Quick Tips for 15 Common Garden Vegetables

Here is some simple information for 15 of the most commonly grown vegetables.  We've included seed needs for large gardens to accommodate readers who wish to grow their own produce for preserving.  You can reduce amounts with simple division; remember there are 16 ounces in 1 pound.

Bush Green Beans:  ½lb seed per 100ft row, 2-4" between plants, 18-36" between rows.  Sow outside after last frost once soil temperatures have reached 55^oF. Dust seeds with legume inoculants to ensure nitrogen fixation. Plant seeds 1-2" deep. Germination takes 6-14 days, 45-65 days to harvest.  Soil pH 5.5-6.5.   Pole Green Beans need 3-4' between rows and take 60-70 days to harvest.

Beets:  1oz seed per 100ft row, 1-2" between plants, thin to 2-4" after two weeks, use thinnings in salads, 12-18" between rows.  Plant seeds ½ - 1" deep.  Soak seeds in warm water for 24 hours before planting.  Sow seeds outside 2-3 weeks before last frost.  Germination takes 7-10 days at soil temperatures above 50^oF.  If sown indoors, expect about 28 days to transplant size, handle with care. Beets grow in full sun to light shade, must have loose soil to form good beets.  Soil pH 6.5-8.0.  50-60 days to harvest.

Broccoli:  45 plants per 100ft row, 14-24" between plants, 2-3' between rows.  Either start with plants from Swan River Gardens or sow seeds indoors 5-7 weeks before last spring frost.  Germination takes 10-12 days minimum at temperatures of 70-75^oF.  Set plants out 2 weeks before last spring frost, 90-150 days to harvest.  Harden off seedlings before planting.  Full sun to light shade, soil pH 6.7-7.2.  Grows best in cool conditions, may bolt and become unproductive during hot summer days.

Carrots:  ½ oz seed per 100ft row, 1-2" between plants, 14-24" between rows, plant seeds ¼ " deep.  Sow seeds outdoors in early spring as soon as the soil can be worked.  Germination takes 15-20 days, 70-80 days to harvest.   Full sun to light shade, deep, loose soil makes the best carrots.  Soil pH 6.0-6.8.  Thin seedlings to 2" spacing after about 2 weeks.  Sow new crops about every 3 weeks.  In fall, mulch heavily with straw and store your late crop in the ground over winter.

Corn:  3-4oz seed per 100ft row, 12-18" between plants, 2-3' between rows.  Plant seeds 1-2" deep inside 2-3 weeks before last spring frost or purchase plants from Swan River Gardens.  Harden off plants and set them out 1-2 weeks after last spring frost.  Germination takes 6-10 days, plant seeds in individual peat pots for ease of transplant.  70-100 days to harvest.  Full sun, soil pH 6.0-7.0.  Corn is wind pollinated, plant in blocks of short rows to ensure pollination.  Separate plantings of different cultivars; cross pollination yields may not be true to type.

Cucumbers:  ½ oz seed per 100ft row, 12-18" between plants, 2-3' between rows, plant seeds 1" deep.  Plant seeds outside 1-2 weeks after last frost or set out plants purchased from Swan River Gardens.  Sow indoors 4-6 weeks before transplanting, germination takes 6-10 days at 70^oF or above, 50-80 days to harvest depending on variety.  Full sun, mulch with chemical free grass clippings to keep moisture in.   Can also be planted in hills of 3-4 plants or grown on a trellis.  Cukes are mostly water so good supplemental watering is critical.  Soil pH 5.5-7.0.

Leaf Lettuce: ¼ oz seed per 100ft row, 2-3" between plants, 15-18" between rows.  Plant seeds no more than ¼" deep, lettuce seeds require light for germination.  Lightly cover the seeds with a dusting of soil.  Sow seeds outdoors as soon as the ground can be worked, germination takes 4-10 days, 45-60 days to harvest.  Full sun to light shade.  Grows best in cool conditions, may bolt and become unproductive in the hottest days of summer.   Plant several crops 2 weeks apart to extend the harvest.   Soil pH 6.0-7.0  One of the easiest crops to grow indoors during winter if you can give it light and heat.

Onions:  Grow from sets to get around our short season, purchase sets to place 1" apart and thin to 3" apart when green onion tops can be harvested in 4-6 weeks.  Plant sets 1-3" deep in loose soil as soon as soil can be worked in spring.  Keep weeds controlled, soil pH 6.0-6.5.  Harvest when tops start to turn yellow.  Yellow and white onions are the best keepers, dry them before storing in a cool, dry place.  Red onions are best for fresh use.

Peas:  1lb seed per 100ft row, 1-3" between plants, 2-3' between rows.  Dust seeds with legume inoculants to ensure nitrogen fixation.  Plant seeds 1-2" deep in spring as soon as the soil can be worked.  We used to say you should plant your peas on St. Patrick's day, March 17^th!  Germination takes 6-15 days, 50-90 days to harvest.  Peas will grow in partial shade, soil pH 6.0-6.5. 

