Below is a crop-by-crop summary of the best time to plant vegetables here in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Keep in mind these are estimates of ideal planting windows, each season can bring very different conditions so also take into account potential freezes in the weather forecast and your individual planting zone.
Annual Vegetables
Vegetables grown from seeds or seedlings each year, listed in alphabetical order:
Beans
Start Seeds Indoors: Not recommended
Start Seeds or Transplant Outdoors: May 1 - July 1, depending on variety
Days to Maturity: 50 - 75 days
Beets
Start Seeds Indoors: Not recommended
Start Seeds or Transplant Outdoors: April 15 - June 15
Days to Maturity: 55 - 65 days
Broccoli
Start Seeds Indoors: March 1 - 30
Start Seeds or Transplant Outdoors: April 15 - June 15
Days to Maturity: 60 - 80 days
Brussels Sprouts
Start Seeds Indoors: March 1 - 30
Start Seeds or Transplant Outdoors: May 15 - 30
Days to Maturity: 80 - 120 days
Cabbage
Start Seeds Indoors: March 1 - 30
Start Seeds or Transplant Outdoors: April 15 - July 15, depending on variety
Days to Maturity: 60 - 80 days
Carrots
Start Seeds Indoors: Not Recommended
Start Seeds or Transplant Outdoors: April 15 - July 15 or Oct 1 - Nov 15
Days to Maturity: 70 - 80 days when planted in spring
Cauliflower
Start Seeds Indoors: March 1 - 30
Start Seeds or Transplant Outdoors: April 15 - June 15
Days to Maturity: 55 - 60 days
Celery
Start Seeds Indoors: Feb 15 - March 15
Start Seeds or Transplant Outdoors: May 15 - June 15
Days to Maturity: 90 - 120 days
Chard
Start Seeds Indoors: Not Recommended
Start Seeds or Transplant Outdoors: May 1 - June 1
Days to Maturity: 30 - 55 days
Collards
Start Seeds Indoors: Not Recommended
Start Seeds or Transplant Outdoors: April 15 - May 15
Days to Maturity: 55 - 70 days
Cucumbers
Start Seeds Indoors: Not Recommended
Start Seeds or Transplant Outdoors: May 1 - June 15
Days to Maturity: 60 - 65 days
Eggplant
Start Seeds Indoors: March 1 - 30
Transplant Outdoors: May 15 - June 15 (direct seeding not recommended)
Days to Maturity: 60 - 65 days
Endive
Start Seeds Indoors: Not recommended
Start Seeds or Transplant Outdoors: April 15 - May 1
Days to Maturity: 60 - 65 days
Garlic
Start Bulbs Indoors: Not recommended
Start Bulbs Outdoors: Oct 1 - Nov 1
Days to Maturity: 90 - 150 days
Kale
Start Seeds Indoors: Not recommended
Start Seeds or Transplant Outdoors: April 15 - June 15
Days to Maturity: 50 - 70 days
Kohlrabi
Start Seeds Indoors: Not recommended
Start Seeds or Transplant Outdoors: April 15 - June 15
Days to Maturity: 50 - 70 days
Lettuce, Leaf
Start Seeds Indoors: Not recommended
Start Seeds or Transplant Outdoors: April 15 - June 15
Days to Maturity: 40 - 65 days
Lettuce, Head
Start Seeds Indoors: March 1 - April 1
Start Seeds or Transplant Outdoors: April 15 - June 15
Days to Maturity: 60 - 85 days
Okra
Start Seeds Indoors: March 15 - April 15
Start Seeds or Transplant Outdoors: June 1 - 15
Days to Maturity: 55 - 60 days
Onion
Start Seeds Indoors: Feb 1 - 15
Start Seeds Outdoors: April 1 - May 1
Transplant Outdoors (from slips): April 15 - June 15
Days to Maturity: 100 - 120 days
Parsley
Start Seeds Indoors: Not recommended
Start Seeds or Transplant Outdoors: April 15 - June 15
Days to Maturity: 30 - 90 days
Pea
Start Seeds Indoors: Not recommended
Start Seeds or Transplant Outdoors: April 15 - June 15
Days to Maturity: 50 - 80 days
Pepper
Start Seeds Indoors: March 15 - April 15
Transplant Outdoors: June 1 - 15 (direct seeding not recommended)
Days to Maturity: 40 - 65 days
Potatoes, Irish
Start Seeds Indoors: Not recommended
Start Seeds/Tubers Outdoors: June 1 - 15
Days to Maturity: 70 - 90 days
Potatoes, Sweet
Start Seeds/Roots Indoors: April 1 - 15
Start Seeds/Roots or Transplant Outdoors: May 15 - June 15
Days to Maturity: 90 - 150 days
Pumpkin
Start Seeds Indoors: March 15 - April 15
Start Seeds or Transplant Outdoors: May 10 - June 15
Days to Maturity: 85 - 90 days
Radish
Start Seeds Indoors: Not recommended
Start Seeds or Transplant Outdoors: April 1 - June 15 or August 1 - 15
Days to Maturity: 25 - 35 days
Spinach
Start Seeds Indoors: Not recommended
Start Seeds or Transplant Outdoors: April 15 - June 15 or August 1 - 15
Days to Maturity: 35 - 45 days
Squash
Start Seeds Indoors: March 15 - April 15
Start Seeds or Transplant Outdoors: May 10 - June 15
Days to Maturity: 55 - 80 days for Summer Squash, 85 - 90 days for Winter Squash
Sweet Corn
Start Seeds Indoors: Not recommended
Start Seeds or Transplant Outdoors: May 10 - June 15
Days to Maturity: 80 - 100 days
Tomato
Start Seeds Indoors: March 15 - April 15
Start Seeds or Transplant Outdoors: May 15 - June 15
Days to Maturity: 70 - 85 days
Turnip
Start Seeds Indoors: Not recommended
Start Seeds or Transplant Outdoors: April 15 or August 1
Days to Maturity: 45 - 60 days
Perennial Vegetables
Vegetables that grow for multiple seasons, listed in alphabetical order:
Asparagus
Start Seeds Indoors: Not recommended
Plant Crowns Outdoors: April 1 - June 1
Days to Maturity: following year
Chives
Start Seeds Indoors: Not recommended
Start Seeds or Transplant Outdoors: April 15 - June 15
Days to Maturity: 80 - 90 days
Horseradish
Start Seeds Indoors: Not recommended
Plant Root Cuttings / Sets Outdoors: April 15 - June 15
Days to Maturity: 2nd spring for full flavor
Rhubarb
Start Seeds Indoors: Not recommended
Transplant Outdoors: April 15 - May 15
Days to Maturity: 2nd - 3rd spring
Special thanks to Brian Hirdman and Master Gardener Bekka for compiling this information