You should start tomatoes indoors five to eight weeks before planting in the ground, which should be after the last frost. Consult your USDA growing zone to find out when your last frost date is, as tomatoes won't survive those temperatures. Also plant seedlings with enough space between them, and add support structures early. Fresh tomatoes are a juicy end-of-summer delight. With a wide growth range from 60 to 100 days, it can be hard to determine when to plant tomatoes. To answer that question, we spoke with organic vegetable gardening expert Adam Weiss, founder of Pike Lane Gardens. Best Time to Plant Tomatoes You should generally begin to grow tomatoes in the spring to avoid the last frost of the year. It's best to plant tomatoes in two stages, says master gardener Adam Weiss. In the first stage, the seeds are planted indoors. In the second stage, the seedlings are transplanted outdoors. Space the planting stages from five to eight weeks apart. When to Plant Tomatoes Indoors When planting your tomatoes starting from seeds, they should be started indoors five to eight weeks before you plant them in the ground, Weiss says. There is a specific reason why tomato seeds are started indoors, according to Weiss. "Tomatoes are a warm-weather vegetable," he says. "If you planted the seeds in your garden or container in early summer, it would take a considerable amount of time—about five to eight weeks for the seed to germinate and another five to seven weeks for the tomato plant to grow to a seedling." Planting the tomato that way throws off the plant's growing schedule. Weiss says that if you planted in May, you would already be in late July by the time the plant started growing. The plant may still produce tomatoes, but not in abundance. Because your harvest time has been condensed, you'll get a limited harvest quantity of tomatoes. When to Plant Tomatoes Outdoors To pinpoint when you should plant tomatoes, Weiss suggests looking at outside temperatures rather than the calendar. Tomatoes are a summer vegetable, he says, and should be planted in your garden or container once the outdoor temperatures begin to warm. Tomatoes must avoid frost. "Ideally, the soil temperature should be close to 70°F for the seedlings to be planted," Weiss says. That recommendation applies only to planting tomatoes in the ground outdoors, not indoors. "It is much more challenging to plant tomato seeds outdoors directly," says Weiss. "There are several weather variables that could either dry or flood the seed before it even germinates." Frost Dates for Planting Tomatoes Because tomatoes must avoid frost, consult your local United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) hardiness zone to learn the last and first frost dates for each year. A frost date is when air temperatures dip to 32°F (freezing) or below. There are ways to protect plants from frost, such as adding cloches, row covers, cold frames, or container wraps. Yet with tomatoes, the safest way to protect them is to avoid frost conditions altogether. Tips for Planting and Growing Tomatoes Sungolds, cherry tomatoes, beefsteaks, or green zebras? Regardless of the variety of tomato you love planting, Weiss offers these tips for the perfect harvest: Add enough space: Tomatoes need at least 24 inches between each plant to allow for ample sunlight, strong root development, and space. This helps minimize potential disease and pests. Plant fewer tomatoes if you don’t have the space. Plant seedlings: Always plant your tomatoes as seedlings to maximize your harvesting process. Plant seedlings deeply: Place your tomato plant deeper into the ground than other seedlings, at least 6 inches deep. You can bury the plant under the ground until the first set of leaves. This lower stem will develop additional roots, which will improve the health of your plant. Add structure early: Well before planting tomatoes, decide what type of trellis you want: tomato cage, stake, or another supporting structure. The structure must be in place before the tomato grows, as adding it later can damage the plant. Water deeply: Tomato roots grow deep within the ground, so water deeply two to three times a week at the base of each plant. Weiss suggests slowly counting to 20 while watering each tomato plant to measure the correct amount of water.

