often absent during the summer months. Depending on programming at a given school, there may be little to no supervision or maintenance over the summer months. The solution to this issue comes in three parts:
Plant spring crops that can be harvested by the students
Only plant summer crops that can be left unattended
Plant fall crops when the students get back to school
Check that you have enough days between the earliest planting date and the end of school for the variety you have chosen
For crops that take less time to mature:
Count backwards from the end of school for the latest spring planting date
You may be able to get more than one harvest in with some plants (e.g. leaf lettuce and radishes)
in with some plants (e.g. leaf lettuce and radishes)
For crops that take more time to reach maturity:
You may be able to start transplants earlier
Look for more cold tolerant varieties so you can plant them a little earlier
If you are going to be around during the summer, try to time them so students see them when they are small, then pick them yourself later
Try to select varieties that mature faster
The following table shows some good candidates for spring crops, whether they should be planted from seed or as transplants, when transplants should be started, the earliest planting dates for Western/Central/Eastern Kentucky, and a range of how long it takes plants to mature (days to maturity). For more specific days to maturity, check the information for a specific variety from your seed supplier.
| Crops | Seed or Transplant | Date/Time to start Transplants | Earliest planting date | Days to maturity |
|---|
| Beets | Seed | ----- | March 10/ March 15/March 20 | 55-60 |
|---|
| Head lettuce | Seed or transplant | 5-7 weeks | March 15/March 25/April 1 | 60-80 |
|---|
| Broccoli | Transplant | Feb. 5 | March 30/April 5/April 10 | 40-90 |
|---|
| Brussels sprouts | Transplant | Feb. 5 | March 30/April 5/April 10 | 80-90 |
|---|
| Cabbage | Transplant | Jan. 20 | March 15/March 25/April 1 | 60-100 |
|---|
| Endive | Seed or transplant | 3-4 weeks | March 15/March 25/April 1 | 60-90 |
|---|
| Kale | Seed or transplant | 4-6 weeks | March 10/March 20/April 1 | 50-60 |
|---|
| Kohlrabi | Seed | ----- | March 15/March 20/ March 25 | 50-70 |
|---|
| Leaf lettuce | Seed | ----- | March 15/March 25/April 1 | 30-50 |
|---|
| Mustard greens | Seed | ----- | March 15/March 25/April 1 | 28-60 |
|---|
| Peas | Seed | ----- | Feb 20/March 1/March 15 | 60-80 |
|---|
| Swiss Chard | Seed or transplant | 5-6 weeks | March 15/March 20/April 1 | 55-60 |
|---|
| Turnips | Seed | ----- | March 1/March 10/March 15 | 40-60 |
|---|
| Turnip greens | Seed | ----- | March 1/March 10/March 15 | 30-50 |
|---|
| Green onions | Seed or transplant | Late February to mid-March | March 10/March 20/ April 1
March 15/March 25/April 1 | 40-60 |
|---|