When to plant

• Set out plants about 4 weeks before your average last spring frost.

Pick green for cooking or fully ripe for eating fresh.

Frost dates depend on where you live. Enter your ZIP code to get exact dates.

Dates by zone: 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a 10b

Growing basics

Sun

Part sun (4–6 hours)

Spacing

4–5 ft

Soil temperature

At least 45°F

Containers

At least 15 gallons

Plant family

Other

Harvest per plant

About 5 lb

Companions

Keep apart: Horseradish. Horseradish spreads aggressively. Give it its own spot.

Keep apart: Mint. Mint spreads aggressively into neighbors. Keep it in a pot.

Keep apart: Fennel (bulb). Fennel slows the growth of most garden plants. Grow it on its own.

Keep apart: Sunchoke (Jerusalem artichoke). Sunchokes spread aggressively and shade neighbors.

Grow it well

Affiliate links: we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you.