152 Gardening 
spinach, kale, collard, and Irish potatoes are of this 
class. 
Early varieties of some of these vegetables mature 
during summer, while other varieties mature later. 
Swiss chard and New Zealand spinach continue to 
yield leaves for use as greens throughout the summer. 
In general, the seeds for these crops may be planted about 
the dates of the last killing frost in spring. The very 
early varieties of beets, onions, carrots, and Irish potatoes 
may be planted somewhat earlier. 
Perennial vegetables maturing crops in cool weather. 
The standard garden crops of this class are rhubarb, 
asparagus, and certain types of perennial onions whose 
edible parts are used for food only during the cool weather 
of early spring. These plants continue to live and grow 
throughout the growing season, and they are left in the 
ground over winter. 
Warm-season crops of short growing periods. Many 
warm-season crops grow quickly enough to mature 
from seed planted directly inthe garden. Of these crops, 
sweet corn and snap beans may be sown about the date 
of the latest killing frost. Okra, cucumbers, melons, 
squashes, and lima beans are planted about two or three 
weeks later, or after the soil is thoroughly warmed. 
The gardener is often anxious to plant these crops 
early, but such plantings may be injured by cool weather 
or even “nipped” by late frosts. Hence it is a good 
plan to make successive plantings. If the first plantings 
are killed, the space can be given to some other crop. 
Planting both early and late varieties of these vegetables. 
is advisable. Extra early crops can be secured by trans- 
