Plant guides: when to plant and how to grow

Each guide starts with the short answer, then the details: when to plant, how deep and how far apart, how to water and feed, when the crop is ready and what usually goes wrong. The advice comes from land-grant university Cooperative Extension services, cited at the end of every guide, and it notes where gardeners in the cold North, the humid South, the arid West and warm-winter areas need to do things differently.

Planting dates are calculated, not copied: the timing Extension services recommend, such as "start indoors six to eight weeks before the last frost", is applied to the frost records of the weather station nearest to you, with a check that the soil is warm enough for warm-season crops. Where frost is rare, the guides and the regional calendars give planting months instead. Houseplant guides cover light, watering and the best season to repot and propagate.