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/
“In ancient times, it was standard practice to remove one’s trousers and sit on the ground before seeding, to determine whether the soil was ready to be planted. If the flesh found it discomforting, it was too early to sew.”
~ Christine Allison, 365 Days of Gardening
dogwood/redbud indicators are a few weeks early for this area but I’m sure adjustments need to be made for many places. It has me planting corn, melons, cucumbers a week ago but frost free is two weeks from now and redbud/dogwood have been blooming for a week now. Johnny’s seed starting calculator has me starting those now and putting them out in a month. I plan to direct seed those.
One I didn’t see mentioned that we have here is Serviceberry. Those started bloom almost a month ago and are mostly leafed out now. Adjustments to times, plants and your location for sure but it seems like a good system/concept.
Went grocery shopping today. It’s officially turtle crossing the road time so roadkill might be another indicator. LOL
Looked at peach trees at the grocery store. Georgia Belle, Red Havean. Yes, Havean. What a farce. Goergia whatever for Missouri? Ain’t that peachy. I’d end up with more peach trees that flower too early for here.