If you don't yet have a hoop house (high tunnel), this winter and spring harvesting schedule should give you encouragement to get one. We are in Zone 7a, so if you are in a colder climate, add inner tunnels (we don't need them), and adjust the dates to see what you can achieve. We have 20 different crops of salad and cooking greens, turnips, radishes and scallions. We have also used some space for starts of bulbing onions, kale, spinach and collards, to transplant outdoors in early spring.
See my article Don't Be Afraid of Bare Root Transplants in Growing for Market magazine February 2015 for more about this labor- and space-saving method of growing crops that transplant easily.
Sorted by harvest start date
|
Crop |
Variety |
Catalog days to harvest. Baby (or transplant
age) - Full-size
|
Sown |
Transplanted |
Last planting date |
Harvest Start |
Harvest End |
Notes |
|
Radish #1 |
Easter Egg, Cherry Belle, White Icicle |
24-35 |
6-Sep |
|
|
3-Oct |
10-Nov |
Can follow with scallions #2 11/17 |
|
Edamame #3 |
Seed crop, Envy |
110 |
16-Jul |
|
|
5-Oct |
16-Oct |
Seed crop, sow 6/22-7/23. 110-120 days to mature seed |
|
Cowpeas #5 |
seed crop, Mississippi Silver, Carolina Crowder |
95 |
23-Jul |
|
16-Jul |
13-Oct |
20-Oct |
Only 1 week harvest, reduced yield. Too late to clear bed for winter crops 10/31 |
|
Spinach #1 |
Tyee |
23-40 |
7-Sep |
|
|
28-Oct |
6-Mar |
Seed pre-sprouted 1 week. 51d to harvest |
|
Brassica Salad Mix #1 |
various |
21 |
2-Oct |
|
2-Oct |
29-Oct |
22-Dec |
Can follow with Radishes #5, 12/23 |
|
Tatsoi #1 |
|
21-45 |
7-Sep |
|
|
30-Oct |
31-Dec |
Thinnings 10/8. Clear by 1/14 to follow with Spinach #5 on 1/15 |
|
Mizuna #1 |
Mizuna, Ruby Streaks, Golden Frills, Scarlet Frills |
21-40 |
24-Sep |
20-Oct |
|
5-Nov |
10-Feb |
Green Mizuna plus ferny mustards. Mizuna, Ruby Streaks bolt before mother mustards. |
|
Radish #2 |
Easter Egg, Cherry Belle, White Icicle |
24-35 |
1-Oct |
|
|
6-Nov |
17-Dec |
May last till 1/2. Can follow with brassica salad mix 2/1 or earlier |
|
Beet greens |
Bulls Blood |
35-60 |
7-Sep |
|
|
12-Nov |
25-Apr |
|
|
Chard #1 |
Brite Lites |
28-55 |
15-Sep |
16-Oct |
|
15-Nov |
20-Apr |
|
|
Tokyo bekana |
|
21-45 |
15-Sep |
1-Oct |
|
15-Nov |
9-Jan |
Clear by 1/14 to follow with spinach on 1/16 |
|
Lettuce #1 |
leaf |
28-56 |
15-Sep |
15-Oct |
31-Oct |
16-Nov |
20-Apr |
Harvest as leaves until 3/21 then cut heads until late April |
|
Lettuce #2 |
leaf |
28-56 |
24-Sep |
25-Oct |
31-Oct |
16-Nov |
20-Apr |
Harvest as leaves until 3/21 then cut heads until late April |
|
Scallions #1 |
Evergreen Winter Hardy White |
60 |
7-Sep |
|
|
18-Nov |
30-Apr |
Harvest start variable 10/30-12/11 |
|
Arugula #1 |
|
21-45 |
24-Oct |
|
|
20-Nov |
24-Feb |
We are notorious for not harvesting this! |
|
Brassica fillers #1 |
senposai, Tokyo bekana, Maruba santoh. (Yukina Savoy) |
21 |
10-Oct |
26-Nov |
25-Jan |
26-Nov |
4-Mar |
Transplant to fill gaps in brassica beds, until 1/25 |
|
Pak Choy |
Joy Choy, Prize Choy |
50 |
15-Sep |
3-Oct |
|
30-Nov |
23-Jan |