No, that isn't a baby watermelon—meet the cucamelon. Also known as Mexican sour gherkins, cucamelon plants (Melothria scabra) are distantly related to cucumbers, and they bring something fun and unexpected to vegetable beds and container gardens. These climbing vines produce tiny, grape-sized fruit with mottled skins that resemble mini watermelons but taste like cucumbers with a sour, lemony twist. Cucamelons are fast-growing and naturally drought-resistant. They’re ready to harvest about 75 days after the seeds are planted in spring. If you’re looking for a pint-sized edible plant to grow in containers or you want to try a less common crop, cucamelons are always a fun choice. Heed these tips to grow bunches of them. How to Plant Cucamelons Cucamelons can grow as perennials in USDA zones 9 and 10, however, these tender perennials don’t handle winter weather well and they’re generally grown as annuals elsewhere. That said, cucamelons are small enough to keep in pots, so they can be overwintered indoors or in greenhouses if desired. When to Plant If you live in a region with a long growing season, you can directly sow cucamelon seeds outdoors after the danger of frost has past. But in cooler locations, it’s best to start cucamelon seeds indoors about 4 to 6 weeks before the last frost of spring. Selecting a Planting Site Cucamelons can grow in pots or garden beds that receive plenty of sun. For best results, choose a growing location with rich, well-draining soil and plenty of room for trellising or another support system. To boost harvest yields, consider growing cucamelons near flowering companion plants that attract pollinators, such as yarrow, calendula, borage, and dill. Spacing, Depth, and Support For proper growth, cucamelon seeds should be planted about ¼ to ½ inch deep in soil amended with a bit of compost. Cucamelons should be spaced about 12 inches apart. Once established, cucamelons spread vigorously, but they’re much more manageable with trellising. Trellising also allows you to grow cucamelons vertically for space savings and prevents common plant diseases like powdery mildew. Cattle panel trellises, sturdy tomato cages, or bamboo trellis towers all work well for cucamelons, but it’s best to install trellising at planting time to avoid disturbing tender plant leaves and stems later on. Cucamelon Plant Care Light Like most other food crops, cucamelons are full sun plants that need at least 6 to 8 hours of bright light daily. Plants grown in very hot regions can tolerate partial afternoon shade, while plants grown indoors will usually need supplemental lighting from grow lights left on for at least 12 hours a day. Soil Well-draining, loamy or sandy soil with a slightly acidic pH between 6.0 and 7.0 is ideal for cucamelons. Amending the soil with a bit of compost or aged manure before planting can give cucamelons a boost and reduce fertilizer needs. Water Regular watering is key if you want cucamelons to fruit well. These plants typically need about 1 inch of water per week, although plants grown in hot climates or containers may need to be watered more regularly. When watering, direct your hose at the soil line or use drip irrigation to keep plant leaves dry and prevent mildew. Add a thin layer of mulch around the base of your plants to reduce watering needs. Temperature and Humidity Cucamelons are frost-sensitive and they can be damaged by cold temperatures. Warm weather helps cucamelons grow faster and these plants are at their best when temperatures are between 70 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. While cucamelons are typically not picky about humidity, high humidity conditions with minimal air flow can encourage powdery mildew. Keep plants well-pruned and follow proper spacing recommendations to reduce mildew problems. Fertilizer Adding compost to the soil before planting cucamelons can help plants grow better, but cucamelons will still need to be fertilized throughout the growing season. Follow the instructions on your fertilizer packaging and apply a balanced, organic fertilizer every few weeks until cucamelon plants begin to flower. Then, switch to a high-potassium fertilizer to support flowering and fruiting. Pollination Cucamelons are self-pollinating and produce both male and female blooms on a single vine. These plants are pollinated by wind and insects, but you can increase harvest yields by companion planting with flowers that attract pollinators. Just keep in mind that cucamelons grown indoors or in greenhouses will need to be hand pollinated! Harvesting Cucamelons Harvest season usually starts in July, or about 65 to 75 days after cucamelon seeds are planted, and plants can continue to fruit until the first frost of fall. It’s time to harvest cucamelons when they are about 1 inch long and have firm, bright green skin. Overly ripe cucamelons turn bitter and become soft quickly, so harvest often. To harvest, simply twist cucamelons off the vine with your fingers or clip them away with scissors or pruners. Support the plant vines when harvesting to avoid broken stems and leaves. Fresh cucamelons can be stored for about a week in the fridge in perforated plastic bags or containers. For longer term storage, try pickling, canning, or freezing your harvest. Freezing changes the texture of cucamelons, but frozen cucamelons are still good for cooking. How to Grow Cucamelons in Pots If you want to save space in your garden or grow cucamelons on a sunny porch or patio, you can keep cucamelon plants in plastic or terracotta pots and planters, or fabric grow bags. One advantage of growing cucamelons in containers is that you can move plants indoors if cold weather is in the forecast. Choose a growing container with drainage holes at least 12 inches wide by 12 inches deep. Fill the container with a rich, well-draining potting mix and add a small trellis to keep cucamelons vines from spreading too vigorously. You should water and fertilize container-grown cucamelons more regularly than plants grown in vegetable beds. Pruning Cucamelons usually don’t need much pruning, although you will want to clip away dead, damaged, or diseased leaves when you see them. Light pruning thins out leaves, boosts air flow, and reduces the chances of mildew. If you grow cucamelons in containers or your vines spread too quickly, pruning controls the growth and size of particularly vigorous vines. How to Grow Cucamelons From Seed Cucamelon seeds are usually started indoors about 4 to 6 weeks before the last frost date of spring. Sow seeds ¼ to ½ inch deep in pots filled with a quality seed starting mix, water well, and then place the pots under grow lights. Once cucamelons are a few inches tall and frost is no longer expected, harden off young plants for a week or two. Then transplant your cucamelons into pots or a vegetable garden and add a nearby trellis to support vines as they grow. Common Pests and Plant Diseases Compared to many other food crops, cucamelons are relatively resistant to pests and diseases. However, cucamelons can still develop issues like powdery mildew, aphids, slugs, and snails. Companion planting with fragrant herbs and flowers can reduce pest issues naturally, while powdery mildew can be prevented by watering plants at their roots and using pruning and trellising to increase air flow around plant leaves.

