Container Planting Calendar for Edibles in the N.C. Piedmont

You can grow and harvest vegetables, fruits, and herbs in the piedmont of North Carolina practically year-round. Container offers flexibility over traditional gardening because the containers can be raised or lowered for easier accessibility, placed in a sunny or shady spot, moved to a sheltered area for extreme weather (low temperatures, snow, or tropical storms), and protected from wildlife (squirrels, voles, rabbits, or deer) that may damage or try to eat your harvest. By choosing the appropriate varieties and planting at the right time of year, you can enjoy the many benefits of gardening and create a beautiful space just outside your door.

Benefits ture. To maximize success, choose varieties People grow vegetables, fruits, and herbs that are pest and disease resistant. Initials for many reasons. Many edibles have great following the variety—for example, ornamental value, such as the fine, feath- tomato—indicate that it has been bred ery foliage of dill, the bright red stalks to be resistant to a disease or pest. “V” of chard, the snowy white blossoms of means resistance to Verticillium wilt, “F” peas, and the bold purple color of egg- indicates resistance to Fusarium wilt, and plant. Besides providing a fresh source “T” indicates resistance to Tobacco Mosaic of nutritious locally produced food, the Virus. While these codes are the ones most act of gardening has the added benefits of commonly used, they are not universal. So improving both your mental and physi- be sure to check the key in the catalogue cal health. The sense of joy and pride in you are using. Finally, choose varieties that planting, growing, and harvesting can be will provide the taste, texture, and color tremendous. Children also benefit from that you desire. being included in container gardening Climate projects. Growing edibles can connect children with the biological world around Edibles can be grown in the piedmont them, increase their knowledge of where throughout the year by utilizing micro- food comes from, and expand the variety climates and protecting plants by moving and quantity of fresh fruits and vegetables containers close to a warm wall or house. they consume. The average low temperature in Decem- ber, January, and February is 280 F to 300 Varieties F, but collards, kale, and some herbs such When choosing plants for your contain- as bay and rosemary will tolerate the cold ers, select ones with a confined or compact weather. The summer months of June, July, growth habit. Not all edibles can be grown and August are when most plants are pro- in containers, but new varieties are devel- oped every year. Look for varieties that are labeled compact, bush, dwarf, or minia- Container Garden Planting Calendar for Edibles in the N.C. Piedmont ducing their bounty, but in this area of the country, sev- eral cool-season such as leafy greens, carrots, beets, and radish can be planted in the late winter for a spring harvest and again in the late summer for a fall harvest. Warm season crops such as tomato, cucumber, and pep- pers should be planted in late spring once nighttime tem- peratures are above 550 F and daytime temperatures are at least 700 F. Begin with a plan for succession planting as it is efficient and provides an increased availability. It consists of the coordination of planning the planting of one crop so that when it is harvested, there will be anoth- er planted in its place. For example, fill a large container with lettuce in the early spring and it will be harvested by early to mid May. Lettuce can be replaced with a bell pepper plant. In September, remove the pepper and plant courtesyPhoto L. Bradley another cool season crop like lettuce, kale, or scallions. Lettuce, radish, and nasturtium planted on a sunny deck. Please see related Extension publications for additional information on potting soil options, container selection, Planting Calendar and nutrition management. The calendar that follows provides information as to which vegetables, fruits, and herbs can be planted each month and when they will be ready to harvest. It indi- cates whether the plant should be started from seed or transplants, and the guide also gives recommendations for success for each plant.

Container Gardening — At a Glance • Enjoy the benefits of growing edibles year- round • Select varieties labeled compact, bush, dwarf, or miniature In the piedmont area of NC, there are three USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 7a, 7b, and 8a. • Choose varieties that are disease and pest resistant where possible • Consider a plant’s taste, texture, and color USDA Hardiness Zones and Average Annual Minimum Temperature Range • Use the charts to optimize planting date and harvest time Zone Fahrenheit Example Cities 7a 0 to 5 F Chapel Hill, Winston-Salem 7b 5 to 10 F Lumberton, Raleigh 8a 10 to 15 F Fayetteville, Hope Mills

