
Cucumbers - 5/10 - 5/30 (6/25 - 9/15) Cantaloupe - 5/10 - 5/30 (8/1 - 9/15)	5'
Watermelon - 5/15 - 5/30 (8/1 - 9/15) Winter Squash — 5/10 - 5/30 (8/15 - 10/15)	6'
Sweet Com — 5/1 - 5/15 (7/15 - 8/10) Sweet Corn - 5/20 - 6/5 (8/5 - 8/30) Sweet Corn - 8/15 - 7/1 (9/1 - 9.20)	2-1/2'
Sweet Com — 5/1 - 5/15 (7/15 - 8/10) Sweet Corn - 5/20 - 6/5 (8/5 - 8/30) Sweet Corn - 8/15 - 7/1 (9/1 - 9.20)	2-1/2'
Sweet Com — 5/1 - 5/15 (7/15 - 8/10) Sweet Corn - 5/20 - 6/5 (8/5 - 8/30) Sweet Corn - 8/15 - 7/1 (9/1 - 9.20)	2-1/2'
30 Feet
Italics = Transplants - all others are seeds ( ) Typical Harvest Period (may vary depending on specific varieties planted and local weather conditions. Total Length	~50 feet

The University of Delaware Cooperative Extension and the Delaware Master Gardener
1. Recommended planting dates are based on projected last frost (frost date defined as a day reaching 35 degrees Fahrenheit or lower.
2. Rule of Thumb: Plant tender plants (tomatoes, peppers. etc. 2 weeks after the 10% probability of another frost date)
3. 10% probability date is April 26 (Wilmington, Per DE State Climatologist) - UD farm Newark lists April 20. Other resources list as late as May 7

4. Recommendation is use April 26 which moves the earliest planting date to May 10
5. Comparison of Planting Guidance



Vegetable	Document A	Document B	Document C	Delaware Center for Horticulture	Farmers Almanac Planting Guide	Recommended Planting
Beans, Bush	5-May	1-.May	5-May	15-May	15-May	5/5 - 5/15, 5/20 - 5/30
Beets	1-Apr	1-Apr	12-Apr	1-Apr	15- Apr	4/1 - 4/15
Broccoli	7-Apr		12-Apr	1-Apr	1-Apr	3/25 - 4/10 *
Brussels Sprouts	1-Apr			1-Apr	15- Mar	not recommended for Spring*
Cabbage	21-Mar	1-Apr	1-Apr	15-Mar	1-Apr	3/25 - 4/15
Cantaloupe	20-May	15-May	10-May	25-May	15-May	5/10 - 5/30
Carrots	15-Apr			1-Apr	1-Apr	4/1- 4/30, 5/1 - 5/15
Cauliflower	5-Apr		12-Apr	15-Apr	15-Mar	4/1 - 4/15
Chard	20-Apr		2-Apr	1-Apr	15-Apr	4/10 - 4/30
Corn, Sweet	1-May	1-May	1-May	1-May	1-May	5/1-5/15, 5/20 - 6/5, 6/15- 7/1
Cucumbers	15-May	1-May	5-May	15-May	15-May	5/10 - 5/30
Eggplant	15-May	15-May	10-May	25-May	15-May	5/10 - 5/30
Greens	1-Apr				1-Apr	4/7 - 5/10
Kale	1-Apr		1-Apr		1-Apr	3/25 - 4/15
Kohlrabi	1-Apr			1-Apr		3/25 - 4/15 *
Lettuce	1-Apr	1-Apr	1-Apr	1-Apr	15-Mar	4/1- 4/15, 4/15- 4/30
Onions	15-Mar			15-Mar	15-Mar	3/25 - 4/15
Peas	20-Mar	1-Apr	15-Mar	10-Mar	1-Apr	3/15-4/1, 4/10- 4/30
Peppers	15-May	15-May	10-May	25-May	1-May	5/10 - 5/30
Radish	25-Mar	1-Apr	1-Apr	15-Mar	1-Apr	3/25 - 4/1, 4/7 - 4/15
Spinach	15-Mar	1-Apr	15-Mar	15-Mar	1-Apr	3/25 - 4/1, 4/7 - 4/15
Squash, Summer	1-May	10-May	10-May	15-May	15-May	5/10 - 5/30
Squash, Winter	15-May	15-May	10-May	25-May	15-May	5/10-5/30
Tomatoes	7-May	1-May	5-May	25-May	5/10 - 5/30	$5-90
Watermelon	15-May	15-May		25-May.	15-May	75-90
					* = Master Gardener recommendation

