The planting year for vegetables extends from February to August. In regions with harsh weather conditions, you should adapt the planting times to the weather, or plant in the greenhouse.
February
In this month, the first plantings are possible both in the greenhouse and cold frame as well as outdoors. The greenhouse offers optimal possibilities, since no ground frost is to be expected here. You may have to additionally irradiate the plantlets with light. A rain barrel is a good idea in the greenhouse so that you can water your vegetables sufficiently. Planting outdoors is usually possible from the end of February, although this date can vary depending on the region. Pay attention to the soil in the vegetable patch. As soon as the soil has dried on the surface and no longer smears, you can start planting. These vegetables are suitable for late winter planting:
salsify
- Leeks that were brought forward in January can be planted out at the end of February
- Black salsify is endangered by late frost and feels comfortable in the greenhouse
- Plant the kohlrabi and radish in a frost-free but unheated greenhouse
- Lettuce and iceberg lettuce are ready to harvest in a cool greenhouse by April
- Plant onion sets, pearl onions, shallots and garlic from the end of February
March
Hardy and robust vegetables can be planted out early in the year. Light frosts do not cause any problems for the useful plants. However, you will achieve better yields if you cultivate the plants in a greenhouse or protect outdoor beds with a film. The covers remain on the bed until mid-May. When the young plants are about 15 centimeters high, remove the fleece and mound soil around the base of the stem. These vegetables can be planted in March:
Phaseolus vulgaris, kidney bean
- Young plants of early cabbage, Jerusalem artichoke, lettuce or beans are placed outdoors
- last planting season for rhubarb, ready to harvest in April
- put the early savoy cabbage in the cold frame
- Let new potatoes germinate in egg cartons at twelve to 15 degrees
Tip: March is ideal for sowing beetroot, spinach, chicory, carrots and onions in the garden. Seeds of frost-resistant radishes are spread directly outdoors in a mixed culture with parsnips.
April
The growing season outdoors has begun. However, there is still a risk of late frosts, which can damage sensitive vegetables. In general, seedlings tolerate transplanting better if they have a well-developed root ball with soil. Ballless seedlings should be placed in the ground in the evening or on rainy and overcast days so that they can grow better. In this way you also prevent a plant shock. Meanwhile, these vegetables are ready to plant in April:
Green asparagus
- Plant out the pre-germinated early potatoes directly outdoors in mid-April
- Plant green asparagus in rows directly in the bed
- Plant early-ripening kohlrabi at a sufficient distance, as this will ripen faster
- Plant chard in rows with generous spacing
- Plant out cabbage, broccoli, lettuce and early peas towards the end of April
- Place beetroot sprouts outdoors and cover with fleece
- Place plantlets of hardy tomato varieties in an unheated greenhouse
May
Temperatures can drop below zero by the middle of the month, which is why you should only plant non-frost-resistant vegetables later in the month. After May 15, the risk of late frosts is usually over, so sensitive vegetables can also be planted outdoors. In harsh locations, wait until the end of the month for heat-loving strains to come outside. These plantings are now possible:
Celery, Apium
- Celery migrates outdoors as soon as there are no more night frosts
- Pumpkin and pepper plants that have been brought forward are placed in the bed after the ice saints
- Grafted cucumber plants can be placed in the unheated greenhouse from the beginning of the month
Tip: After the soil has warmed up sufficiently, you can sow seeds of chicory in the bed. The sowing of parsnips also takes place in rough locations from mid-May.
June
In this month, late vegetables are planted to be harvested in autumn. In addition, plants that are particularly heat-loving are allowed outdoors. However, you should not lose sight of the weather forecast, because in Central Europe young plants can be affected by the cold of the sheep in mid-June. This entry of cold air is usually accompanied by unsettled and rainy weather. Therefore, cover young plants with foil or fleece if necessary. Your planting plan looks like this:
endive
- ideal planting time for all lettuce such as endive, lettuce, iceberg lettuce and bindweed
- Kale, cauliflower, broccoli and kohlrabi migrate outdoors
- Young plants of autumn leeks, celery and fennel want to get some fresh air
- snake cucumbers that have been brought forward now feel comfortable in the bed
Tip: Lettuce and lamb's lettuce can still be sown directly because they are ready to harvest within a few weeks. Now is a good time to sow late carrot varieties.
July
The first beds that were filled with seeds in spring have been harvested and now offer space for fresh plantings. Numerous young plants that have been brought forward can now be planted outdoors if they were unable to attend an earlier planting date. Thoroughly loosen harvested beds and provide them with horn shavings. Note that the intensity of the sun increases and the seedlings dry faster in direct sunlight. Adequate water supply is just as important as shading in the blazing midday sun. These vegetables can be planted out in July:
Brassica oleracea, kohlrabi
- early endive lettuce, which is to be harvested in October, goes outdoors
- Plant young lamb's lettuce eight by eight centimeters apart
- Planting of broccoli, kohlrabi and cauliflower is still possible
- Winter leek wanders into the bed
August
It is time to prepare for the late autumn and winter harvest. The growth of vegetable plants is slowly decreasing, so you should only plant fast-growing or frost-resistant varieties outdoors. In the greenhouse you have even more space and can plant vegetables that should be outdoors by July at the latest. This overview shows you which plantings are possible in August:
Lactuca sativa, lettuce
- Endive can be planted in an unheated greenhouse until the end of the month
- last planting date for broccoli, kohlrabi, winter leeks and late cauliflower varieties
- At the beginning of August, young lettuce can still be put out
- Lamb's lettuce can be planted until the end of August
- Late varieties of savoy can be moved outdoors