After Gardening for over a decade now I feel like an expert enough to help anyone who wants to start a garden. Since I like to focus on buyers who are looking to create self-sufficiency I feel this wisdom will find a nice home here.
These past few years Chester County has changed zones quite a bit, so depending on when you view this blog the information may not be up to date, however this year Chester County is coming in at a zone 7a meaning our lowest temp this year should be between 0-5 F
What to Start Indoors
Lettuces- if you have a partially shaded bed then you should consider growing lettuce all summer long. Start you seeds indoors and transplant them when they get 1-2 inches tall or 4-5 leaves.
Herbs- similar to lettuces, grow these year-round if you can because we use them all the time from tea to cooking, to incense, dyeing and crafts. Grow them non-stop an ty to find varieties that will continue to grow even after cutting back.
Pumpkins- if you want a Halloween or thanksgiving pumpkin, consider growing your pumpkins a bit later especially if you are doing smaller varieties or gourds.
Sunflowers-especially the giant sunflowers, these flowers want super warm weather, and I don't normally bring them out until mid-June so you can start them now if you have a small indoor grow area and don't want giant plants taking over your home.
What to Transplant Outside - I normally do a very big transplanting the last weekend(s) of May
Beans
Broccoli – this can go out early May and even earlier. They love the cold.
Butternut Squash - hold off if they aren’t large enough to start on your trellis.
Cabbages – this can go out early may or even earlier. They love the cold.
Cantaloupes - hold off if they aren’t large enough to start on your trellis.
Cucumbers- hold off if they aren’t large enough to start on your trellis.
Eggplants
Herbs
Honeydews - hold off if they aren’t large enough to start on your trellis.
Lettuces
Peas
Peppers (hot and sweet)
Strawberries
Tomatillos
Tomatoes
Watermelons - hold off if they aren’t large enough to start on your trellis.
Winter Squash - hold off if they aren’t large enough to start on your trellis.
Yellow Squash
Zucchini
What to Start Outdoors
Basil
Bok Choy- this is a last resort for failed transplants, or because you are staggering your planting. Do not plant after mid-May
Flowers- summer blooms want to be planted in the spring so get your summer flower seeds and bulbs in at the beginning of May (these would be gladiolus, lilies, roses, echinacea, black eyed Susan, begonias, and clematis to name a few)
Green Beans
Lettuces- these have been mentioned in every category I know. Lettuce is versatile and if you have a shaded bed, you can and should grow small amounts all summer long. Stagger your growth for a fresh head of lettuce every week.
Okra
Sweet corn – I suggest growing this in stages. Especially if it's for personal consumption because fresh corn is great and no one is eating 100 ears of corn in one day, so stagger your planting so that you have steady flow of fresh corn for a few weeks instead of all at once. Start May first with w row and then every week or so add another row.
Tomatoes – I have had it happen before that my tomatoes die off right after transplant and I end up just throwing a seed in the ground to replace the plant and they do fine. It takes them a long while catch up to the indoor started plants, but they will get to maturity in time to produce fruit for you.
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