2 Container Garden Planting Calendar for Edibles in the N.C. Piedmont

Container Garden Planting Calendar for Vegetables in the N.C. Piedmont

Days to Jan. Feb. March April May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Vegetables Harvest 1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15 Beans, lima – bush 65-80 S S S S Beans, lima – pole 75-95 S S S Beans, snap – bush 50-55 S S S S S S Beans, snap – pole 65-70 S S S S S Beets 55-60 S S S S S Bok choy 45-60 T T T T Carrots 75-80 S S S S Collards 90-120 ST ST Cucumber 60-65 ST ST ST Eggplant 80-85 T T T T Endive 80-90 S S S S S Green garlic 30-35 B B B B Kale 50-60 ST ST ST S S Leeks 70-100 T T T T Lettuce, head 75-85 ST ST ST ST Lettuce, leaf 45-50 ST ST ST ST ST Mustard greens 30-45 ST ST ST ST S S S Peas, garden 65-70 S S Peas, snap 65-70 S S Peas, snow 65-70 S S Peppers 75-80 T T Potatoes 100-120 T T T T T Radish 20-25 S S S S S S S S Scallions 60-80 B B B B B B Spinach 45-50 S S S S S Squash, summer 50-60 T T Squash, winter 85-95 S S S Swiss chard 60-70 ST ST ST Tomatoes 75-85 T T T T T T

B = Bulbs S = Seeds T = Transplants

3 Container Garden Planting Calendar for Edibles in the N.C. Piedmont

Container Garden Planting Calendar for Fruits in the N.C. Piedmont

Jan. Feb. March April May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Fruits Pollination 1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15 Cross-pollina- Apple tion needed P P P P P P H H H H H H H P Partially self- Blueberries fertile* P P P P H H H H H H P P P P P P Citrus Self-fertile P P P H H H H H H H H H Fig Self-fertile P P P P P P H H H H H H H H P P Most varieties Grapes self-fertile P P P P P H H H H H P P P Most varieties Peach self-fertile P P P P P P H H H H H H P Strawberries** Self-fertile P P H H H P P

H = Harvest P = Plant Note: Blueberries, grapes, and most fruit trees will take several years to bear full crops *Partially self-fertile means cross–pollination will result in increased yield and berry size **Strawberries planted in late February or early March will produce a very limited crop in May or early June; planting in late October or early November will produce a better yielding crop Photo courtesy Kwok Photo Amy Photo courtesy D. J. Gunn J. courtesyPhoto D. Top hat blueberry bush growing in a Lemon tree on dwarfing rootstock with colorful container. fruit ready for harvest.

4 Container Garden Planting Calendar for Edibles in the N.C. Piedmont

Container Garden Planting Calendar for Herbs in the N.C. Piedmont

Jan. Feb. March April May June July August Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Herbs Harvest season 1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15 1 15 Basil Summer T T T Bay Continuous T T T T T Borage Spring to fall S S Late summer Chamomile to early fall S S Late summer Chervil into winter S S S S S Chives Spring to fall T T T Cilantro Early summer S S S Dill Summer to fall S S S S Fennel Late summer S S Feverfew Summer ST ST Lavender Summer T T T Lemongrass Late summer T T Lemon Verbena Summer T T Marjoram Summer ST ST Mint Spring to fall T T T Monarda* Summer to fall T T Oregano Summer to fall T T T Parsley Summer to fall T T T T T Rosemary Continuous T T T Saffron Crocus Fall B B Sage Summer to fall T T Spring to early Salad Burnet summer ST ST Scented Geranium Spring to fall T T Stevia Continuous T T Tarragon Spring to fall T T Thyme Summer ST ST ST ST

*also known as Bergamot

B = Bulbs S = Seeds T = Transplants

5 Container Garden Planting Calendar for Edibles in the N.C. Piedmont

Container Garden Planting Calendar for Vegetables in the N.C. Piedmont

Vegetables Recommendations for Success Beans Bush beans grow 12-18 inches tall and pole beans grow up to 8 feet Beets Choose cylindrical or round varieties; harvest when beets are 1 inch in diameter Dwarf types are available. On fall plantings, outside leaves can be harvested first while the rest of the plant Bok choy continues to grow Carrots Choose round, fingers, or Nantes varieties; container soil depth needs to be at least 8 inches Cucumbers Bush or vining varieties are fine; trellis vining varieties at time of planting Eggplant Choose Asian or dwarf varieties; backtrack 8 weeks if start seeds indoors (early March) Also known as frisee; miniature variety is available. To soften the taste, tie the leaves together at the top Endive to blanch more stem Plant unpeeled individual cloves 2 inches deep; eat entire plant or slice off a portion of the green shoots Green garlic and they will regrow Leafy greens Includes: collards, kale, mustard, and Swiss chard; can start seeds indoors 3-4 weeks before planting outdoors Leeks Use transplants rather than direct seeding due to long maturity time Lettuce Categories: looseleaf lettuces will cut and come again but romaine and butterheads do not Peas At planting, trellis both bush and vining types; mix nitrogen-fixing inoculant into the soil along with the seeds Choose transplants that are dense and compact; do not plant until nighttime temperatures are >55 0F and Peppers days are >70 0F Potatoes Red-skinned, waxy, yellow-skinned, or fingerling types do well Radishes Harvest early (the size of large marbles) or they become bitter Scallions Grow scallions or bunching onions; when planting, use transplants or onion sets Spinach Harvest entire plant or pick individual leaves Squash Choose a bush form or miniatures; for best flavor, harvest when they are small Stake or trellis at planting; need a container depth of at least 12 inches and container size of at least 5 gallons; Tomatoes prune plants to keep them under 5½ feet tall

