Cool and Warm Season Vegetables
Vegetables may be separated into cool and warm season crops. Cool
season vegetables generally are adapted to average temperatures below
20°C while warm season crops grow best when the average is above 20°C.
Cool season crops will withstand slight freezing although some, such as
potato, will be damaged by frost. Warm season crops are all damaged by
frost.
Cool season crops include those where the edible portion is either a
root, stem, leaf or immature flower part. Warm season crops are those
which the edible part is a mature or immature fruit. Peas and broad
beans (fruit) are exceptions being cool season crops and sweet potato
(root) is a warm season crop.
These two large groups can be further divided :
Cool season crops & vegetables
Tolerant to freezing. Intolerant to average temperatures above
24°C. Optimum monthly temperatures average from 16°C to 18°C.
Cabbage, beetroot, broad beans, broccoli, Brussels sprouts,
horseradish, parsnip, radish, salsify, spinach, turnip.
Intolerant to frost near maturity. Intolerant to average
temperatures above 24°C. Optimum monthly temperature average from 16°C
to 18°C.
Cauliflower, celery, celeriac, carrot, endive, fennel, lettuce,
mustard, parsley, pea, potato, silverbeet.
Tolerant to frost and adapted to average monthly temperatures from
13°C to 24°C.
Asparagus, chives, garlic, leek, onion, shallot.
Warm season crops & vegetables
Intolerant to frost. Adapted to an average monthly temperature of
18°C to 27°C.
Bean, cantaloup, choko, cucumber, capsicum, pumpkin, sweet corn,
squash, tomato.
Intolerant to frost. Thrive at temperatures above 21°C. Long season
crops.
Egg plant, okra, sweet potato, watermelon.
Remember this classification when planning sowing schedules for your
particular location. |