Mandevilla, known commonly as "rock trumpet," is a perennial vine in USDA hardiness zones 10 to 11. This tropical plant does not survive cold temperatures, so you must take steps to overwinter it. If you grew mandevilla in large pots for summer displays, an advantage is that, with cold temperatures on the horizon in fall, you can simply move your plant inside to protect it from the cold. Learn how to overwinter mandevilla, including two overwintering options, what to do after you have brought it indoors, and whether or not you should cut it back for winter. Your Options for Overwintering Mandevilla There are two main ways to overwinter your mandevilla plant, but both involve bringing it indoors. If you have sufficient room in your house, grow it as a houseplant over the winter. If you lack space, locate it in a storage area and allow it to go dormant. Growing Mandevilla as a Houseplant If you have been growing mandevilla outdoors in a pot, all you need to do is bring the pot indoors. If you have been growing it in the ground, you will have to pot it up. To do so, follow these steps: Select the right pot size: Select a container that is a bit larger than your Mandevilla's root ball. This will allow the roots to spread. Avoid a container that's too big: It will retain excessive water, potentially leading to root rot. Fill the pot with potting mix: Mandevilla wants good drainage. A potting mix drains better than garden soil. If the container is large, place small stones in the bottom for even better drainage. Plant your Mandevilla: Dig a hole big enough to accommodate the root ball. Place your Mandevilla in the hole, keeping its base at the same level of the soil as it was while growing outdoors. Tamp the soil down: Gently push down around your mandevilla to ensure it rests firmly in the soil. Water: Moisten the soil, but avoid overwatering. Bringing Mandevilla Indoors and Let It Go Dormant The other option to overwinter mandevilla is to bring it, container and all, indoors, or pot it up and bring it indoors. Except, here, rather than treating it as a houseplant, you are providing conditions that will allow it to "sleep" through the winter. Store it in a cool (but not cold), dark place (for example, a basement). Temperatures in the 50s (F) will be ideal. Water the plant only when the soil is completely dry. How to Care for Mandevilla After Overwintering After you have begun the overwintering process by bringing your plant indoors, your care regimen will differ depending on whether you are overwintering mandevilla as a houseplant or in a dormant state: As a Houseplant: If you're treating it as a houseplant, give it a temperature of 65° to 70°, with as much humidity as possible. Give it bright but indirect sunlight, and keep its soil evenly moist (but don't let it get soggy). Any fertilizer you apply to a mandevilla houseplant should be applied at a weaker dose than when you fertilize it outdoors. The plant won't grow as vigorously indoors, and excessive fertilizer would only harm it. As a Dormant Plant: Since you won't be showing off your mandevilla as a houseplant, prune it back to just a few inches above the soil. This will help prepare it for next summer. Make sure the temperature is above 45° to 50° Fahrenheit. Keep it in the dark and water it very sparingly. Apply no fertilizer to a mandevilla being kept dormant. Should You Cut Back Mandevilla for Winter? If you will be keeping your mandevilla in a dormant state, prune it to within a few inches of the soil surface. Even if you are growing it as a houseplant, prune it in early spring to prepare it for the new growing season. Remove some of the older stems, along with any stems that are crisscrossing. This will open up the plant (improving air circulation) and reinvigorate it.

