Container Garden Planting Calendar - College of Agriculture and ...

Container Garden
Planting Calendar
for Edibles in the N.C. Piedmont
You can grow and harvest vegetables, fruits, and herbs in the piedmont of
North Carolina practically year-round. Container gardening offers flexibility
over traditional gardening because the containers can be raised or lowered
for easier accessibility, placed in a sunny or shady spot, moved to a sheltered
area for extreme weather (low temperatures, snow, or tropical storms), and
protected from wildlife (squirrels, voles, rabbits, or deer) that may damage
plants or try to eat your harvest. By choosing the appropriate varieties
and planting at the right time of year, you can enjoy the many benefits of
gardening and create a beautiful space just outside your door.
Benefits
People grow vegetables, fruits, and herbs
for many reasons. Many edibles have great
ornamental value, such as the fine, feathery
foliage of dill, the bright red stalks
of chard, the snowy white blossoms of
peas, and the bold purple color of eggplant.
Besides providing a fresh source
of nutritious locally produced food, the
act of gardening has the added benefits of
improving both your mental and physical
health. The sense of joy and pride in
planting, growing, and harvesting can be
tremendous. Children also benefit from
being included in container gardening
projects. Growing edibles can connect
children with the biological world around
them, increase their knowledge of where
food comes from, and expand the variety
and quantity of fresh fruits and vegetables
they consume.
Varieties
When choosing plants for your containers,
select ones with a confined or compact
growth habit. Not all edibles can be grown
in containers, but new varieties are developed
every year. Look for varieties that are
labeled compact, bush, dwarf, or minia-
ture. To maximize success, choose varieties
that are pest and disease resistant. Initials
following the plant variety—for example,
tomato—indicate that it has been bred
to be resistant to a disease or pest. “V”
means resistance to Verticillium wilt, “F”
indicates resistance to Fusarium wilt, and
“T” indicates resistance to Tobacco Mosaic
Virus. While these codes are the ones most
commonly used, they are not universal. So
be sure to check the key in the catalogue
you are using. Finally, choose varieties that
will provide the taste, texture, and color
that you desire.
Climate
Edibles can be grown in the piedmont
throughout the year by utilizing microclimates
and protecting plants by moving
containers close to a warm wall or house.
The average low temperature in December,
January, and February is 28 0 F to 30 0
F, but collards, kale, and some herbs such
as bay and rosemary will tolerate the cold
weather. The summer months of June, July,
and August are when most plants are pro-

Container Garden Planting Calendar for Edibles in the N.C. Piedmont
ducing their bounty, but in this area of the country, several
cool-season crops such as leafy greens, carrots, beets,
and radish can be planted in the late winter for a spring
harvest and again in the late summer for a fall harvest.
Warm season crops such as tomato, cucumber, and peppers
should be planted in late spring once nighttime temperatures
are above 55 0 F and daytime temperatures are at
least 70 0 F. Begin with a plan for succession planting as it
is efficient and provides an increased crop availability. It
consists of the coordination of planning the planting of
one crop so that when it is harvested, there will be another
planted in its place. For example, fill a large container
with lettuce in the early spring and it will be harvested
by early to mid May. Lettuce can be replaced with a bell
pepper plant. In September, remove the pepper and plant
another cool season crop like lettuce, kale, or scallions.
Please see related Extension publications for additional
information on potting soil options, container selection,
and nutrition management.
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In the piedmont area of NC, there are three USDA Plant
Hardiness Zones: 7a, 7b, and 8a.
USDA Hardiness Zones and Average Annual
Minimum Temperature Range
Zone Fahrenheit Example Cities
7a 0 to 5 F Chapel Hill, Winston-Salem
7b 5 to 10 F Lumberton, Raleigh
8a 10 to 15 F Fayetteville, Hope Mills
Lettuce, radish, and nasturtium planted on a sunny deck.
Planting Calendar
The calendar that follows provides information as to
which vegetables, fruits, and herbs can be planted each
month and when they will be ready to harvest. It indicates
whether the plant should be started from seed or
transplants, and the guide also gives recommendations
for success for each plant.
Container Gardening
— At a Glance
• Enjoy the benefits of growing edibles yearround
• Select varieties labeled compact, bush, dwarf,
or miniature
• Choose varieties that are disease and pest
resistant where possible
• Consider a plant’s taste, texture, and color
• Use the charts to optimize planting date and
harvest time
Photo courtesy L. Bradley

