Nature Planting Signals for Vegetables: Phenology
The flowering of trees, shrubs, and perennial plants is determined by day length and temperature (this also applies to the lifecycle of insects and animals.
You can use the bloom time of shrubs and trees to tell you when it is safe to plant vegetables in the garden. Look at blooming trees and shrubs in your garden or neighborhood as indicators of when it is safe to plant vegetables directly in the garden.
Keep a record of weather conditions in your garden. Note when trees and shrubs leaf out and bloom—record the date and soil temperature (leaf and bloom times are triggered by soil and air temperature). Do this for 3 or 4 years and you can make your own nature planting signals calendar for your garden.
The study of regular events in the lives of plant, animals, and insects is called phenology (from Greek words meaning “science of appearances.”) Plant and animal life cycles are predictors of reoccurring events in nature.
Here is the lilac planting calendar for the vegetable garden:
Lilac begins to leaf out: direct sow seed of cool-weather vegetables such as peas, lettuce, and spinach; direct sow cold-tolerant herbs such as parsley and chervil; direct sow hardy annual such as calendula and sweet alyssum.
Lilac flower spike is in full bloom: direct sow seed of basil, corn, and tomatoes; direct sow marigolds and geraniums.
Nature Cycles and Vegetable Garden Planting
Here are shrub and tree bloom times that can be used to signal vegetable seed sowing in your garden:
Green Bean: direct sow when lilacs bloom.
Broad Bean: direct sow when flowering quince, saucer magnolia, grape hyacinth, narcissus in full bloom.
Beet: direct sow when forsythia and dandelions begin to bloom.
Broccoli: direct sow when flowering quince, saucer magnolia, grape hyacinth, narcissus in full bloom.
Brussels Sprouts: direct sow when forsythia and dandelions begin to bloom.
Carrot: direct sow when forsythia and dandelions begin to bloom.
Cauliflower: direct sow when flowering quince, saucer magnolia, grape hyacinth, narcissus in full bloom.
Celeriac: direct sow when flowering quince, saucer magnolia, grape hyacinth, narcissus in full bloom.
Celery: direct sow when flowering quince, saucer magnolia, grape hyacinth, narcissus in full bloom.
Chervil: direct sow when forsythia and dandelions begin to bloom.
Corn: direct sow when redbuds, flowering dogwoods, flowering crabapple in bloom and lilacs are in full bloom.
Corn Salad: direct sow when flowering quince, saucer magnolia, grape hyacinth, narcissus in full bloom.
Cucumber: direct sow when redbuds, flowering dogwoods, flowering crabapple in bloom and lilacs are in full bloom.
Endive and Escarole: direct sow when forsythia and dandelions begin to bloom.
Eggplant: set out plants when peony, black locust, and goldenchain tree in full bloom.
Florence Fennel: direct sow when flowering quince, saucer magnolia, grape hyacinth, narcissus in full bloom.
Kohlrabi: direct sow when forsythia and dandelions begin to bloom.
Leek: direct sow when forsythia and dandelions begin to bloom.
Lettuce: direct sow when forsythia and dandelions begin to bloom.
Lima Bean, bush: direct sow when Chinese wisteria blooms.
Lima Bean, pole: set out plants when peony, black locust, and goldenchain tree in full bloom.
Melon: direct sow when redbuds, flowering dogwoods, flowering crabapple in bloom and lilacs are in full bloom.
New Zealand Spinach: direct sow when Chinese wisteria blooms.
Okra: set out plants when peony, black locust, and goldenchain tree in full bloom.
Parsley: direct sow when forsythia and dandelions begin to bloom.
Parsnip: direct sow when forsythia and dandelions begin to bloom.
Pea: direct sow when forsythia and dandelions begin to bloom.
Peppers: set out plants when peony, black locust, and goldenchain tree in full bloom.
Onion (sets, seed): direct sow when forsythia and dandelions begin to bloom.
Potato: plant when daffodils and dandelions begin to bloom.
Pumpkin: direct sow when redbuds, flowering dogwoods, flowering crabapple in bloom and lilacs are in full bloom.
Radish: direct sow when forsythia and dandelions begin to bloom.
Salsify: direct sow when forsythia and dandelions begin to bloom.
Soybean: direct sow when Chinese wisteria in bloom.
Spinach: direct sow when forsythia and dandelions begin to bloom.
Squash: direct sow when redbuds, flowering dogwoods, flowering crabapple in bloom and lilacs are in full bloom.
Sweet Potato: set out plants when peony, black locust, and goldenchain tree in full bloom.