Can follow with kale 1/24 |
|
Brassica fillers #2 |
senposai, Tokyo bekana, Maruba santoh. (Yukina Savoy) |
21 |
20-Oct |
4-Dec |
25-Jan |
4-Dec |
4-Mar |
Transplant to fill gaps in brassica beds, until 1/25 |
|
Chard #2 |
Brite Lites |
28-55 |
26-Oct |
|
|
4-Dec |
30-May |
7d to emerge. Thinnings 1/2 |
|
Chinese cabbage |
Blues |
52 |
15-Sep |
2-Oct |
|
4-Dec |
23-Jan |
Can follow with Kale
1/24. |
|
Lettuce Mix #1 |
|
28 |
23-Oct |
|
|
4-Dec |
15-Mar |
6d to emerge. 50d to harvest Possibly 6 cuts (12/11, 12/30, 2/2, 2/20, 3/2, 3/8). |
|
Turnips #1 & turnip greens |
Red Round, Hakurei, Oasis, White Egg |
38-55 |
14-Oct |
|
|
5-Dec |
20-Feb |
Thinnings from 11/29. Hakurei and Oasis are fastest, some ready 2/12 |
|
Yukina Savoy #1 |
|
21-45 |
15-Sep |
6-Oct |
|
5-Dec |
31-Jan |
Thinnings 10/26 |
|
Kale |
Red Russian |
28-60 |
24-Sep |
22-Oct |
|
8-Dec |
3-Apr |
Bolts before White Russian |
|
Kale |
White Russian |
28-60 |
24-Sep |
22-Oct |
|
8-Dec |
26-Apr |
|
|
Radish #3 |
Easter Egg, White Icicle |
24-35 |
30-Oct |
|
|
8-Dec |
16-Feb |
|
|
Spinach #2 |
Tyee |
23-40 |
24-Oct |
|
|
8-Dec |
7-May |
Emerge in 6d. 45d to harvest. |
|
Senposai |
|
21-40 |
24-Sep |
24-Oct |
|
13-Dec |
10-Mar |
Some bolting 2/8 omwards |
|
Lettuce Filler #1 |
Good: Red Tinged Winter, Salad Bowl, Hyper Red Wave, Winter Wonderland, Osborne Multileafs |
28 |
23-Oct |
1-Jan |
|
1-Jan |
25-Jan |
Leaf varieties to fill gaps in lettuce beds from 1 Jan |
|
Spinach #3 (filler) |
Tyee |
23-40 |
9-Nov |
1-Jan |
|
1-Jan |
7-May |
Transplant to fill gaps in spinach beds from 1/1. Thinnings 2/3. 86d to harvest. |
|
Lettuce Filler #2 |
Good: Red Tinged Winter, Salad Bowl, Hyper Red Wave, Winter Wonderland, Osborne Multileafs |
28 |
9-Nov |
|
|
7-Jan |
25-Jan |
Leaf varieties to fill gaps in lettuce beds |
|
Yukina Savoy #2 |
|
21-45 |
24-Sep |
24-Oct |
|
8-Jan |
2-Mar |
May stand 2 weeks later. |
|
Radish #4 |
Easter Egg, White Icicle |
24-35 |
27-Nov |
|
|
13-Jan |
25-Feb |
Harvest start date variable 1/13-2/18 |
|
Spinach #4 (filler) |
Tyee |
23-40 |
27-Dec |
|
|
15-Jan |
7-May |
Transplant to fill gaps in spinach beds from 1/15 |
|
Mizuna #2 |
Mizuna, Ruby Streaks, Golden Frills, Scarlet Frills |
21-40 |
9-Nov |
|
|
20-Jan |
3-Apr |
Green Mizuna plus ferny mustards |
|
Spinach #5 (filler) |
Tyee |
23-40 |
15-Jan |
|
31-Mar |
25-Jan |
7-May |
Transplant to fill gaps in all beds from 1/25 |
|
Turnips #2 & turnip greens |
Red Round, Hakurei, Oasis, White Egg |
38-55 |
26-Oct |
|
|
1-Feb |
8-Mar |
Emerge in 4d. If we have space, we sow #2-5 earlier, for higher yields. |
|
Turnips #3 & turnip greens |
Red Round, Hakurei, Oasis, White Egg |
38-55 |
30-Oct |
|
10/30 for good yields |
1-Feb |
11-Mar |
Important to thin promptly (1/13) or yield will be much reduced. Hakurei until 2/24 |
|
Tatsoi #2 |
|
21-45 |
15-Nov |
|
|
12-Feb |
2-Mar |
thinnings 12/27-1/21. |
|
Lettuce Mix #2 |
|
28 |
31-Dec |
|
|
21-Feb |
31-Mar |
52d to harvest. 3 cuts. Round 2 3/24. |
|
Radish #5 |
Easter Egg, White Icicle |
24-35 |
30-Dec |
|
|
21-Feb |
30-Mar |
Emerge in 5d. |
