Zone 3 Vegetables

When to Plant Zone 3 Vegetables?

Zone 3 has the shortest growing season in the United States--and in many parts of zone 3, gardeners have about 100 frost-free days for gardening. The last spring frost date is in May while the first fall frost arrives in September.

With planning, zone 3 gardeners can grow and harvest many vegetables. For some crops, though, they'll want to select vegetable varieties that are early maturing. Some longer season vegetable varieties may not have time to grow and produce vegetables before the first fall frost.

Many zone 3 gardeners start vegetable seeds indoors to get a jump-start on the gardening season. Start tender, warm-season vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, basil and summer squash indoors in late April and transplant them to the garden after danger of frost has passed. Start broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts and cauliflower seeds indoors, and transplant seedlings into the garden about two weeks before the last frost date.

In May, begin direct sowing lettuce, spinach, beets, carrots, collards, kale, radishes, peas and potatoes into the garden. To extend the harvest season, sow lettuce, beet, carrots, collards and radish seeds every two weeks through early summer. Plant cucumber seeds in May and squash seeds in late May.

Depending on where you live in zone 3, you can begin directly sowing bean and corn seeds into the zone 3 garden in early June. Both bean and corn seed germinate best in warmer soils.

The short growing season makes fall gardening a challenge. Directly sow lettuce, turnips, kohlrabi, spinach and kale in early August for a fall harvest. Row covers can help you extend the harvest.

How to Care for Zone 3 Vegetables?

Most vegetables need 6-8 hours of direct sunlight, about an inch of water weekly and fertile, well-drained soil. When gardening in zone 3, plant vegetables where they will receive direct afternoon sun.

Once your garden is planted and growing, these are a couple of tips for caring for your zone 3 vegetables.

• Inspect your plants several times a week for signs of disease and insect damage.
• Ensure that your plants get adequate water. During the hot days of summer or times of drought, rainfall may not be enough and you may have to water your plants.
• Keep your garden weed-free. Weeds can compete with vegetable plants for nutrients, choke out plants and spread disease.
• Fertilize your plants when needed. We recommend using slow-release, all-natural fertilizers.
• Mulching around your vegetable plants or between rows can help suppress weeds and retain moisture in the soil.
• Some crops may benefit from row covers. Row covers can protect plants from spring or fall frosts. Covers can also protect some plants from insect damage.
• Harvest vegetables before they become overly mature. Most vegetables are the most tender and flavorful before they reach full maturity.

What are the Best Early Spring Zone 3 Vegetables?

Asparagus grows well in zone 3 and comes back year after year. Many varieties of perennial rhubarb also perform well in zone 3. Both asparagus and rhubarb are planted in the spring. Because of the cool weather, gardening season generally doesn't get underway until mid to late spring in zone 3. Some spring vegetables to grow in zone 3 are cabbage and broccoli (if started indoors) and lettuce, spinach, turnips, beets, radishes, peas, onions and carrots.

What are the Best Zone 3 Winter Vegetables?

Zone 3 is the coldest growing zone in the United States and not suitable for growing in the winter months. However, the use of row covers can extend the harvest of cool-weather crops such as lettuce, spinach, beets and carrots. Parsnips can also be harvested in the fall, and sometimes later if covered with mulch. Crops such as Brussels sprouts and kale are often sweeter if harvested after a light frost. Zone 3 is excellent for planting hardneck garlic bulbs in the fall and harvesting the following summer.