Note: Planting dates are suggested guidelines. These dates should provide the highest probability of success, however, weather conditions vary from year to year and planting dates should be adjusted accordingly. If growing your own transplants, start them six to eight weeks prior to transplanting them into the garden. Protect tender transplants from severe weather conditions. To “harden them off” just prior to transplanting, gradually introduce them to their new environment by taking them outside for increasing periods each day.

6 Container Garden Planting Calendar for Edibles in the N.C. Piedmont

Container Garden Planting Calendar for Fruits in the N.C. Piedmont

Fruit Recommendations for Success Choose dwarf and disease-resistant rootstocks; need two different varieties for cross-pollination; root system is Apples hardy to only about 150 F; need at least a 20-25 gallon container Blueberries Choose a dwarf variety; keep soil pH 4.5 – 5.3; container size should be at least 2 feet × 2 feet × 2 feet

Options include: Satsuma or Kishu mandarins, calamondins, lemons, or limes; lemons and limes do not survive freezing weather so move the plant inside once the temperature is under 450 F; mandarins on hardy Poncirus trifoliate semi-dwarfing rootstock and calamondins tolerate temperatures down to 250F; choose a dwarf root- Citrus stock to keep the plant small and put it in a lightweight container that can be moved indoors; if a small plant is purchased, over time move the plant up to a larger size container, eventually reaching a 15 gallon size; citrus will have less leaf drop if overwintered in a low-light area that is cool rather than warm With , can be kept to 8 feet tall; roots will withstand temperatures to about 150 F; need at least a 10 Figs gallon container Provide a trellis to support the vertical growth; minimum container size should be 15 gallons; root system is Grapes hardy to 20 0F; for muscadines choose a self-fertile variety; muscadines are a better choice over bunch grapes as most muscadines are not affected by Pierce’s Disease Choose a genetic dwarf or bush form; roots will withstand temperatures to 150 F; need at least a 20-25 gallon Peaches container

Choose June-bearing (large berries, fruit in May, produce many runners), everbearing (smaller berries, fruit in May and again in late summer, produce less runners), day-neutral (smaller berries, fruit from June until frost, Strawberries produce few runners) or Alpine (1/2-inch berries produced throughout the growing season, send out no run- ners); containers need to be at least 8 inches deep; a larger crop will be produced by planting the previous fall rather than waiting to plant until the spring.

Note: Insulate pots during the winter to protect plant roots from extreme cold temperatures. Materials that you can use to wrap the pots include a Reemay frost blanket, bubble wrap, closed cell foam (1-inch thick), quilt batting, household insulation, or a blanket. Add a layer of plastic on top of the insulation to keep it from getting soaked during wet weather. Periodically check the moisture in the soil and water dry containers. Keeping the plants watered will act as a buffer to protect plant roots during cold weather. Choose light-colored containers to prevent temperature fluctuations. Black or very dark pots in full sun will cause soil temperatures to rise during the day and fall at night by as much as 300 F. Plants in larger containers will produce more fruit, not dry out as quickly, and experience less fluctuation in soil temperature. Photo courtesy Patricia Wrightman courtesy Photo Patricia

Photo courtesyPhoto Rebecca Latimer Lettuce, Purple Mustard, and Swiss Chard Dwarf Bearss Lime Photo courtesy Wendi Strang-Frost Wendi courtesyPhoto

Thinning Huckleberry Photo courtesy Pattie Tierney courtesyPhoto Pattie Seedlings Purple Beans

