Vegetable Garden Planting Guide - Colorado State University ...

Vegetable Garden
Planting Guide
Wilma Trujillo
Southeast Area Agronomist
Colorado State University Extension

Vegetable Garden
Excellent source of fresh and nutritious vegetable
Brings relaxation and enjoyment for the entire family
Simple tools
Little space
Anybody can be a successful home gardener

How much time are you going to devote to the garden?
What kind of terrain and soil do you have?
What size?
Vegetable Garden

Easier to maintain
Increase yield
Garden Layout
Rows
Beds
• Single
• Wide
Best use of space • Raised Beds
• Box Beds

Row Layout
Large area
Advantages
Each row is a different vegetable
North to South
Enough space between row
Disadvantages
Soil compaction
More pest attacks

Block-Style
(close row or wide-row)
Garden Layout

Plant in block
Vegetable are planted closer
Ideal for small areas
Size 3 ft x 4 ft and depth 8” to 12”
Earlier planting
Better drainage
Raised Bed Layout

Suggested Spacing
Vegetable Spacing
Beans and Peas 4" x 12"
Beets 4 -6" x 4-6"
Broccoli/ Cabbage/Cauliflowers 18" x 18"
Carrots 2-3" x 2-3"
Celery 7-9" x 7-9"
Cucumbers 9-12" x 9-12"
Garlic 4 -6" x 4-6"
Lettuce, head 10-12” x 10-12"
Lettuce, leaf 7-9" x 7-9"
Eggplant 18-24" x 18-24"
Onion, bunching 2-3" x 2-3"
Onion, dry 4 -6" x 4-6"
Peppers 15” x 15"
Potatoes 12-15" x 12-15"
Radishes 2-3" x 2-3"
Squash/Cantaloupe/Watermelon 48”-72” x 48”-72”
Spinach 4 -6" x 4-6"
Tomatoes 24" x 24"

Vegetable Planting Guide
Cool Season Vegetable
Hardy Vegetable Semi-Hardy Vegetable
Broccoli Beets
Cabbage Carrots
Kohlrabi Cauliflower
Onions Parsley
Lettuce Potatoes
Peas
Radish
Spinach
Cool growing temperature (60 0
to 80 0 F)
Lose quality in hot weather
Prefer a cool soil
Plant based on soil temperature
4 weeks before the date of
the average last spring frost
Often replanted mid-summer
for fall harvest

Vegetable Planting Guide
Warm Season Vegetable
Tender Vegetable Very tender
Beans Lima Beans
Celery Cantaloupe
Corn Eggplant
Cucumbers Tomatoes
Summer Squash Peppers
Winter Squash
Watermelon
Daytime temperature above 60 0 F
Summer like weather with temperature
70 0 to 95 0 F
Intolerant to frost
Sensitive to cool spring winds
Plant based on soil temperature
Planted from seeds around the date
of average last spring frost
Very tender vegetable planted 2 +
week after last spring frost

Plant
Harvest

Symptom Cause Solutions
Yellow and stunted plants
Nutrient deficiency or Use fertilizer and correct pH
abnormal soil pH
3 to 4 lb. per 100 sq. ft.
Compact soil or poor drainage
Add organic material or coarse
sand
Insects or disease Pesticides
Poor quality seed or plant Use high quality seed
Stunted and purplish color Low temperature Plant at proper time
Holes in leaves, yellowish
and dropping leaves
Insect damages Insecticides

Symptom Cause Solutions
Leaves with spots; dead, dried
areas; or powdery or rusty
Wilty plants even though
water is plenty
Weak root system
Tall plants; unproductive
Drop flowers, buds
Plant disease
Resistant varieties; remove
diseased plants; pesticides
Salts
Root damage
Soil test
Insects or nematodes
damage
Pesticides
Poor drainage
Add organic material or
coarse sand
Excessive shade Relocate to sunny area
Excessive nitrogen
Reduce application of
nitrogen
Hot, dry period Mulch, water
Low night temperature
Avoid planting too early in
the season
Overwatering or disease Stop watering; pesticides

QUESTIONS?

Wilma Trujillo
1001 S Main Street
Lamar, CO 81052
Tel: 719 336-7734 (Office)
719 688-9168 (Cell)
Email: wilma.trujillo@colostate.edu