Western Washington Vegetable Garden Layout

Planting Dates

• Start your garden in western Washington in spring, based on last frost dates. Last frost averages in mid- to late-April in this region, so planting starts in early to mid-April.

Site and Soil

• Choose an open, level and sunny location for the garden, and begin soil amendment four to five weeks before the last frost. Set out 25 to 30 square feet of space for generous planting layouts, dig into the top 6 to 8 inches of soil, and add 3 to 4 inches of organic compost. This foundation warms and dries the soil, loosens it and gives vegetables good starting nutrition. Add balanced 10-10-10 or 12-12-12 granular fertilizer to increase nutrition even more.

Planting Times

• All garden vegetables tolerate slightly different temperatures and frost conditions. Plant hardy spring vegetables such as asparagus, lettuce, peas, onions, rhubarb, radishes and spinach in mid-March. These vegetables do best with cool starts and growing seasons. Plant relatively hardy vegetables such as beets, cabbage, carrots, broccoli, celery, cauliflower, parsnips and potatoes in early April, up to two weeks before the last frost falls. These vegetables are hardy to light frosts. Plant sensitive plants such as tomatoes, peppers, squash, eggplants, beans and corn only after the last frost of the season. These vegetables don't tolerate any frost, and need temperatures of 65 degrees and higher.