Open Pollinated / Heirloom garden vegetables vary so much in their preferred growing temperatures, planting the heirloom vegetable garden isn’t a one day job. Be prepared to spend several days over the course early spring to early summer planting heirloom vegetable seeds and plants. You’ll plant cool weather crops a few weeks before the last spring frost. Set out warm weather vegetable crops just after the last spring frost. Hot weather vegetable crops cannot tolerate frost or cold soil. Unless you can protect them with a portable cold frame or row covers, plant them at least three weeks after the last spring frost. In warm climates, plant cool weather vegetable crops again in early fall so that they grow during the fall and winter. Here is a guide to the temperature preferences of 30 common heirloom garden vegetables;
Cool Beets Broccoli Cabbage Cauliflower Celery Garden peas Lettuce Onions Radishes Spinach Turnips | Warm Cantaloupes Carrots Chard Corn Cucumbers Peppers Potatoes Pumpkins Snap Beans Squash Tomatoes | Hot Cantaloupe Eggplant Field peas Lima beans Melons Okra Peanuts Shell Beans Sweet Potatoes Watermelons |