University of Delaware Cooperative Extension and Delaware Master Gardener
	Per Person
	Per Person		Recommended Row Length
		Family	DE Ext	VA Ext	NH Ext	USDA	Target
Onions	single planting	Alliaceae	12	25	5	7	15
Carrots	Succession, Spring & Fall	Apiaceae	20	20	10	15	15	1.5 rows
Lettuce .	Succession, Spring & Fall	Asteraceae	15	15	10	20	15
Broccoli	Spring & Fall	Brassicaceae	20	20	10	13	15
Brussels Sprouts	Spring & Fall	Brassicaceae	10	10			10
Cabbage	Spring & Fall	Brassicaceae	15	15		8	15
Cauliflower	Spring & Fall	Brassicaceae	15	15		13	15	3 rows
Greens	Spring & Fall	Brassicaceae	15	15	10		10
Kale	Spring & Fall	Brassicaceae	15	15			15
Radish	Succession, Spring & Fall	Brassicaceae	10		5		10
Beets	Spring & Fall	Chenopodiaceae	25	10	10	15	15
Chard	single planting, regrows	Chenopodiaceae	5	10		4	10	1.5 rows
Spinach	Succession, Spring & Fall	Chenopodiaceae	40	40		6	20
Cantaloupe	single planting	Cucurbitaceae	25	12			15
Cucumbers	single planting	Chenopodiaceae	15	20	10	10	15
Squash Summer	single planting	Chenopodiaceae	6	10		4	10	2.33 rows
Squash, Winter	single planting	Chenopodiaceae	15	10	10	10	15
Watermelon	single planting	Chenopodiaceae	20	15		8	15
Corn, Sweet	Succession	Gramineae	100	60	15	30	90	3 rows
Beans , Bush	Succession, Spring & Fall	Leguminoseae	60	50	15	15	60	4 rows
Peas	Succession, Spring & Fall	Leguminoseae	60	60		10	60
Eggplant	single planting	Solanasceae	6	6			10
Peppers	single planting	Solanasceae	6	10	6	2	10	1.66 rows
Tomatoes	single planting	Solanasceae	20	15	10	8	30
		rows 30 ft long					total of 17

Suggested Vegetables for Home Gardens

These suggested varieties have been selected for their productiveness, quality, flavor, and discase resistance. The characteristics of a single cultivar may vary somewhat depending on soil type, planting date, weather conditions and gardening techniques. Visit htip://extension.udel.edu/lawngarden or contact your local Extension office for more specific information concerning these vegetables. Below is a list of varieties that have performed well in our area, but there may be other varieties that will perform just as well or better in your own garden. Varicties followed by a “vtg” have performed well in the Master Gardeners’ teaching garden at the Extension Office in Newark.

ASPARAGUS (perennial)

Jersey Giant
Jersey Knight
Jersey Supreme
Mary Washington
Purple Passion

BEANS

Bush Snap Green

Bountiful
Bronco
Bush Lake Blue
Derby
Greencrop
Jumbo
Provider
Triumph de Farcy
Roma II

Bush Snap Yellow

Eureka
Cherokee Wax
Gold Crop
Gold Mine
Gold Rush

Pole Green

Blue Lake
Golden Sunshine
Romano

Bush Lima

Eastland
Fordhook 242
Jackson Wonder
King of the Garden

Pole Beans

Purple Pod -vtg

Pole Lima

Big 6
Purple King

Horticultural Shell Beans

French Horticultural

Edible Soybean (Edamame)

Be Sweet
Butterbean
Envy Gion
Green Legend
Lucky Lion
Taiwame

BEETS

Burpees Golden Beet
Chioggia - vtg
Detroit Dark Red
Early Wonder
Lutz Green Leaf
Merlin - vtg
Red Ace
Red Ball
Red Cloud
Ruby Queen

BROCCOLI

Arcadia
Belstar
Bonanza - vtg
DiCicco - vtg
Diplomat
Green Comet Hybrid
Gypsy
Packman - vtg
Premium Crop
Waltham

