3. Planting Too Early

Basil Planted Too Early is Subject to Damage by Slugs and Snails © Steve Masley Click IMAGE to Enlarge

Planting too early is the most common mistake when starting a vegetable garden for the first time, and it ALWAYS leads to wasted effort and disappointment.

Nothing saps enthusiasm like seeing nothing sprout from the seedbeds you toiled over, or watching the plants you nurtured from seeds wither and die in the cold.

Click Any Image to See a Larger Version

Knowing the difference between summer and fall vegetables can help. Fall vegetables (cool season vegetables) like spinach, lettuce, beets, Swiss chard, peas, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and kale can take light frosts as seedlings, and heavy frost as mature plants.

Summer vegetables like tomatoes, basil, peppers, chiles, eggplants, cucumbers, squash, and melons die at the first touch of frost. They need warm temperatures in the 65-85° (18-29° C) range to germinate and grow.

Consult the USDA Planting Zone Map to find out when your first and last frost date is.