Peppers:  1/8 oz seed per 100ft row, 18-24" between plants, 2-3' between rows.  Purchase plants from Swan River Gardens after last frost date.  Harden plants off and provide protection if nighttime temperatures are predicted for below 55^oF.  From seeds, 100-150 days to harvest, from plants, 60-80 days.   Full sun, love the summer heat, soil pH 6.0-7.0.  Thin peppers when small to encourage larger growth on remaining vegetables and better yields.  Peppers are a great plant for container gardening!

Potatoes:  6-10lbs seed potatoes per 100ft row, 10-15" between plants, 2-3' between rows.  Plant tubers 4" deep.  Cut seed potatoes into sections with 2-3 eyes each, allow cuts to harden overnight and plant outdoors 2 weeks before last spring frost.  Mound soil around plants as it grows to protect tubers from sun.  Soil pH 5.2-5.7, needs good, loose soil.  Potatoes can be grown in containers with soil added as the plant grows.  Be sure to use Montana Department of Agriculture certified disease free seed potatoes to insure the health of local grower's crops along with your own.  Harvest in fall before the ground freezes but after we had have hard frosts.

Radishes:  1oz seed per 100ft row, 1-2" between plants, 1-2' between rows.  Plant seeds ½ inches deep in loose soil as early as soil can be worked in spring.  Germination takes 3-10 days, 25-50 days to harvest.   Full sun to light shade, soil pH 5.5-6.8, sow crops every 2 weeks for continuous harvest.  A great crop to introduce kiddies to gardening with!

Spinach:  1oz seed per 100ft row, 2-4" between plants, 1-2' between rows.  Plant seeds ½ inches deep.  Sow seeds outdoors in spring as soon as soil can be worked.  Germination takes 6-14 days, 40-65 days to harvest.  Full sun to light shade, grows best in cool conditions, may bolt and become unproductive when summer heat hits.  Soil pH 6.0-7.0.  Plant a crop every 2 weeks for six weeks or so for an extended harvest.

Summer Squash:  1oz seed per 100ft row, 2-3' between plants, 3-5' between rows, can also be planted in hills with 3-4 plants per hill, 5-6' between hills.  This category includes the potentially over-productive zucchini so be careful not to plant too many!  Plant seeds 1" deep indoors 2-3 weeks before last spring frost or purchase plants from Swan River Gardens to harden off and plant when frost danger is gone.  Harvest young squash for tender eating and to allow remaining ones to grow to size.  Blossoms are also considered good eating!

Tomatoes:  50 plants or 1/8 oz seed per 100ft row, 2-3' between both plants and rows.  Unless you want a very unusual variety, buy plants from Swan River Gardens, we carry a large selection.  Set plants out after all danger of frost is past and watch weather forecasts for nighttime temperatures below 55^oF.  On those nights in both spring and fall, cover plants for protection.  Days to harvest vary by variety, only chose types with days to harvest over 75 if you are getting them in early.  Depending on type, plants may or may not need support.  Pick up our 'How To Grow Tomatoes' handout for further information.  One of the best for container gardening.  Ya gotta grow tomatoes!!!! 

There are so many more vegetables you can grow here in Montana but this list should get you started.  Ask the experts at Swan River Gardens about any others you have a taste for!  We have seeds or plants for just about everything that grows here.  Stop in soon to have a chat!

Gotta Have That Plant!  - Paula M. Craft 

My pal who gardens in the climate challenged environs of East Glacier is doing his best to get me excited about a perennial called Hepatica, an early spring bloomer.  Hardy to Zone 3 these spring beauties are being seductively touted as a sure fire cure to the muddy spring blues we all suffer from here in Montana. 

I'm pretty sure I will succumb to these whisperings and find space for the specimens he is busy gathering for the two of us.   

This kind of enthusiasm for perennials is without question my weak spot.  Much like other gardeners who lust after heirloom vegetable seeds or hard core collectors who search for shrub specimens found on Himalayan peaks I now find myself reading all I can find about Hepaticas, a plant I barely was aware of a scant week ago.   Spring fever must be fully upon me that I am so able to focus on something that will require soft, thawed soil while my garden is still knee deep in snow and ice.

Hepatica nobilis 'czeck'

You can barely turn a page or scroll down current garden writing without finding list upon list of new plant varieties that everyone should try this season.  You'll find the list from Swan River Gardens in a future newsletter.  For adventurous gardeners trying new plants is part of the fun.  While tried and true performers have their place, finding spots for a few experiments is a great way to keep gardening interesting.   If battling ravenous deer, brutal weather or rock filled soil hasn't been enough of a challenge for you, uncommon plant varieties may be just the thing to recharge your enthusiasm for gardening.  Be sure to take a look at the new offerings for 2011 at Swan River Gardens.  And look for those Hepaticas in our 2012 list.  I have reason to believe they will be there.