2 Main factors affect the planting time of any Crop

Several factors together decide the exact and most suitable planting time of any crop. We will explore two fundamental factors and their sub-factors that directly and highly affect planting duration for any crop, whether it is vegetables, fruits, herbs, or flowers.

If you plant any crop according to these four factors, believe me, the plant will thank you because you are doing everything as the crop or plant wants.

What are the Two Main Factors That Affect the Planting Time of Any Crop

When discussing planting time, the most noticeable factors are plant variety and regional climate. Considering these factors, we easily decide when and where to sow any plant’s seeds.

However, plant growth does not start with only sowing the seed during its growth duration–several environmental factors affect it, such as soil condition, watering time, temperature, and the presence of pests and diseases play a critical role. Here’s how?

Let me clarify that in this content, we will discuss only those factors that mainly determine when to plant crop’ seeds. However, for other propagation methods like cutting, layering, grafting, or division, another factor (propagation method) is between these two aspects (plant variety and regional climate).

So, in today’s content, let’s talk about only those factors that affect the germination time of any plant’s seeds.

Factor 1: Plant Variety

Every plant grows of its own accord–some prefer cooler conditions, called coo-season crops, and some love warmer weather, known as the warm-season crops.

Additionally, some plants die off after one year (Annuals), some take two years (Biennials), and some return after every year (Perennials).

Therefore, when planting any crop seeds, it is essential to focus on crop variety to find the exact and suitable planting time.

To understand plant variety for planting, we need to break this concept into three points. For example;

1. Seasonal preference (to determine planting time)
2. Growth Cycle (to discover plant life cycle duration)
3. Tolerance or Hardiness Level (to examine plant’s cold and heat tolerances)

1. Season Preference

Season preference off any plant means which season or weather conditions are favorable for any plant in which they grow healthy and rapidly. This preference is based on three main aspects;

1. Temperature: Each plant requires a specific season temperature, whether it is winter or summer.
2. Photoperiod: Some flourish during long days, while some short days are enough.
3. Frost-free Period: Some plants can not tolerate extreme frost, so planting them before coming to the first frost is required.

How Season Preference Affects Planting Time?

If your cold-loving crop is planted in the summer, it will die similarly; if a heat-loving crop is sowed in winter, it will not be able to grow more.

That’s why the seasonal preference of any plant is useful to determine when to plant its seeds. Let’s understand with an example;

Planting time for tomatoes (a warm-season crop) is when the soil temperature is 60F or above, which is usually found in the late spring to early summer.

On the other hand, peas (a cool-season crop) are planted from early to late fall, and in some regions, they can also be planted after winter (early spring).

2-Growth Cycle

The growth cycle describes the complete life cycle duration of any plant. Based on this factor, plants are divided into three main groups;

1. Annuals: Take one year (Cilantro, spinach)
2. Biennials: Take Two years (Carrots, turnip)
3. Perennials: Return every year (Mint, lavender)

How does the growth cycle of any plant decide its planting time?

If plants are slow-growing, such as perennials and some biennials, then we need to plant their seeds early (before frost dates). Because they, especially perennials need a slightly longer duration to germinate seeds compared to annuals or biennials.

If planting perennial seeds, explore suitable planting time (here).

Apart from this, annual plants (which take one year to grow completely) should be planted at the right time, especially hardy annuals that tolerate extreme frost at 0c or below.

3-Tolerance or Hardiness Level

This factor of minimum or maximum tolerances of any plant tells us whether a plant survives or not in your local area.

1. cold hardy crops: No deaths in extreme frost (broccoli)
2. Heat-tolerant plants: Can thrive in warmer situations (pepper or tomato)

How does Tolerance affect planting time?

You should plant hardy crops, such as lettuce, cabbage, and kale, before the first frost in your area because they can survive even in winter without dying off.  

There is special consideration to plant hardy annuals (here’s why)

Likewise, tender crops, for example, tomatoes, eggplant, and okra that do not handle little frost, should be sowed when summer is starting.

Factor 2: Regional Climate

After examining plant variety, we need to consider our region local climate to decide whether the chosen plant variety will survive or not in your area.

Each region or area may have a different seasonal pattern, such as growing season, rainfall, temperature, sunlight, and day length at the same time.

Now, let’s discuss its sub-factors to understand more effectively.

1. Frost Date
2. Season Duration
3. Temperature trend

1-Frost Date

This is the most important sub-factor of region climate, deciding planting time off any crop seeds. But frost does not come in all around the world.

Frost risk is mostly analyzed in colder regions from Zone 1 to 8, while in tropical areas from Zone 8 to 13, frost usually does not occur, and year-round harvest is possible.

1. Frost zone areas: Frost-sensitive crops (tomatoes, pepper, and basil) are planted when frost risk passes. You can sow seeds indoors until the last frost date to achieve a quick harvest.
2. Non-frost (Tropical zones): Their year-round planting is easily practiced without any frost risk, but warmness, humidity, and monsoon cycle guide planting windows.

How does frost date affect planting time? (A example)

Suppose, you live in Michigan, where frost dates come from late April to mid-May (still depending on the different areas). If you want to grow tomatoes, you have to sow tomato seeds indoors to transplant their seedlings after the last frost date.

On the other hand, if you live in Florida, where frost risk may occur between November and December in certain areas. You can easily plant tomato seeds in early spring after the last frost date because there is no bigger issue of frost in tropical areas.

2-Season Duration

It is a period when the frost has passed, and the growing season has started when plants flourish without any frost shock.

This duration is varied by location. Some region experiences 90 days of growing season while some 200 or more.

Keeping this concept in mind, we divide this subfactor into two points;

1. Short growing season: Mostly in colder areas (Alaska)
2. Long growing season: Mostly in warmer areas (Florida or Texas)

How does season duration affect the planting time date?

Where the season is short, the first frost date usually comes early, so we need to plant seeds early. For example, In Montana, you have to sow seeds before July so that the plant can be harvested at the right time.

Similarly, where the season is long (about 200 days or more), such as in Florida, the planting time of any crop will be flexible. You can plant seeds in March or June if you want. (Remember, plant variety also matters)

For example, You can easily plant cron during March, April, or even July during march, april or even July, because at this time, there is no frost risk.

3-Temperature Trends

These temperature trends tell us whether soil or environment temperature is suitable for planting or not. The frost end alone is not enough because each plant needs a specific temperature range for seed germination.

If the ground is still cold even after the last frost date, seeds can rot instead of sprouting, or they won’t germinate at all.

How Temperature Trends Affect Planting Time?

When frost passes, we have to check the soil temperature–if it is unsuitable according to plant variety;

• You need to delay in sowing seeds.
• Or sowing seeds indoors to save time and get a quick harvest.

If the soil temperature is ideal as you choose a plant variety, you can start growing seeds immediately.

Some common seeds and their minimum germination temperatures

Seed Type	Soil Temperature (°F)	Soil Temperature (°C)
Lettuce	35°F	~1.6°C
Peas	40°F	~4.4°C
Beans	60°F	~15.5°C
Corn	60–65°F	~15.5–18.3°C
Cucumber	70°F	~21°C

Last words: Plant Variety and Region Climate Together Decide The Exact Planting Time

Now we have analyzed two big factors (plant variety and region climate) affecting the planting time of any crop. There were also sun factors within both of these that we have also covered.

But the real point is that these factors do not work separately rather they are combined and together decide the exact answer of “when to plant seeds”.

For example, the same plant variety is planted in different areas during different durations because seasonal patterns and regional climates are different.

Therefore, only noticing plant variety or region climate is not enough, planting time will be calculated when both factors are focused.