Spring is just about here! Today is all about WHAT crops to start, WHEN to start them, and HOW to start them the right way. The first half of the video will have great info for gardeners globally, and then we'll get into specific timelines that will best match up for those of you in zones 9 and 10.
0:56 Intro
We're located in San Diego, so our information is primarily geared towards you if you're in a similar climate with zones 9 and 10 being our specialty. Our seeds can be grown in ANY zone, but your planting calendar is going to be a bit different than mine if you're in a very different area. We've spent hundreds of hours developing our calendar with EVERY LAST BIT of information you need, plus quick-reference charts, pest management tips, troubleshooting guides, space for notes, and more.
2022 Farming & Planting Calendar: sandiegoseedcompany.com/produ...
But enough about that! We made this video so you - no matter where you live - will be informed about what to plant and when. Let's get things started with the one that we all know.
3:42 TOMATOES
You'll see I have (T) next to it on my board, and that's because you typically TRANSPLANT tomatoes after starting them inside or in a greenhouse (or even outside in zones 9 and 10). You can start your tomatoes from seed as early as late December in zones 9 and 10, but anytime after that works great too especially because sunlight and temperatures will be more ideal. I'm from Kansas, and we didn't start until mid or late May!
It's best to get tomato plants going in some sort of starter pot because this lets you get a head start and make the most of short seasons. After you have seedlings growing in a protected environment, you can transplant them outside once the weather is cooperating and there is no more threat of a spring frost. That makes the most of your growing and harvesting window before your first fall frost. Tomatoes are very forgiving and a great one to get going.
7:31 EGGPLANT
Eggplant is also usually started in a cell or small pot and then TRANSPLANTED into the ground. Eggplants and peppers require a fair amount of warmth in the soil for the seeds to germinate. That means you may need a heating mat if you want to start them early, or you can be like us and just wait until things warm up more. We usually start our pepper seeds in March, but other zones might want to wait until April.
A heating pad can be a great investment, though, if you're in a cooler zone since you'll be able to get a head start on your peppers and get that fresh spice back in your life. Remember that peppers are tropical plants and want that heat.
9:44 BEANS
We have a (D) next to Beans which means you DIRECT SOW them. Because you're placing the seeds into your ground outside, you need to wait for the weather to provide good germination conditions.
Beans (along with Corn, Cucumbers & Squash) are some of the last things for me to plant out in the spring. I'm waiting for nighttime soil temperatures to consistently be above 50 degrees to grow well.
12:33 CUCUMBERS
Cucumbers can be either TRANSPLANTED or DIRECT SOWN because they aren't too fussy (unlike Watermelons). You need to be aware of soil temperatures and frosts that could damage or even kill your starts.
14:25 PEPPERS & POTATOES
Because peppers are tropical plants, we plant them late in the season because they like hot days. In zones 9 and 10, we let potatoes grow throughout the spring, and the longer days leading into summer trigger the plant to focus growing on its tubers. They do like cooler temperatures
Side note: potatoes are VERY different than sweet potatoes which we allow to grow in the hottest part of the year and then harvest in the fall.
15:39 RECAP
Getting your timing down is huge and changes from year to year. There are 3 MAIN THINGS I want you to ask:
-Does that crop like cool or warm temperatures?
-Do I DIRECT SOW or TRANSPLANT?
-When is it okay to SOW or TRANSPLANT outside?
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