When to plant vegetables? The calendar will help, but it is much more important to have an idea of soil temperature.
Nor can a calendar not always rely
This year we could see that even May can be really unpredictable and cold. Especially those who live in higher altitudes speak of the disastrous impact on this year’s harvest.
Although pranostics and horticultural calendars recommend avoiding specific data and betting only in proven terms, they are not discarded. They help better orientation and successful harvest. You should know what is essential for sequence and harvest, and that is the temperature.
Are you starting and want to get advice? You can also get inspired and get basic information in this post from the YouTube channel Šikulio Zahrada.
Soil temperature is important for planting
It is the specific soil temperature that it is necessary for the seedlings to survive, root and grow. Of course, it is necessary to have an idea of how the weather can evolve. However, if you know the right soil temperature, you can get much better oriented in which seedlings have a chance of survival and which could suffer short fluctuations and unpredictable weather.
At the same time, it is very good to know how long you can expect harvest. This will give you an idea of how long you can wait, when you hurry and whether you pay a foil, a hotbed or even a greenhouse.
There are vegetables that can handle very low temperatures and do not have to worry about them so much. Temperatures between 4 and 7 degrees perfectly fit peas, salads, spinach or even onion. There is also carrots and parsley. Also cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, kohlrabi or cabbage can handle soil temperatures around 7 to 10 degrees.
| Seedling | The minimum temperature of the soil | From planting to harvest |
|---|---|---|
| Pea | 4–7 °C | 60–80 days |
| Lettuce | 4–7 °C | 40–60 days |
| Spinach | 4–7 °C | 30–45 days |
| Radish | 5–7 °C | 25–35 days |
| Onion | 5–7 °C | 90–150 days |
| Garlic | 5–10 °C | 240–270 days |
| Cauliflower | 7–10 °C | 70–100 days |
| Cabbage | 7–10 °C | 70–120 days |
| Broccoli | 7–10 °C | 60–90 days |
| Kohlrabi | 7–10 °C | 45–60 days |
| Cabbage | 7–10 °C | 90–150 days |
The category that meets temperatures of about 10 to 13 ° C includes red beet, leek or celery.
| Seedling | The minimum temperature of the soil | From planting to harvest |
|---|---|---|
| Beet | 10–12 °C | 60–80 days |
| Leek | 10–12 °C | 120–180 days |
| Celery | 10–13 °C | 120–160 days |
The last category consists of downright thermophilic plants that need a proper spring to do so in the soil. For planting cucumbers, peppers, beans, tomatoes or pumpkins, you need so that the soil temperature can climb to at least 15 degrees, ideally it can be 18.
| Seedling | The minimum temperature of the soil | From planting to harvest |
|---|---|---|
| Cucumber | 15–18 °C | 50–70 days |
| Paprika | 15–18 °C | 70–100 days |
| Bean | 15–18 °C | 50–70 days |
| Tomato | 15 °C | 60–90 days |
| Pumpkin | 15–18 °C | 90–120 days |
It is quite clear from this overview that it is worthwhile to wait for the correct temperatures. Or you can graduate from planting if you grow in a foil or greenhouse. Here, however, you can orient yourself according to the soil temperature.
It’s not a tomato like a tomato. Choose between varieties
Do not forget to choose between different variants. Of course, varieties that fit into your environment will of course grow better and resist the specific conditions of your area. For example, altitude and hardiness can be.
Of course, the harvest time may vary according to growth conditions and is only indicative. But it tells you what you can expect from a particular crop. You can find a more accurate estimate according to the specific variant. Not only can you choose between early or late varieties, but also according to their resistance to pests and diseases.
Some varieties are suitable for containers, others in a flower bed or field. Compact and low varieties do not need support, which is important for tomatoes or cucumbers you want to grow in containers, for example, on the terrace.
Variants may also differ significantly in the size of the fruit. If you do not have an overview of what you grow, it is difficult to orientate when it is appropriate to start harvesting.
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