I started my first veggie garden in containers last year because I had to move. I began the seeds indoors, and they had a good amount of time to grow before we moved in May, when they went outside full time. This year, I'm pregnant and haven't been feeling well, so I tried starting seeds indoors a couple of times, but due to the dry air in my house, they ended up dying each time. I do have an area tilled for a garden and I'm in zone 7a. Can I still direct sow seeds outdoors, or has the window closed? I'm particularly interested in growing cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, cantaloupe, watermelon, and broccoli, but I'm not sure about those.
4 Answers
You're not too late! Go ahead and plant as long as the soil temperatures are suitable. Just remember that if you direct sow, it might take longer for them to get going compared to starting them indoors. Some plants, like cucumbers and melons, actually do better when directly sown.
If you plant zucchini a bit late, you might actually dodge the Squash Vine Borers, which is a nice perk! Here in Illinois, I'm starting mine indoors in June and plan to transplant them outside after the 4th of July when the borers die down. Fingers crossed for a later harvest!
You can definitely direct sow cucumbers and melons, but it’s probably too late for tomatoes and peppers—better to buy seedlings for those. As for broccoli, you'd generally want to have planted it out a month ago at least, but you can still plant some in the fall.
I see, I’m so new to this and trying to learn as much as I can. This year has been tough for getting the garden started, so thank you!
Check out almanac.com and enter your zip code! They have a planting calendar that tells you exactly when to direct sow and when to start things indoors for every crop. I print mine out to keep it handy!
Oh wow, thank you for this tip! I had no idea where to look!
Thank you for the advice!