BRUSSEL SPROUTS

Early Marvel
Franklin Hybrid
Jade Cross E F1
Long Island Improved - vtg

CABBAGE

Early-Midseason

Early Thunder
Blue Vantage F1
Bobcat
Bravo F1
Red Ruby Ball - vtg

Pointed Heads

Caraflex
Early Jersey
Wakefield
Murdoc

Green Flat Leaf

Golden Acre
Late Flat Dutch

Red

Cairo
Dynasty Red
Ruby Perfection F1
Super Red 80 F1

Savoy

Chieftain
Savoy Ace
Savoy King

Napa

Michihili Jade
Pagoda
Yuki

Pak Choi

Glacer F1
Joi Choi
Mei Quing Choi
Prize Choy

CAULIFLOWER

Absolute F1
Amazing
Apex F1
Attribute Hybrid
Majestic F1
Snowball Strains
Snow Crown

CARROTS

Caracas - vtg
Corduba - vtg
Danvers Half Long
Scarlet Nantes
Royal Chantenay

CELERY

Giant Pascal
Tango

COLLARDS

Champion
Flash - vtg
Top Bunch
Vates CUCUMBERS

CUCUMBERS

Slicers

Bush Champion
Burpless Hybrid
Diva
Fanfare
Marketmore 76
Straight Eight - vtg

Picklers

Eureka F1
Jackson Supreme
Picklebush
Wisconsin SMR #58

Gherkin

Alibi
Mini (Mexican Sour)

Standard

Black Beauty
Classic F1
Nadia

Striped

Rosa Bianca
Pandora Striped Rose

White

Cloud Nine

Black Beauty
Traviata F1 Organic

Oriental

Ichiban
Millionaire

ENDIVE

Dubussion - vtg
Green Curled Ruffec
Salad King

GREENS

Florida Broadleaf
Southern Giant Curled
Savanna Hybrid

Turnip

All Top
Top Star

Beet

Bulls Blood
Crosby’s Egyptian
Green Top Bunching
Lutz Green Leaf

KALE

Dwarf Blue Curled - vtg
Dwarf Siberian
Red Russian
Tronchuda Beira (Portuguese)-vtg
Vates Dwarf Blue Curled

KOHLRABI

Grand Duke
Purple Vienna

LEEKS

American Flag
Electra

LETTUCE

Bibb, Boston

Big Boston
Buttercrunch
Esmeralda
Summer Bibb

Green Leaf

Black Seeded Simpson - vtg
Grand Rapids
Oakleaf
Salad Bowl
Two Star

Iceberg

Ithaca
Summer Time

Red

New Redfire
Red Oak Leaf - vtg
Red Sails

Romaine

Green Forest
Green Towers
Parris Island Cos

Escarole

Full Heart Batavian

MUSKMELON

Ambrosia Hybrid
Aphrodite
Athena Hybrid
Burpee Hybrid

Crenshaw Type

Early Hybrid Crenshaw

Honeydew

Early Dew Hybrid

MUSTARD

Green Wave

OKRA

Annie Oakley II
Burgundy
Clemson Spineless
Emerald
Millionaire

ONIONS

Bulbs

Candy
Early Yellow Globe
Stuttgarter - vtg

Bunching

Ambition Shallots
Evergreen Bunching
Japanese Bunching (Heshiko)
Tokyo Long White
White Lisbon

Transplants

Sweet Spanish

PARSNIPS

All America
Andover
Gladiator
Harris Model

PEAS

Shell Peas (sweet)

Green Arrow
Knight
Lincoln
Progress No. 9

Edible Pod (Snow)

Dwarf Gray Sugar
Oregon Sugar Pod II

Sugar Snap

Sugar Ann
Sugar Snap - vtg
Super Sugar Snap
Little Marvel
Frosty
Wando

PEPPERS

Bell

Admiral
California Wonder
Cubanelle
Emerald Giant
Golden Bell
Gypsy
Lady Bell
Lafayette
Revolution
Staddon’s Select
Yolo Wonder

Hot

Cherry Bomb
Habaneros
Hungarian Hot
Wax
Jalapeno
Jalapeno M
Jamaican Hot
Chocolate
Jamaican Gold Hot
Louisiana Red
Cayenne
Large Cherry
Super Chili
Thai Hot

Frying Types

Aruba Sweet
Key Largo
Sweet Banana

POTATOES

Early

Andover-white
Early
Irish Cobbler
Kennebec - vtg
Superior-white
Yukon Gold-yellow

Midseason

Adirondack
Blue-blue skin & flesh
Red Norland-red
King Harry-white
Norkotah-russet
Peter
Wilcox-purple skin & yellow flesh

Late

Green Mountain
Katahdin-white
Kennebec
Lehigh-yellow

Red Skinned

Pontiac
Norland

Fingerlings

Austrian
Crescent-white
French
Fingerling-pink

Miniature (1-3 lb)