In general, gardeners recommend planting vegetables in early spring to early summer. For fall harvests, some vegetables can be planted in late summer. You can get a head-start by starting seeds indoors, but starting plants too late will make your yield smaller. When should you plant vegetables? Overall, the best time to plant vegetables is between April and November. This broad growing season is divided into two seasons—spring and fall—for different crops. We spoke to three gardening specialists so you can learn when to plant vegetables. These experts will help you understand the difference between spring and fall plantings, as well as planting periods for specific vegetables. When to Plant Vegetables The best time to plant vegetables for a bountiful crop in most locations is from early spring to early summer, according to Paul Dysinger of Seedtime. The other best time for planting vegetables is fall. Spring Though spring is the best time to plant, each crop is different, Dysinger says. "Each location has different suggested times for that location based on average frost dates or climate, including if the crop is a warm weather or cool weather crop." The best time to plant vegetables is spring, agrees Chrissie Handley of Online Turf. This gives the vegetables enough time to germinate in the soil before the growing season begins. Within spring, the ideal time to plant a crop is early enough for it not to be killed or negatively impacted by a frost, leaving as much growing time as possible in the season, Dysinger says. Planting in early spring "means you’ll have earlier yield and stronger and tastier vegetables because of it," adds Handley. Fall For a fall harvest, cool-season vegetables can be planted in early spring (March to April) and again in late summer (August to September), says Chris Ramos, a gardening specialist with Blain's Farm & Fleet. The ideal time is early enough in the summer or fall for the crop to reach maturity by the time day length shortens and temperatures drop, Dysinger says. "At that time, the plant's growth slows down, and crops will no longer grow very quickly, if at all." "Warm-season crops like tomatoes and cucumbers should be planted after the last frost in mid-May," Ramos says. The crops can continue producing until the first frost in October or November. When to Plant Specific Vegetables Specific vegetables will have differing seasonal requirements to grow to their full bounty. Carrots As a cool season crop, carrot seeds should be planted in either of two periods: spring or mid-summer. For spring plantings in most locations in the U.S., Dysinger says, carrots should be planted from February to May. If you're in southern Florida, California, or Texas, it's different, and he suggests planting anywhere from September to March. For fall plantings in most locations in the U.S., carrots can be planted from July to September. "For a fall crop, carrots can stay in the ground until it freezes," Ramos says. Corn Spring corn can be planted from March to June, according Dysinger. However, in southern U.S. states without risk of frost, corn can be planted from October to March. For late corn harvests, corn can be planted from June to August, says Dysinger. Cucumbers Because cucumbers are sensitive, they are best planted in late spring to early summer, Handley says. "Cucumbers should be planted in late May to early June and harvested throughout summer," Ramos says. Kale Plant kale, from January to April for transplants and from February to May for direct seeding, according Dysinger. If you're located in southern Florida, California, or Texas, you can plant kale from September to March. Kale can be planted from July to September for fall plantings in most locations in the U.S., Dysinger says. Lettuce Lettuce should be planted from March to May for a strong yield, according to Handley. Peas Being a hardy vegetable, peas can be planted outdoors from March to April. If you like, you can start peas in a container to get a head start on growing. Potatoes Plant potatoes from late February to April. However, if you are located in a warm area, plant potatoes in late summer or early winter. That way, the potatoes won't be fighting the hottest time of the year—mid-summer. Radishes "Since they're fast growers, radishes are best planted during the high temperatures of summer, or from June to August, to help get continuous yield," Handley says. Tomatoes Tomatoes should be started indoors in late March or early April, according to Ramos. "Transplant the tomatoes outdoors in mid-May, and harvest them from mid-summer, or July, through early fall, or around September to October." Ramos adds that this late harvest—October—depends on your local frost conditions. Planting Before the Best Time Can you plant vegetables before their opportune planting time? You can always start your vegetables indoors where you can control the temperature and growing conditions to make sure the seeds get off to a good start, Handley says. Once you can see them sprouting, you can then move them outside. "This method is great for sensitive vegetables like tomatoes or peppers," Handley says. "But for hardier vegetables like potatoes—which infamously grow in any soil condition—carrots, or peas, you can plant them outdoors in slightly colder conditions." In later spring to early summer, Handley suggests moving your more sensitive vegetables outdoors when temperatures consistently reach above 50°F. Planting After the Best Time Is it too late to start a garden? You can often still plant vegetables after the ideal time has passed. The vegetable harvest may not be as bountiful, though. Even though spring is generally the time to plant vegetables, remember that fall is a second growing season. Vegetables planted in spring are harvested in summer, while fall vegetables are harvested from October to December. So, even if you miss spring plantings, you only have two or three months to wait until fall vegetables roll around in midsummer.