Vegetables to start indoors 8 to 12 weeks before last frost date. Avid gardeners can’t wait to get their gardens started each spring. Because weather is still inconsistent in early spring, how do you what to plant before your last frost date and in what order?
Your last frost date is defined as the last date that you will “most likely” see a plant-killing frost in your area in the spring of each year. Because we live in different climates and elevations, this date can range widely from one state to another, and even from one township to another.
Once you live in an area for a while you’ll even find that your specific yard may have its own microclimate based on the amount of sunlight and wind it receives.
Have you ever bet on the weather, planted your garden – and lost? If you are growing crops for food there is serious concern about whether or not there will be an early frost. Taking the bet means that all your hard work can be foiled when immature crops freeze.
Fortunately, there is also an absolute last frost date – which is the date after which it has NEVER frozen in your part of the world.
Typically, frost can occur when the temperature falls below 36°F, especially in rural areas. It is a localized phenomenon and can be quite variable across a small area. The National Weather Service does not keep track of “frost” exactly, but they do keep track of when temperatures hit the freezing mark or fall below.
Would you plant your garden (or cold weather crops) if there was only a 50% chance of a moderate freeze in your area? I’ve done that in the past and I can say that it does depend on the year and how the winter has gone.
Some winters are cooler than others, but I think overall, I’ve won the battle over half of the time and turned out having a successful garden with no plant loss.
These three vegetables are slow growers and need a bit of advance planning to be ready for planting out after the last frost date.
Asparagus, while usually grown from one-year crowns, can also be started from seed. Once established they will take a light frost, but not as young seedlings.
Celeriac is a type of celery grown for its baseball sized, nut-flavored roots. Start the seeds early and set them out after the temperature reaches 55F.
Celery is one of the most challenging vegetables to grow because of its long growth cycle. Bolting is caused when it is exposed to temperatures under 55F.
If you missed planting asparagus, celeriac or celery, you can still catch up on them in these two weeks. In addition, these three vegetables are warm weather crops that can be planted indoors 8 to 10 weeks before your last frost date.
Eggplant needs daytime temps of 65F to 95F and if the temp dips below that they will not produce fruit.
You may be tempted to start other warm weather crops very early, but that would be a mistake. Holding these seedlings indoors under low light would produce lanky plants that are stressed. Wait a few more weeks and read this article to see what seeds should be started 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost date.