When to Start Pepper Seed in New York
Start pepper seed indoors 8 to 10 weeks before you plan to transplant outdoors.
Gardening in New York
Everything we have worked out for New York: what to plant and when, which varieties finish in time, the pests that actually turn up here, and the jobs that pay off month by month. We also cover the rest of the property, from lawns and soil to home care and energy, because a garden rarely stops at the vegetable bed.
The numbers first, because everything else follows from them. Measured at the weather station in New York City, the last spring freeze runs March 23 to April 3 and the first fall freeze runs November 14 to November 27, USDA zones 3b-7b, 3,786 growing degree days in the year.
Garlic does well: 17.4 weeks below 40 °F, comfortably past the six it needs to form a proper head.
Elsewhere on the property in New York: the pests that turn up here.
Figures from NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals. A state is not one climate: elevation, a large lake or the coast can move these dates by two weeks either way, so check your own county with the extension service before you spend money.
Growing Beets in New York: Soil, Sowing and Bolting
New York’s representative topsoil, the Honeoye series, is a well-drained silt loam that suits beets reasonably well once you add a modest amount of…
When to Plant Potatoes in New York: Counting Back From Your Last Frost
Count back 14 to 21 days from your last spring frost date, once soil hits 50°F.
Harvesting and Storing Potatoes in New York
Dig New York potatoes before the ground locks up, then hold them in the coldest room in the house that never actually freezes.
Potato Varieties That Suit New York
For most New York gardens, early and mid-season potato varieties are the safer bet, planted by soil temperature rather than by calendar date.
What to Plant in New York in September
September in New York still has room for fast, cold-hardy crops if you sow them in the first half of the month, but the window narrows fast as you move…
What to Plant in New York in October
October is planting month for garlic in New York, not the tail end of the growing season.
What to Plant in New York in November
Garlic and shallots are the main crop still going into New York soil this month, and it’s actually prime timing for them.
What to Plant in New York in May
By May, New York’s growing season is in full swing for most of the state. In New York City, the last spring frost typically falls between March 23 and…
What to Plant in New York in March
In New York’s warmer pockets, Long Island, New York City, and the lower Hudson Valley, cold-hardy crops like peas, spinach, and onion sets can go into…