Relationship Between Planting Date & Yield

Planting Dates

• The planting does not significantly affect the amount of produce the plant yields throughout the growing season. When you look at the suggested seed planting date by the manufacturer, you have about a month's leeway. Some gardeners like to cheat Mother Nature and put plants out before suggested and do quite well. Other gardeners do everything that the seed or transplant grower suggests with little results in terms of yield. However, you do need to take your gardening zone into consideration when juggling with the planting dates.

Planting Too Early

• If you plant too early in the season, you may end up with plants having spindly looking stems that cannot support the weight of much fruit. The plant knows this and produces accordingly. Planting too early can also leave your plants out in the cold. Some plants, such as tomatoes, cannot tolerate any type of frost. Planting these before the soil is properly warmed up can cause your plants to die, giving you no yield of produce in the end.

Planting Too Late

• Planting too late in the season can also be detrimental to the amount of produce you get from your plants. It is necessary to allow enough time for the plant to properly develop and then begin to fruit. As soon as the weather turns and becomes cold, some vegetable plants will stop producing, even if they just began. Depending on which gardening zone you live in, you can get away with planting a little later in the season or a little bit earlier.

Other Relationships

• Give your plants the best possible chance to produce a high yield of vegetables by making sure they have everything they need. The quality of the soil is one factor that affects the yield of produce. Plants need nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium to grow and produce a high yield. The quality of the plants is also a factor. Choose high-quality seeds and transplants from reputable growers for best results. Make sure your plants have plenty of sun and moisture to increase your yield. Since the amount of sun and water vary from plant to plant, read the package directions before planting any seeds.