Seed Ball Tips

Spinach grows best in the cool weather of spring and fall. Mature spinach plants can tolerate temperatures as low as 10 to 20°F (-12 to -7°C). Time spinach seed starting so plants come to harvest before or after the very warm and hot weather of summer. Hot weather will trigger bolting and seed-stalk formation. Bolting can be slowed by picking the oldest leaves first, but bolting ultimately can not be stopped if spinach matures in very warm weather. Spinach matures in 35 to 50

Peppers are a tender, warm-weather crop. Start peppers indoors 8 to 6 weeks before the average night time temperature is expected to stay above 55°F (13°C) if you plan to transplant seedlings directly into the garden. Start seed indoors up to 14 weeks before the last spring frost if you plan to harden off seedlings under cover before transplanting to the garden. Set peppers in the garden after nighttime temperatures are consistently greater than 55°F (13°C)—unless you plan to

Brussels sprouts are a cool-season crop; they thrive in temperatures between 60°F and 70°F (16-21°C). Mature plants can withstand temperatures as low as 25°F (-4°C). Brussels sprouts require a long growing season—90 to 120 days. Commonly Brussels sprouts are planted in late spring to mid-summer for harvest in fall. Brussels sprouts touched by frost just before harvest will be the best flavored, firm, and crunchy. But quick-maturing Brussels sprouts varieties can be started indo

Direct sow beans in the garden 1 to 2 weeks after the last expected frost when the soil has warmed to at least 60°F (16°C). Start beans indoors 3 to 2 weeks before transplanting to the garden. • Bush beans are usually determinate with one week or two week period of harvest; bush beans are usually planted every 10 days to ensure a continuous harvest through summer. • Pole beans are usually indeterminate, or vining, with a continuous harvest over 6 to 8 weeks if the beans are pi