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:

1. Plant spring crops that can be harvested by the students
2. Only plant summer crops that can be left unattended
3. Plant fall crops when the students get back to school

Spring Crops

• 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:
• oCount backwards from the end of school for the latest spring planting date
• oYou 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:
• oYou may be able to start transplants earlier
• oLook for more cold tolerant varieties so you can plant them a little earlier
• oIf 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
• oTry 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.