7 Container Garden Planting Calendar for Edibles in the N.C. Piedmont

Container Garden Planting Calendar for Herbs in the N.C. Piedmont

Herbs Recommendations for Success Basil Plant once temperature is above 500 F Bay Grows to a small tree (5 feet tall); hardy outside to around 320 F Borage Need container depth of at least 8 inches for large taproot; germinates quickly Annual or perennial; German variety is a tall, upright plant used for tea; Roman variety is a sweet smelling, Chamomile low growing plant; plant seeds once temperature is above 550 F for German and above 700 F for Roman Chervil Tolerates cool weather and low light; harvest in 6 to 8 weeks Chives Perennial - bulbs are left in place to multiply themselves; all parts of the plant are edible Cilantro Choose “non-bolting” type; need container depth of at least 8 inches for large taproot Dill Choose “dwarf” variety, need at least 12 inch deep container for long taproot Tender perennial; mature plant gets 2 feet tall and 1 foot wide; Sweet fennel has edible foliage, seeds, and Fennel stalks; Florence fennel has an edible bulb; need 12 inch deep pot for large taproot Feverfew Perennial; crowded plants will not thrive Perennial; Lavandula angustifolia or L. heterophylla; keep plants clipped for good air circulation; don’t over- Lavender water or keep soil wet as roots will rot Grows to 2 feet tall and wide; Cymbopogon citratus is the only culinary lemongrass; tropical plant — likes Lemongrass warm, humid, and wet conditions Lemon Verbena Annual or tender perennial; mature plant grows to 4 feet tall and 3 feet wide Marjoram Shallow rooted so starting seeds may be better than using transplants; requires 70 days to grow before harvest Mint Perennial; keep trimmed back; grow in its own pot as roots will take over the entire pot with time Monarda Perennial; 1 to 3 feet tall; large, colorful flowers also called “bee balm” Oregano Perennial; don’t overwater; needs good air circulation Parsley Cool season grower; don’t overwater; slow and erratic to germinate so use transplants if possible Rosemary Perennial; favors dry, poor soil; can remain outdoors to 250 F Saffron Crocus Perennial; plant in late spring and blooms in late fall Sage Perennial; harvest frequently to keep small leaves, otherwise they loose their scent Salad Burnet Perennial; fresh-only herb; don’t overwater; need 12 inch deep pot for long taproot Scented Geraniums Tender perennial; drought tolerant Stevia Tender perennial; grows up to 2 feet tall; leaf edges burn in hot sun; move indoors for winter Perennial but dormant in winter; likes hot weather; put in own pot as roots intertwine; French variety used Tarragon for cooking; best used fresh Thyme Perennial; drought tolerant; don’t overwater

8 NC STATE UNIVERSITY Container Garden Planting Calendar for Edibles in the N.C. Piedmont

Resources Bass, L. 2000. Home vegetable gardening: Quick refer- Kelly, W.T. 1999. Specialty crops: Chinese cabbage and ence guide. NC Coop. Ext. Serv. AG-12. related oriental crops. The Univ. of GA College of Agr. Bost, T. 1997. North Carolina ’s guide. Cool & Environ. Sci. Circ. 809. Springs Press, Nashville, TN. McGee, R. and M. Stuckey. 2002. The bountiful contain- Creasy, R. 2010. Edible landscaping. 2nd ed. Sierra Club er. Workman Publishing Co., New York, NY. Books, San Francisco, CA. Poling, E.B., E.B. Bish, G.E. Fernandez and W. T. Bland. Evans, E. and J. Davis. 1998. Harvesting and preserv- 1999. Grapes and berries for the garden. NC Coop. ing herbs for the home gardener. NC Coop. Ext. Serv. Ext. Serv. AG-588 Hort. Info. Lflt. 8111. 10 July 2010.http://ces.ncsu. Reich, L. 2009. Landscaping with fruit. Storey Publishing, edu/depts/hort/hil/hil-8111. North Adams, MA. Hastings, D. and C. Hastings. 1996. Month-by-month Vegetable planting guide. Stone Bros. and Byrd, 700 gardening in the south. Longstreet Press, Atlanta, GA. Washington St., Durham, NC. Jones, D. and Debbie Roos. 2009. Planting and harvest- ing guide for piedmont vegetables and herbs. Growing Small Farms, Pittsboro. 22 Feb 2011. http://www.ces. ncsu.edu/chatham/ag/SustAg/plantingguide.html.

Prepared by Kim Richter Department of Horticultural Science Lucy Bradley, Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist Department of Horticultural Science Mark Kistler, Assistant Professor Department of Agricultural and Extension Education Julie Sherk, Assistant Professor Department of Horticultural Science

Published by NORTH CAROLINA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION

Distributed in furtherance of the acts of Congress of May 8 and June 30, 1914. North Carolina State University and North Carolina A&T State University commit themselves to positive action to secure equal opportunity regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, religion, sex, age, veteran status or disability. In addition, the two Universities welcome all persons without regard to sexual orientation. North Carolina State University, North Carolina A&T State University, U.S. Department of , and local governments cooperating. 9 11-CALS-2632 AG-748 5/11—VB/KEL