As a grower and investigator of plant habits, because many seem not to know the proper time for planting plants in the ground, and due to increased interest in veggie gardening…

I present the following rough guide on planting your garden based on what other plants are doing. Alternatively you could just read the back of seed packets and check the USDA hardiness zone map here.

Put your tomatoes/peppers/cucumbers/beans in the ground AFTER the oak trees bloom (unsure as to what an oak tree is? they produce acorns, their blooms look like long pollen filled stringy things, and they probably made your car look yellow - southern pines tend to bloom around the same time so they are also responsible).

Put your lettuces/peas/radishes/beets in the ground BEFORE the oak trees bloom - generally about a month or so before.

None of this applies in tropical areas of the US like Florida, Hawaii, Texas, Southern California, and parts of New Mexico and Arizona. If your area lacks oak trees…I’m sorry, just check the USDA map and you should be fine.

Just please…consider timing before planting or you will be like my parent’s coworker and have over 100 seedlings in your house for two months….