Container Garden Planting Calendar for Edibles in the N.C. Piedmont
Container Garden Planting Calendar for Vegetables in the N.C. Piedmont
Vegetables
Days to
Harvest
Jan. Feb. March April May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.
1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15
Beans, lima – bush 65-80 S S S S
Beans, lima – pole 75-95 S S S
Beans, snap – bush 50-55 S S S S S S
Beans, snap – pole 65-70 S S S S S
Beets 55-60 S S S S S
Bok choy 45-60 T T T T
Carrots 75-80 S S S S
Collards 90-120 ST ST
Cucumber 60-65 ST ST ST
Eggplant 80-85 T T T T
Endive 80-90 S S S S S
Green garlic 30-35 B B B B
Kale 50-60 ST ST ST S S
Leeks 70-100 T T T T
Lettuce, head 75-85 ST ST ST ST
Lettuce, leaf 45-50 ST ST ST ST ST
Mustard greens 30-45 ST ST ST ST S S S
Peas, garden 65-70 S S
Peas, snap 65-70 S S
Peas, snow 65-70 S S
Peppers 75-80 T T
Potatoes 100-120 T T T T T
Radish 20-25 S S S S S S S S
Scallions 60-80 B B B B B B
Spinach 45-50 S S S S S
Squash, summer 50-60 T T
Squash, winter 85-95 S S S
Swiss chard 60-70 ST ST ST
Tomatoes 75-85 T T T T T T
B = Bulbs S = Seeds T = Transplants
3

Container Garden Planting Calendar for Edibles in the N.C. Piedmont
Container Garden Planting Calendar for Fruits in the N.C. Piedmont
4
Fruits Pollination
Apple
Blueberries
Jan. Feb. March April May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.
1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15
Cross-pollination
needed P P P P P P H H H H H H H P
Partially selffertile*
P P P P H H H H H H P P P P P P
Citrus Self-fertile P P P H H H H H H H H H
Fig Self-fertile P P P P P P H H H H H H H H P P
Grapes
Peach
Most varieties
self-fertile P P P P P H H H H H P P P
Most varieties
self-fertile P P P P P P H H H H H H P
Strawberries** Self-fertile P P H H H P P
H = Harvest P = Plant
Note: Blueberries, grapes, and most fruit trees will take several years to bear full crops
*Partially self-fertile means cross–pollination will result in increased yield and berry size
**Strawberries planted in late February or early March will produce a very limited crop in May or early June;
planting in late October or early November will produce a better yielding crop
Top hat blueberry bush growing in a
colorful container.
Photo courtesy D. J. Gunn
Lemon tree on dwarfing rootstock with
fruit ready for harvest.
Photo courtesy Amy Kwok

Container Garden Planting Calendar for Edibles in the N.C. Piedmont
Container Garden Planting Calendar for Herbs in the N.C. Piedmont
Herbs Harvest season
Basil Summer T T T
Jan. Feb. March April May June July August Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.
1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15
Bay Continuous T T T T T
Borage Spring to fall S S
Chamomile
Chervil
Late summer
to early fall
Late summer
into winter
S S
Chives Spring to fall T T T
Cilantro Early summer S S S
S S S S S
Dill Summer to fall S S S S
Fennel Late summer S S
Feverfew Summer ST ST
Lavender Summer T T T
Lemongrass Late summer T T
Lemon Verbena Summer T T
Marjoram Summer ST ST
Mint Spring to fall T T T
Monarda* Summer to fall T T
Oregano Summer to fall T T T
Parsley Summer to fall T T T T T
Rosemary Continuous T T T
Saffron Crocus Fall B B
Sage Summer to fall T T
Salad Burnet
Scented
Geranium
Spring to early
summer
ST ST
Spring to fall T T
Stevia Continuous T T
Tarragon Spring to fall T T
Thyme Summer ST ST ST ST
*also known as Bergamot
B = Bulbs S = Seeds T = Transplants
5

Container Garden Planting Calendar for Edibles in the N.C. Piedmont
Container Garden Planting Calendar for Vegetables in the N.C. Piedmont
6
Vegetables Recommendations for Success
Beans Bush beans grow 12-18 inches tall and pole beans grow up to 8 feet
Beets Choose cylindrical or round varieties; harvest when beets are 1 inch in diameter
Bok choy
Dwarf types are available. On fall plantings, outside leaves can be harvested first while the rest of the plant
continues to grow
Carrots Choose round, fingers, or Nantes varieties; container soil depth needs to be at least 8 inches
Cucumbers Bush or vining varieties are fine; trellis vining varieties at time of planting
Eggplant Choose Asian or dwarf varieties; backtrack 8 weeks if start seeds indoors (early March)
Endive
Green garlic
Also known as frisee; miniature variety is available. To soften the taste, tie the leaves together at the top
to blanch more stem
Plant unpeeled individual cloves 2 inches deep; eat entire plant or slice off a portion of the green shoots
and they will regrow
Leafy greens Includes: collards, kale, mustard, and Swiss chard; can start seeds indoors 3-4 weeks before planting outdoors
Leeks Use transplants rather than direct seeding due to long maturity time
Lettuce Categories: looseleaf lettuces will cut and come again but romaine and butterheads do not
Peas At planting, trellis both bush and vining types; mix nitrogen-fixing inoculant into the soil along with the seeds
Peppers
Choose transplants that are dense and compact; do not plant until nighttime temperatures are >55 0 F and
days are >70 0 F
Potatoes Red-skinned, waxy, yellow-skinned, or fingerling types do well
Radishes Harvest early (the size of large marbles) or they become bitter
Scallions Grow scallions or bunching onions; when planting, use transplants or onion sets
Spinach Harvest entire plant or pick individual leaves
Squash Choose a bush form or miniatures; for best flavor, harvest when they are small
Tomatoes
Stake or trellis at planting; need a container depth of at least 12 inches and container size of at least 5 gallons;
prune plants to keep them under 5½ feet tall
Note: Planting dates are suggested guidelines. These dates should provide the highest probability of success, however, weather conditions vary
from year to year and planting dates should be adjusted accordingly.
If growing your own transplants, start them six to eight weeks prior to transplanting them into the garden. Protect tender transplants from severe
weather conditions. To “harden them off” just prior to transplanting, gradually introduce them to their new environment by taking them outside
for increasing periods each day.

