Vegetables are designated "warm-season" or "cool-season," depending on the weather they need for best growth. Warm-season vegetables, such as peppers and tomatoes, are summer crops; they require both warm soil and high temperatures to grow and produce fruit. They are killed by frost. Plant them after the last frost in spring.
Cool-season vegetables grow steadily at average temperatures 10 degrees to 15 degrees F/6 degrees to 8 degrees C below those needed by warm-season types. They can be planted in very early spring for early summer harvest or in late summer for harvest in fall and (in mild regions) winter. Many will endure short spells of frost--but in hot weather, they become bitter tasting and often bolt to seed rather than producing edible parts. In areas with short growing seasons (fewer than 100 days) or cool, foggy summers, cool-season vegetables can be grown in summer.
A few vegetables are perennials: you plant them once, then harvest crops year after year. Give them their own garden area, so they won't be disturbed when you prepare soil for annual crops. Fertilize and mulch each spring; water as needed during the season.
Click on the links below or on the left to see details on each vegetable.
WARM-SEASON VEGETABLES
Bean, Snap
• Annual
• All zones
• Full sun
• Begin watering after seedlings emerge
Corn
• Annual
• All zones
• Full sun--always
• Ample, deep water
Cucumber
• Annual vine
• All zones
• Full sun
• Maintain even soil moisture soil
Melon
• Annual
• All zones
• Full sun
• Water most when plants are young
Pepper
• Annual
• All zones
• Full sun
• Infrequent, deep watering during growth
Squash
• Annual
• All zones
• Full sun
• Regular water
Tomato
• Fruiting vegetable
• All zones
• Full sun
• Little to much water
COOL-SEASON VEGETABLES
Beet
• Biennial grown as annual
• All zones
• Full sun
• Frequent water
Broccoli
• Biennial grown as annual
• All zones
• Full sun
• Regular water
Cabbage
• Annual or biennial grown as annual
• All zones
• Tolerates light shade in hot climates
• Never let plants wilt
Carrot
• Biennial grown as annual
• All zones
• Full sun
• Maintain even soil moisture
Lettuce
• Annual
• Summer 1-7, 10, 11; cool-season, 8, 9, 12-24
• Sun on coast, light midday shade inland
• Regular water
Pea
• Cool-season annual
• All zones
• Full sun
• Regular water
Spinach
• Annual
• All zones
• Full sun
• Ample water
PERENNIAL VEGETABLES
Asparagus
• Perennial
• Zones 1-24, 29-45
• Full sun
• Lots of water
Rhubarb
• Perennial
• Zones 1-11, 14-24, 26-45; best in Zones 1-11, 34-45
• Coastal sun; some shade inland
• Water freely during active growth