PLANTING Regions, Articles, Tips from the Web
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First, thank goodness there is so much information on gardening anywhere on the planet via the web!
We Googled and found some information to share here, especially for beginner planters, growers and gardeners. This should be a fun process and we encourage everyone out there to Google or just look at the tons of information for planting plants on the WWW by the Hemisphere you live in.
We also found regional information for North America via Zip Code. (Examples: How to Calculate Your Planting Dates, Finding Grow Zones) Please send us via email any great finds on growing from your corner of the world so we can share.
GREAT PLACE TO START YOUR SEARCH:
Sowing Guides - Seed Sewing
Here you will find unique vegetable sowing guides that are so useful. Based on where you live, you will see when to sow seeds for all climates in both the northern and southern hemispheres.
The timetables for planting depend on which of the three climate zones you live in... Cold, Temperate or Tropical/Sub-tropical.
These sowing guides are separated further into three climate zones AND Northern and Southern hemispheres.
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Stay with me here, because stuff designed specifically for the southern hemisphere is, frankly, rare.
So, for the northern hemisphere bods, three broad brushstroke planting calendars that will guide you in planning your vegetable garden.
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Northern Hemisphere Sowing Guides
Northern Hemisphere Growing Guides
Northern Hemisphere Climate—Tropical/Sub Tropical
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Southern Hemisphere Sowing Guides
Southern Hemisphere Climate—Tropical/Sub Tropical
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For those in the southern hemisphere, rejoice! Here is something you won't have to translate into your seasons, all alone in your garden shed. Here are your vegetable seed sowing guides — great timetables for great vegetables.
We'd love to hear from you on great sites that are helping you on your Seed and Plant Growing Journey. Just email us and we will try to add to our list to share with others around the globe.
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REMEMBER: When you sign up for any of our Challenges, you will first need to designate your Continent. It's exciting to know that the entire world will be represented!
Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia/Oceana, Europe, North America, South America
Why Start Planting Seeds Indoors?
Why start planting seeds indoors?
Many people wonder about when to start planting seeds. There are many reasons why gardeners may choose to start plants from seed. Some do so simply to get a jump start on the gardening season, since the process can be started even while still cold out. For others, it’s the cost-factor that’s so attractive, as a pack of seeds is cheaper and will produce much more yield than a starter plant. And still others like to know exactly how their plants are raised – this is especially true for gardeners who are concerned with organic practices. But the biggest reason to start seeds indoors can be to protect seedlings from harsh weather conditions.
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Which seeds should start indoors?
Some plants are better suited to be planted outdoors from the start. However, many varieties will do exceptionally well when started from seed indoors. Of course, it’s always important to keep in mind there are other factors to note besides just the type of plant. When to plant, and how well a plant will do indoors versus outdoors, will vary from plant to plant. Growing zone also needs to be taken into consideration.
Plants that you can start indoors from seed include:
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Broccoli
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Brussels sprouts
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Cabbage
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Cauliflower
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Eggplant
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Lettuce
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Peppers
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Pumpkins
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Swiss chard
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Tomatoes
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Watermelon
When should you transplant seedlings?
One of the most important components to starting plants from seeds is timing. Knowing when to move seedlings outside is critical to a plant’s success. Wait too long and you risk a root bound plant and transplanting too soon means your plant may not be strong enough to survive the elements and shock from being moved to a new environment.
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Surprisingly, size is not always a steadfast indicator of a plant being ready to move outdoors. Some seedlings will grow quickly but may not be ready to move outside. A better way than size to tell if a plant is mature enough to be transplanted is by the number of true leaves it has. If a seedling has between 3 and 4 true leaves, it is likely ready. Note that the very first leaves to grow are not what you’re looking for. Those initial leaves are cotyledons and store food for growing plants. True leaves emerge after the cotyledons.
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Of course, temperature and frost play a big factor on when to transplant seedlings. Knowing the last frost date and a plant’s standard frost guidelines is important.
Common questions about planting calendars
Can there be more than one planting season?
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Some zones offer succession planting, or “second plantings.” Warmer climates, such as zones 7 – 10, will often provide two opportunities to plant some of your favorite veggies. For example, in Florida, you can plant peppers and tomatoes in February to enjoy a summer harvest, and then again in early fall for a winter harvest.
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How to tell how much to water your garden?
A good rule of thumb is to water your garden about 2 inches each week. Use this guide very loosely, though, as specific plants, zones and planting areas will all dictate how much water is actually needed. The water needs of one plant versus another can vary tremendously.
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When is the best time to plant a garden?
There really isn’t any one, good answer to this question. Just like water, soil, light and other growing conditions, plants can have very different needs for the best time to be planted. The only way to know for sure is to use a gardening calendar that calculates the first expected and last average last frost date in a specific zone – this will help determine planting timing for each plant.
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What can I plant before winter?
Just because the weather is cooling off doesn’t mean the growing season has to be over. Cooler fall temperatures are the perfect time to plant many delicious vegetables such as garlic, asparagus, peas and onions and shallots.
When should I stop watering before harvesting?
For most plants, stop watering about 1 -3 days prior to harvest. Ideally, soil should be relatively dry, but plants should not be so thirsty they wilt or droop.
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Planning a gardening calendar is exciting – and a planting calendar takes some of the guesswork out of the process, so it can also be fun and rewarding. With careful thought, the end result is an entire garden of gorgeous plants that will produce all season long
National Geographic Shares Growing Season Info
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A growing season is the period of the year when crops and other plants grow successfully. The length of a growing season varies from place to place. A growing season is the period of the year when crops and other plants grow successfully. The length of a growing season varies from place to place. Most crops need a growing season of at least 90 days.
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In tropical regions, where it is warm year-round, the growing season can last the entire year. In some tropical places, however, the growing season is interrupted by a rainy season. During this time, it is too wet to grow crops. Coffee, which grows in tropical climates, has this type of varied growing season. In Colombia, coffee is harvested all year. In Indonesia, heavy rains often interrupt the coffee growing season.
In other tropical places, it is sometimes too dry for crops to grow. The tropical region of northern Africa, called the Sahel, experiences frequent periods of drought. The Sahel is a transition zone between the Sahara Desert in the north and the savanna in the south. Due to dramatic weather patterns, the prospect of a successful harvest in the Sahel is highly uncertain.
In temperate regions, which have warm summers and cold winters, the length of the growing season depends mostly on temperature. Some growing seasons last as long as eight months. Europe and most of the Americas enjoy long growing seasons like this. The farther away a place is from the Equator, the shorter the growing season. In regions near the poles, the growing season is sometimes less than two months. The U.S. state of Alaska has an average growing season of only 105 days.
Elevation, or the height above sea level, also affects the growing season. This is because higher elevations usually have colder temperatures. High in the Sierra Nevada mountains in the U.S. state of California, the growing season lasts only 50 days, but along the state's southern coast, the growing season lasts 365 days.
There are two ways to determine the growing season. In temperate regions, the growing season is usually calculated by the average number of days between the last frost in spring and the first severe frost in autumn. The growing season can also be determined by the average number of days that the temperature rises high enough for a particular crop to sprout and grow. This measurement varies depending upon the crop. For rice to grow, the temperature must be at least 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit). Wheat, however, will sprout at just 5 degrees Celsius (40 degrees Fahrenheit).
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