Container Garden Planting Calendar for Edibles in the N.C. Piedmont
Container Garden Planting Calendar for Fruits in the N.C. Piedmont
Fruit Recommendations for Success
Apples
Choose dwarf and disease-resistant rootstocks; need two different varieties for cross-pollination; root system is
hardy to only about 15 0 F; need at least a 20-25 gallon container
Blueberries Choose a dwarf variety; keep soil pH 4.5 – 5.3; container size should be at least 2 feet × 2 feet × 2 feet
Citrus
Figs
Grapes
Peaches
Strawberries
Options include: Satsuma or Kishu mandarins, calamondins, lemons, or limes; lemons and limes do not survive
freezing weather so move the plant inside once the temperature is under 45 0 F; mandarins on hardy Poncirus
trifoliate semi-dwarfing rootstock and calamondins tolerate temperatures down to 25 0 F; choose a dwarf rootstock
to keep the plant small and put it in a lightweight container that can be moved indoors; if a small plant
is purchased, over time move the plant up to a larger size container, eventually reaching a 15 gallon size; citrus
will have less leaf drop if overwintered in a low-light area that is cool rather than warm
With pruning, can be kept to 8 feet tall; roots will withstand temperatures to about 15 0 F; need at least a 10
gallon container
Provide a trellis to support the vertical growth; minimum container size should be 15 gallons; root system is
hardy to 20 0 F; for muscadines choose a self-fertile variety; muscadines are a better choice over bunch grapes
as most muscadines are not affected by Pierce’s Disease
Choose a genetic dwarf or bush form; roots will withstand temperatures to 15 0 F; need at least a 20-25 gallon
container
Choose June-bearing (large berries, fruit in May, produce many runners), everbearing (smaller berries, fruit in
May and again in late summer, produce less runners), day-neutral (smaller berries, fruit from June until frost,
produce few runners) or Alpine (1/2-inch berries produced throughout the growing season, send out no runners);
containers need to be at least 8 inches deep; a larger crop will be produced by planting the previous fall
rather than waiting to plant until the spring.
Note: Insulate pots during the winter to protect plant roots from extreme cold temperatures. Materials that you can use to wrap the pots include
a Reemay frost blanket, bubble wrap, closed cell foam (1-inch thick), quilt batting, household insulation, or a blanket. Add a layer of plastic on top
of the insulation to keep it from getting soaked during wet weather.
Periodically check the moisture in the soil and water dry containers. Keeping the plants watered will act as a buffer to protect plant roots during
cold weather.
Choose light-colored containers to prevent temperature fluctuations. Black or very dark pots in full sun will cause soil temperatures to rise during
the day and fall at night by as much as 30 0 F.
Plants in larger containers will produce more fruit, not dry out as quickly, and experience less fluctuation in soil temperature.
Dwarf Bearss Lime
Photo courtesy Rebecca Latimer
Purple Beans
Photo courtesy Pattie Tierney
Photo courtesy Patricia Wrightman
Lettuce, Purple Mustard, and
Swiss Chard
Thinning Huckleberry
Seedlings
Photo courtesy Wendi Strang-Frost
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Container Garden Planting Calendar for Edibles in the N.C. Piedmont
Container Garden Planting Calendar for Herbs in the N.C. Piedmont
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Herbs Recommendations for Success
Basil Plant once temperature is above 50 0 F
Bay Grows to a small tree (5 feet tall); hardy outside to around 32 0 F
Borage Need container depth of at least 8 inches for large taproot; germinates quickly
Chamomile
Annual or perennial; German variety is a tall, upright plant used for tea; Roman variety is a sweet smelling,
low growing plant; plant seeds once temperature is above 55 0 F for German and above 70 0 F for Roman
Chervil Tolerates cool weather and low light; harvest in 6 to 8 weeks
Chives Perennial - bulbs are left in place to multiply themselves; all parts of the plant are edible
Cilantro Choose “non-bolting” type; need container depth of at least 8 inches for large taproot
Dill Choose “dwarf” variety, need at least 12 inch deep container for long taproot
Fennel
Tender perennial; mature plant gets 2 feet tall and 1 foot wide; Sweet fennel has edible foliage, seeds, and
stalks; Florence fennel has an edible bulb; need 12 inch deep pot for large taproot
Feverfew Perennial; crowded plants will not thrive
Lavender
Lemongrass
Perennial; Lavandula angustifolia or L. heterophylla; keep plants clipped for good air circulation; don’t overwater
or keep soil wet as roots will rot
Grows to 2 feet tall and wide; Cymbopogon citratus is the only culinary lemongrass; tropical plant — likes
warm, humid, and wet conditions
Lemon Verbena Annual or tender perennial; mature plant grows to 4 feet tall and 3 feet wide
Marjoram Shallow rooted so starting seeds may be better than using transplants; requires 70 days to grow before harvest
Mint Perennial; keep trimmed back; grow in its own pot as roots will take over the entire pot with time
Monarda Perennial; 1 to 3 feet tall; large, colorful flowers also called “bee balm”
Oregano Perennial; don’t overwater; needs good air circulation
Parsley Cool season grower; don’t overwater; slow and erratic to germinate so use transplants if possible
Rosemary Perennial; favors dry, poor soil; can remain outdoors to 25 0 F
Saffron Crocus Perennial; plant in late spring and blooms in late fall
Sage Perennial; harvest frequently to keep small leaves, otherwise they loose their scent
Salad Burnet Perennial; fresh-only herb; don’t overwater; need 12 inch deep pot for long taproot
Scented Geraniums Tender perennial; drought tolerant
Stevia Tender perennial; grows up to 2 feet tall; leaf edges burn in hot sun; move indoors for winter
Tarragon
Perennial but dormant in winter; likes hot weather; put in own pot as roots intertwine; French variety used
for cooking; best used fresh
Thyme Perennial; drought tolerant; don’t overwater

