I'm starting my first big garden this year and have been doing a ton of research, reading books focused on vegetable and herb gardening, as well as local guides. However, I'm running into a problem: different sources suggest vastly different starting times for planting various vegetables. For instance, when to plant fall carrots varies from one book saying 10 weeks before the first frost to another recommending just 2-3 weeks, and yet another says 6-8 weeks. Does anyone have a reliable source or method they trust for determining the right planting times? I'm located in NW St. Louis County, Missouri, in the riverlands eco subregion. I used to be classified as Zone 6a, but it's now 6b according to the new classifications. Would that change anything?
6 Answers
I personally keep a spreadsheet to track when to start each type of plant. It’s helpful to adjust it from year to year as climate changes. I record the plant name, how many seeds I want to start, and the suggested weeks before the last frost. It helps me stay organized as I just sort by sowing date, and having everything laid out reduces any panic when I have a lot of seed packets to manage!
One of the best pieces of advice I can give is to take lots of notes during your seasons. Next season, you can review what worked and what didn't. I learned the hard way last year when I started my tomato plants too early and they got frostbitten. Now I plan to stagger my planting dates based on what has fared well. Just remember that Mother Nature has the final say—no book can tell you exactly how things will grow in your garden!
You should definitely check in with your local extension service. They often have a Master Gardener program that can provide local specifics. Also, I recommend this guide from the Missouri Extension: https://extension.missouri.edu/sites/default/files/legacy/media/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/Pub/pdf/agguides/hort/g06201.pdf. It's pretty solid info for your area!
That’s great to hear; I was already using that extension site for some info. Thanks!
Always remember that a reliable soil temperature for good germination is around 55-65°F. This can depend heavily on your specific garden's micro-climate as well as regional weather. Using black ground cover can help warm the soil too. Get into the habit of tracking soil temperatures and it’ll give you a much better idea of when to sow your carrots!
Keep in mind that the timing for seed germination really depends on soil temperature. For carrots, I start planting right after the last frost date and then do successive sowings for longer harvests. Also, I keep carrots in the ground all winter if the winters aren't too harsh. Check this out for more info on germination temperatures: https://www.almanac.com/how-germinate-seeds-vegetable-seed-germination-temperature-chart.
I love this idea! I actually have a soil thermometer I use for my indoor plants, so I can track that for my outdoor starts too. Looks like checking soil temps could give me a more accurate guide.
I would generally say to follow whatever the seed packet recommends, as different carrot varieties can vary significantly. Living in Nebraska, like you, I know that Midwest weather can be unpredictable. In the end, don't stress too much about adhering to the timing perfectly; get in the garden and observe! You'll learn so much just by watching and taking notes on what works! Good luck with your garden!
That's kind of what I want to do—set up a schedule of when to start things like peppers and carrots. I’m feeling overwhelmed with all the different time frames for planting and transplanting, especially for the indoor starts!