|
Spinach #6 (starts for outdoors) |
Tyee |
23-40 |
16-Jan |
|
|
21-Feb |
8-Apr |
To transplant outdoors |
|
Turnips #4 & turnip greens |
Red Round, Hakurei, Oasis, White Egg |
38-55 |
10-Nov |
|
|
25-Feb |
15-Mar |
Important to thin promptly, or yield will be much reduced. Hakurei until 3/11 |
|
Onions #1 |
Starts of bulbing varieties |
80-100 |
10-Nov |
|
|
1-Mar |
20-Mar |
To transplant outdoors 3/1 |
|
Onions #2 |
Starts of bulbing varieties |
80-100 |
22-Nov |
|
|
1-Mar |
20-Mar |
|
|
Onions #3 |
Starts of bulbing varieties |
80-100 |
3-Dec |
|
|
1-Mar |
20-Mar |
Back-up date for filler onions |
|
Brassica Salad Mix #2 |
|
21 |
9-Dec |
|
|
4-Mar |
29-Mar |
11d to emerge |
|
Turnips #5 & turnip greens |
Red Round, Hakurei, Oasis, White Egg |
38-55 |
10-Dec |
|
10-Dec |
5-Mar |
15-Mar |
Important to thin promptly, or yield will be much reduced |
|
Brassica Salad Mix #3 |
|
21 |
1-Feb |
|
|
8-Mar |
15-Apr |
Only 2 cuts. Can follow Radishes #2 |
|
Collards starts |
Morris Heading |
35-70 |
24-Jan |
|
|
15-Mar |
25-Mar |
Emerge in 15d at 50F. To transplant outdoors |
|
Kale starts |
Vates |
28-56 |
24-Jan |
|
|
15-Mar |
8-Apr |
Emerge in 15d at 50F. To transplant outdoors 3/15-4/8 |
|
Lettuce Mix #3 |
|
28 |
1-Feb |
|
|
15-Mar |
28-Apr |
12d to emerge at 50F. 42d to harvest. 3 cuts. |
|
Radish #6 |
Easter Egg, White Icicle |
24-35 |
27-Jan |
|
|
16-Mar |
20-Apr |
|
|
Arugula #2 |
|
21-45 |
1-Feb |
|
|
17-Mar |
17-Apr |
Harvest start date uncertain |
|
Lettuce Mix #4 |
|
28 |
15-Feb |
|
15-Feb |
18-Mar |
15-May |
Only if outdoor lettuce is delayed |
|
Scallions #2 |
Evergreen Winter Hardy White |
60 |
13-Nov |
|
|
19-Mar |
25-May |
|
|
Brassica Salad Mix #4 |
|
21 |
9-Feb |
|
12-Feb |
27-Mar |
30-Apr |
Only 1 or 2 cuts |
|
Cabbage starts |
|
|
24-Jan |
1-Apr |
|
1-Apr |
15-Apr |
Emerge in 15d at 50F. To transplant outdoors 4/1 |
|
Pea shoots |
any leftover seed |
10 |
10-Mar |
|
|
5-Apr |
6-May |
If space allows. 9d to emerge. |
|
Mizuna #3 |
Mizuna, Ruby Streaks, Golden Frills, Scarlet Frills |
21-40 |
3-Mar |
|
|
10-Apr |
30-Apr |
Green Mizuna plus ferny mustards. Could last till 5/20 |
|
Beets |
Cylindra |
54 |
15-Feb |
|
|
15-Apr |
15-Jun |
Edge beds OK. 17d to emerge at 50F |
|
Peas, Snap |
Sugar Ann |
52 |
1-Feb |
|
|
27-Apr |
20-May |
Fast dwarf variety. 24d to emerge |
Pam Dawling works in the vegetable gardens at Twin Oaks Community in central Virginia. She often presents workshops at MEN Fairs. Pam also writes for Growing for Market magazine. Her book, Sustainable Market Farming: Intensive Vegetable Production on a Few Acres, is available at Sustainable Market Farming and in the MOTHER EARTH NEWS Store. Pam's blog is on her website and also on Facebook. Read all of her MOTHER EARTH NEWS posts here.
All MOTHER EARTH NEWS community bloggers have agreed to follow our Blogging Guidelines, and they are responsible for the accuracy of their posts. To learn more about the author of this post, click on their byline link at the top of the page.
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