You can easily find the average planting dates for your specific location for any crop online. Right now would be a good time to use one of the interactive online tools to learn those dates for future reference. Also keep in mind that planting dates for containers will differ from those planted in-ground since containers are subject to bigger temperature fluctuations. And that planting seeds (carrots) wouldn't be the same as planting transplants as many do with lettuce. For example Zone 3 ranges from the Atlantic to the Pacific and exactly where you are located makes a BIG difference. So including your location gets you better info. in many parts of zone 3 lettuce seed could have been planted back in mid-March. But that may not be true for your part of zone 3. That's why the schedules that let you plant by zip code, of specific location in zone 3 are more accurate. Dave Here is a link that might be useful: Univ. Vermont - Zone 3 planting schedule

Now, I am thinking of planting a second crop, but am not sure when to do it. Check with your state's Extension Service. Each county should have it's own Cooperative Extension Office which provides free publications and information for the asking. They will have valuable vegetable/gardening tables available specifically for your area determined by universities and horticultural research scientists who have collected data from growing those crops in your state. Your tax dollars are already paying for this service so you may as well get some use out of it. Vegetable Planting and Planning Calendar for Missouri (download the pdf) complete with spring and fall planting dates (underneath the spring planting dates for appropriate crops), how much to plant per person, etc. They can also tell you the average last frost date for your area and ideal planting times for specific crops and varieties in your area. See how detailed this example is:

Sure, Clairdo2! You'd think I had subscribed to this thread since I happen onto at about the right time that someone posts . . . nope! Bok choy is in the same family as turnips (Brassica rapa) and the University of Minnesota reports that at 41F turnip seed did not germinate but at 50F, germination only took 5 days. I say this because your soil may still not be warm enuf to get sprouting when direct sowing bok choy seed. Not wanting to go out in the mud from today's 12 hours of rain, I'll just check the state department of ag's weather station several miles away . . . it says that the soil temperature is 45F. That means my garden soil is probably warm enough to sow bok choy seed and see the plants pop up in about a week. Both Johnny's and Kitazawa have Mei Qing Choi "days to maturity" at 40 to 50 days. We are still several weeks away from the last frost date here but I think it is reasonable to expect some plants to harvest by the 1st of June. Of course, I've got 'em beat since I've already started bok choy in the greenhouse and set plants out in the plastic tunnel! Okay Clairdo2 - you must have 60 days between the time the soil temperature hits the high 40's and the time frost can be expected, right? (In Celsius that about 9C.) Bok choy can take frost at either end of the season but it slows down as the fall frosts arrive. It is a cool-season veggie so it really should be okay in your summer season. I say, "Go for it!" Steve

I started Big Beef,Bush Early Girl as it's a short plant,Roma and I have Health Kick seeds on back order.I sell starters so I don't keep these around very long I sold some the first week of January last year.I get so busy I have trouble doing my own garden early. I can't give accurate times of ripe fruit,there many factors, indoors in a coldframe you will get some quicker or using hotcaps outdoors ...