Baby Bear
Baby Pam
Jack Be Little
Snackjack-edible seed

Pie (2-3 lbs)

Fall Splendor
Hybrid Pam
Mustic Plus
Small Sugar

Carving

Atlantic Giant
Big Autumn
Big Max
Cannon Ball
Howden
Iron Man
Lil’ Ironsides
Orange Smoothie
Hybrid
Small Sugar

RADISHES

Champion
Cherry Belle
D'Avignon - vtg
Rover Hybrid - vtg
Summer Cross
White Icicle - vtg

RHUBARB (perennial)

Canadian Red
Victoria

RUTABAGA

American Purple Top

SALSIFY

Mammoth Sandwich
Island

SPINICH

Bloomsdale
Long-Standing
Giant Winter – vtg
Melody Hybrid
Tyee Hybrid

Not a true Spinach

Malabar Spinach (vining)

SQUASH

Summer (Straight Neck)

Cougar
Early Prolific Straightneck
Lioness
Multipik
Seneca Prolific
Seneca Zucchini
Sunray Hybrid
Zucchini Elite

Summer (Scallop Types)

Peter Pan
Starship
Sunburst

Winter (Acorn Type)

Royal Acorn
Table Ace
Table Gold
Table Queen
Vegetable Spaghetti

Winter (Butternut Type)

Early Butternut
Harris Butternut
Waltham Butternut

Winter (Buttercup Type)

Buttercup
Sweet Mama
Baby Blue Hubbard
Tay Belle

SWEET CORN

Yellow

Bodacious
Incredible
Merit
Tuxedo

White

Argent
Ice Queen
Silver King
Silver Queen
Silver Queen
Sweet Ice
White Out

Bi-color

Avalon
Providence

Ornamental

Indian
Red Strawberry

SWEET POTATOES

Beauregard - vtg
Georgia Jet
Evangeline
O’Henry
Porto Rico

SWISS CHARD

Bright Lights
Fordhook Giant
Large White Rib
Rainbow
Rhubarb Chard

TOMATILLOS

Cisineros
De Milpa
Pineapple
Purple
Toma Verde
Verde Puebla

TOMATOES

Heirloom

Arkansas Traveler
Box Car Willie
Brandywine Red
Eva Purple Ball
Mister Stripy
Mortgage Lifter
Pruden’s Purple
Snow White

First Early

Early Pick

Second Early

Pik Red
Jet Star

Midseason

Celebrity
Crista
Floramerica
Jet Star
Lemon Boy
Ramapo
Red Defender
Scarlet Red
Sunbright
Supersonic

Late

Empire
Supersonic
Supersteak

Plum

Health Kick
Mariana
Plum Crimson
Plum Dandy
Roma VFN
San Marzano
Viva Italia

Cherry

Matt”s Wild Cherry
Patio
Small Fry
Sungold
SunSugar
Sweet 100
Yellow Pear

Grape

Smarty
Tami G

Novelty Type

Lemon Boy – yellow fruit
Long Keeper
Pixie Hybrid II
Stuffing Tomato

TURNIP

Hakeuri
Shogoin (for greens also)
Tokyo Market
Purple Top White Globe - vtg
Royal Crown Hybrid
White Lady

WATERMELON

Crimson Sweet
Sangria Hybrid
Starbright
Sugar Baby
Yellow Baby

Resources: Delaware Cooperative Extension Rutgers Cooperative Extension Varieties followed by a “vtg” have performed well in the Master Gardeners’ teaching garden at the Extension Office in Newark.

Visit the Lawn and Garden website for growing season updates from the Master Gardeners - updates will include planting schedules, photos, educational opportunities like open houses, demonstrations, and workshops, and more. Prepared by: Carrie Murphy, Extension Educator, and Delaware Master Gardener.

Vegetable Garden Planting Harvest Calendar

Suggested Garden Plan for Home Vegetable Garden

Vegetable Planting Guide

Vegetable Planting Guide Page 2

Download/Print PDF Version

UD Cooperative Extension

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, Cooperative Extension is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.

The University of Delaware is an Equal Opportunity Institution and Provider. Visit UD’s Office of Equity & Inclusion to learn more.

College of Agriculture & Natural Resources

Cooperative Extension

Additional Links

Faculty & Staff Resources

531 South College Avenue Newark, DE 19716 (302) 831-2501