Swiss Chard: direct sow when forsythia and dandelions begin to bloom.
Tomatillo: set out plants when peony, black locust, and goldenchain tree in full bloom.
Tomato: set out plants when peony, black locust, and goldenchain tree in full bloom.
Turnip: direct sow when forsythia and dandelions begin to bloom.
Watermelon: set out plants when peony, black locust, and goldenchain tree in full bloom.
Zucchini: direct sow when redbuds, flowering dogwoods, flowering crabapple in bloom and lilacs are in full bloom.
Succession Plantings of Crops: Make succession plantings any time after the first planting dates but keep in mind the number of days for a crop to reach maturity and the increasing or decreasing air temperature as the season progresses; i.e. cool-weather crops must come to harvest before the warm temperatures arrive in late spring or summer and warm-weather crops must mature before cool and chilly temperatures arrive in autumn.
https://harvesttotable.com/nature-planting-signals-for-vegetables-phenology/
I wanted a David Austin rose last year - had NO idea they were so expensive. I ended up buying this one anyway and do not regret it:
My cactus are starting to bloom: Secret to growing them - do not water them.
This hibiscus came off of the dead table at Lowe's - I think it was $2.00.
My pomegranate trees are exploding in bloom and hopefully a lot of fruit will set - I'm counting on kitty to keep the tree rats out of my bushes.
I am back in the garden - woo hoo!! :-)
Yesterday, I got one raised bed weeded & the 2nd “bad” one is 2/3 done. My SIL got me herb plants Thursday & I’ll get them planted today or tomorrow - same with seeds I have.
Mowing - brother mowed the place again for me Thursday & last evening, BUT I was able to safely get on/off & drive the mower to the shed where we keep gas. I will be able to mow myself the next time the place needs it.
The hummingbird feeders went out yesterday and there was a male feeding within 15 minutes. On the feeder in the front (1 @ front porch, 2 in back @ hummingbird garden) there was a hummer coming every 20 minutes or so and just before sunset, hummers were “filling their tanks” for the night ahead.
Adventures in wildlife: I was on the couch Thursday night & around 11:30, something hit the storm door with a bang (I had the door open so I could look out). My first thought was a bird flew into the glass, but birds aren’t flying around at that time of night. As I looked, there appeared to be fur at the bottom left and the next thing I could see was a face looking through the glass at me - it was a fox kit! Cutest little guy - ears perked up, obviously curious. If the storm door had not been there, I think the fox would have come right on in. When I reached for my phone to try for a picture, the kit saw the movement and a couple of seconds later, it trotted down the steps & disappeared into the dark. The foxes didn’t den under our barn this year - I suspect they denned at the next door neighbor’s - old ground hog holes & he’s rarely around so it’s a lot more quiet than our place. There’s a pile of chicken feathers in the back field so I suspect some other neighbors are missing a hen or two!
Beautiful spring day here - going to be near if not 80 - happy gardening all!
Happy gardening. I have a mobile mechanic coming over to help me get my Ferguson TO35 Tractor running. I hope he is successful.
Lower driveway; the wild plums gully; the entrance to the garden area.
Main barn & woodshed annex; corner of porch roof; leaves of my potted sweet potato on the windowsill.
Finished weeding my two almost-grown-over raised beds this morning. I also pulled out the very few weeds in the bed that will be the herb garden.
Despite going out fairly early, it’s quite warm (75 & bright sun, headed for a high of 89!). I am a bit on the sweaty side & my leg in the brace (which is black!) is a totally sweaty mess & itching something awful so I’m done for the day until the garden is in shade again - currently on the sofa, brace off, fan blowing on me/leg & drinking a large glass of electrolyte mix with ice. The thought that occurs: life is good :-)
Change of plans with planting my herb garden. Today it’s supposed to get to 89 and tomorrow will be 85 & sunny as well. Tuesday, it should be around 80 with 90+ percent chance of rain and the next day should also be cooler with a chance of rain, then the next couple of days will be in the mid to upper 60s. I think planting my herbs Monday evening would be a good move. They won’t get burned up with the hot sun and should have some cooler days plus rain to help them settle in.
The hummingbird feeders have only been out since Friday morning & they are already a “happening place” - so glad to see the little guys again. One of my very favorite things to do is to sit in the porch swing about 30 minutes before sunset and watch all the hummingbirds coming to the feeder and tanking up for the night. They usually come one after another rather than in a group, but they each spend quite a bit of time drinking and drinking & as soon as one takes off, another one takes its place. I’m not sure how they fly with such full bellies, but they manage LOL!