Zucchini seedling Summer squashes are tender, warm-weather crops. Summer squashes include crookneck, pattypan, straightneck, scallop, vegetable marrow, and zucchini. Sow summer squash indoors 4 to 3 weeks before the last expected frost in spring. Sow summer squash outdoors when the soil temperature has warmed to 70°F (21°C). Protect squash in the garden from cool temperatures
Rutabaga is a cool-weather crop. Sow rutabaga seed in late winter or very early spring for an early summer harvest. Direct sow seed in the garden 16 to 10 weeks before the last frost in spring. In warm regions, it’s best to sow rutabaga in mid-summer for a fall and winter harvest and use. Rutabagas
Start tomatillo seed 6 to 8 weeks before you intend to set plants out in the garden. Tomatillos are a tender, warm-weather crop. Start tomatillos indoors 8 to 6 weeks before the average last frost date. Transplant seedlings into the garden two weeks after the last frost just as you would peppers and tomatoes. Tomatillos
Plant artichoke root divisions or “crowns” in late winter if the soil is easily worked or early spring about 2 weeks before the last frost. Artichokes are perennial plants. Artichokes prefer cool, moist summers and mild winters. The perennial artichoke plant will not survive where the ground freezes. Artichokes can be grown from seed or
Asparagus sprouts Asparagus is a perennial plant. Plant asparagus where it can grow undisturbed and be productive for 15 to 20 years. Asparagus is one of the earliest crops to come to harvest in spring. The edible parts of the asparagus plant are young, tender, green shoots, called spears. Spears are young leaf stalks—eaten leafless—that
Garlic planting Garlic is grown from cloves formed in bulbs. Cloves used to start new plants are called “seed cloves”. Seed clove size is important to yield. The yield of a large clove is usually greater than a medium-size clove, which, in turn, is usually greater than a small-size clove. The largest cloves commonly produce
Tomato seedlings Tomatoes are a tender, warm-weather crop. Start tomatoes indoors 10 to 8 weeks before the last expected frost in spring. Set tomato seedlings into the garden after all danger of frost is past. There are more than 1,000 varieties of tomatoes—most are red, others are pink-orange, yellow, purple, brown, whitish-green, or striped. Best
Cauliflower seedlings Cauliflower is a cool-season crop; it thrives in temperatures between 57°F and 68°F (14°C-20°C). Plant fast-maturing cauliflower varieties in spring or fall. Any variety that requires more than 80 days to mature should be planted for fall harvest. Purple varieties are both heat and cold tolerant. Cauliflower matures in 50 to 85 days
Cirrus cloudsSee Gallery of Clouds Below Clouds often indicate weather changes. The source of clouds is water that evaporates into the air. The water can come from oceans, lakes, and rivers. Plants also give off water vapor. Clouds form when water vapor cools and condenses. Condensed water droplets ride air currents as clouds. Water droplets
Cumulus clouds low in the sky and puffy Cumulus clouds commonly indicate fair weather. Cumulus clouds are often seen on bright summer days. Cumulus clouds are flat at the bottom and billowy above. They are formed by a mass of unstable air, usually air warmed at the ground that is rising. As the warm air
