When to Plant Asparagus Crowns in Rhode Island
Plant asparagus crowns in Rhode Island in early spring, timed to the region’s last frost window of April 7 to April 17.
Gardening in Rhode Island
Everything we have worked out for Rhode Island: 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 Providence, the last spring freeze runs April 7 to April 17 and the first fall freeze runs October 24 to November 3, USDA zones 6a-7b, 3,229 growing degree days in the year.
Garlic does well: 26.1 weeks below 40 °F, comfortably past the six it needs to form a proper head.
Elsewhere on the property in Rhode Island: 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 Sweet Corn in Rhode Island: Will It Ripen?
Rhode Island gardeners can grow sweet corn to full ripeness most seasons, but the frost date on the calendar isn’t the number that decides it.
Growing Asparagus in Rhode Island: Fifteen Years in One Spot
Rhode Island gardeners can grow asparagus successfully, but the decision carries more weight than most vegetable choices.
When to Sow Pumpkins in Rhode Island
In Rhode Island, pumpkin seed goes into the ground once soil warms to 65°F, which usually lands in mid-to-late May across most counties, well after the…
Will Pumpkins Ripen Before Frost in Rhode Island?
Yes, in most seasons, but only if the flowers open early enough. Rhode Island’s first fall frost typically arrives between October 24 and November 3, and…
Will Parsnips Sweeten in Rhode Island?
Yes, but the sweetness depends on timing, not luck. Providence’s coldest month averages a nightly low of 22.1°F, a genuine stretch of freezing weather…
When Does the Heating Season Start in Rhode Island?
Heating season in Rhode Island opens in October, when the state’s normal mean temperature first drops below the 65°F mark used to calculate heating…
Growing Spinach in Rhode Island: When Will It Bolt?
Spinach in Rhode Island bolts for two reasons at once: the state’s summer days stretch past 15 hours, and its air warms past the point spinach can stand.
Growing Pumpkins in Rhode Island: Will They Ripen in Time?
Yes, but the margin is tight. A Rhode Island pumpkin has to flower by roughly the last days of August through mid-September to reach the 45 to 55 days it…
Growing Parsnips in Rhode Island: Will They Sweeten?
Rhode Island’s winters get cold enough, and the growing season is long enough, to answer both parsnip questions with a yes.