NC STATE UNIVERSITY
Container Garden Planting Calendar for Edibles in the N.C. Piedmont
Resources
Bass, L. 2000. Home vegetable gardening: Quick reference
guide. NC Coop. Ext. Serv. AG-12.
Bost, T. 1997. North Carolina gardener’s guide. Cool
Springs Press, Nashville, TN.
Creasy, R. 2010. Edible landscaping. 2 nd ed. Sierra Club
Books, San Francisco, CA.
Evans, E. and J. Davis. 1998. Harvesting and preserving
herbs for the home gardener. NC Coop. Ext. Serv.
Hort. Info. Lflt. 8111. 10 July 2010. http://ces.ncsu.
edu/depts/hort/hil/hil-8111.
Hastings, D. and C. Hastings. 1996. Month-by-month
gardening in the south. Longstreet Press, Atlanta, GA.
Jones, D. and Debbie Roos. 2009. Planting and harvesting
guide for piedmont vegetables and herbs. Growing
Small Farms, Pittsboro. 22 Feb 2011. http://www.ces.
ncsu.edu/chatham/ag/SustAg/plantingguide.html.
Prepared by
Kim Richter
Department of Horticultural Science
Lucy Bradley, Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist
Department of Horticultural Science
Mark Kistler, Assistant Professor
Department of Agricultural and Extension Education
Julie Sherk, Assistant Professor
Department of Horticultural Science
Published by
NORTH CAROLINA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION
Kelly, W.T. 1999. Specialty crops: Chinese cabbage and
related oriental crops. The Univ. of GA College of Agr.
& Environ. Sci. Circ. 809.
McGee, R. and M. Stuckey. 2002. The bountiful container.
Workman Publishing Co., New York, NY.
Poling, E.B., E.B. Bish, G.E. Fernandez and W. T. Bland.
1999. Grapes and berries for the garden. NC Coop.
Ext. Serv. AG-588
Reich, L. 2009. Landscaping with fruit. Storey Publishing,
North Adams, MA.
Vegetable planting guide. Stone Bros. and Byrd, 700
Washington St., Durham, NC.
Distributed in furtherance of the acts of Congress of May 8 and June 30, 1914. North Carolina State University and North Carolina A&T State University commit themselves to positive action
to secure equal opportunity regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, religion, sex, age, veteran status or disability. In addition, the two Universities welcome all persons without
regard to sexual orientation. North Carolina State University, North Carolina A&T State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments cooperating.
11-CALS-2632 AG-748
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5/11—VB/KEL