Cooperative Extension Ventura County

Planting Vegetables

 

This table is from Home Vegetable Gardening by Dennis R. Pittenger, Extension urban Horticulture Specialist, Riverside
Publication number 21444

Vegetables
Approximate Planting Dates for Ventura County
Crop Type
Amount to plant for a family of four
Distance in Inches**

W=warm season
C=cool season

Between plants in rows
Between rows without beds
Artichoke(3)
May - Jul
C
3 - 4 plants
48
60
Asparagus(3)
Jan - Feb
C
30 - 40 plants
12
60
Beans, lima(1)
May - Jun
W
15 - 25 ft row
6 bush, 24 pole
30
Beans, snap (1,2)
Mar - Aug
W
15 - 25 ft row
3 bush, 24 pole
30(4)
Beets(1,2)
Jan - Sep
C
10 - 15 ft row
2
18(4)
Broccoli(1,2,3)
Jun-Jul, Jan - Feb
C
15 - 20 ft row
9-12
36
Brussels sprouts(3)
Jun - Jul
C
15 - 20 ft row
24
36
Cabbage(1,3)
Aug - Feb
C
10 - 15 plants
24
36
Cabbage, Chinese(1)
Aug - Sep
C
10 - 15 ft row
6
30(4)
Cantaloupes and other melons
Apr - May
W
5 - 10 hills
12
72
Carrots(1,2)
Jan - Sep
C
20 - 30 ft row
2
24
Cauliflower(3)
Jul - Oct, Feb
C
10 - 15 plants
24
36
Celeriac
Mar - Aug
C
10 - 15 ft row
4
24(4)
Celery(1,3)
Apr - Aug
C
20 - 30 ft row
5
24(4)
Chard(1)
Feb - May
C
3 - 4 plants
12
30
Chayote
Apr - May
W
1 - 2 plants
72
grow on a trellis
Chives(1)
Feb - Apr
C
1 clump
-
-
Corn, sweet(1)
Mar - Jul
W
20 - 30 ft in 4 rows
12
36
Cucumbers
Apr - Jun
W
6 plants
24
48
Eggplant(1,3)
Apr - May
W
4 - 6 plants
18
36
Endive(1)
Dec - Aug
C
10 - 15 ft row
10
24(4)
Florence Fennel
Feb - Jul
C
10 - 15 ft row
4
30(4)
Garlic(1)
Oct - Dec
C
10 - 20 ft row
3
18(4)
Kohlrabi(1)
Jan, Aug - Sep
C
10 - 15 ft row
3
24
Leeks
Jan - Apr
C
10 ft row
2
24
Lettuce(1,2)
Aug - Apr
C
10 - 15 ft row
12 head, 6 leaf
24
Mustard(1)
Aug - Feb
C
10 ft row
8
24(4)
Okra
Apr - May
W
10 - 20 ft row
18
36
Onions, blub(1,)
Feb - Mar
C
20 - 40 ft row
3
18(4)
Onions, green(1,2,3)
All year
    
Parsley(1)
Dec - May
C
1 - 2 plants
8
24
Parsnips
Mar - Jul
C
10 - 15 ft row
3
24(4)
Peas(1,2)
Aug, Dec - Mar
C
30 - 40 ft row
2
36 bush, 48 vine
Peppers(1,3)
Apr - May
W
5 - 10 plants
24
36
Potatoes, sweet(3)
Apr - May
W
50 - 100 ft row
12
36
Potatoes, white
Jeb - May,
Jun - Aug
C
50 - 100 ft row
12
30
Pumpkins
May - Jun
W
1 - 3 plants
48
72
Radish(1,2)
All year
C
4 ft row
1
6(4)
Rhubarb(3)
Dec - Jan
C
2 - 3 plants
36
48
Rutabaga
Jul - Sep
Aug - Mar
C
10 - 15 ft row
3
6(4)
Spinach(1)
Aug - Mar
C
10 - 20 ft row
3
18(4)
Squash, summer(1)
Apr - Jun
W
2 - 4 plants
24
48
Squash, winter(1)
Apr - Jun
W
2 - 4 plants
24-48
72
Tomatoes(1,3)
Apr - Jul
W
10 - 20 plants
18-36
36-60
Turnips(1)
Jan, Aug - Oct
C
10 - 15 ft row
2
18(4)
Watermelons
Apr - Jun
W
6 plants
60
72

(1) Crops suggested for a small garden or may be grown in small gardens when compact varieties are grown.
(2) In a suitable climate, these crops can be planted more than once for continuous harvest.
(3) Transplants, shoots, or roots used for field planting.
(4) If grown in beds, plant two rows per bed. Space the beds about 32 - 40 inches apart and make the tops of the beds 18 inches wide.
** Planting distances shown here are standards. Many crops can be more closely spaced for intensive production.