Soil Growing Conditions
9 indexed entriesPart of Garden & Outdoor Living.
Items
Basil
Basil grows best in soil with a pH of 6.0-6.5 and germinates at 70 degrees F, sprouting in 5-10 days. It prefers full sun, at least 6 hours of direct light daily, though it tolerates part-sun with as little as 2-6 hours. It is frost-sensitive and grown as an annual.
Carrot
Carrots prefer slightly acidic soil, pH 6.0-6.8, to avoid stunted root growth, and tolerate partial shade better than most root vegetables, though full sun produces the best yields. They mature relatively quickly among root vegetables, typically ready for harvest in 60-70 days.
Cucumber
Cucumbers grow best in slightly acidic soil, pH 6.0-6.5, and germinate optimally at 85-95 degrees F soil temperature, sprouting in 3-5 days. They need full sun, at least 6 hours of direct light daily, and typically reach harvest 50-70 days after planting depending on variety.
Green Beans
Green (snap) beans grow best in soil with a pH of 5.8-6.5, and need at least 60 degrees F soil before seeds are planted. They require full sun, at least 6 hours of direct light daily, and mature quickly, typically ready for harvest around 55 days after planting, depending on variety.
Lettuce
Lettuce germinates in cool soil, optimally 65-70 degrees F, sprouting quickly in just 4-7 days, and unlike most vegetables it tolerates partial shade well, needing only 3-4 hours of direct sun. Depending on the variety, from loose-leaf to head lettuce, maturity ranges widely from 40-80 days.
Pepper
Peppers need warm soil to germinate, optimally 80-90 degrees F, sprouting in 7-12 days, and require full sun with 6-8 hours of direct light daily. They are among the slower garden vegetables to mature, typically taking 60-95 days from transplant to first harvest depending on variety.
Spinach
Spinach grows best in neutral-to-slightly-alkaline soil, pH 6.5-7.5, and germinates across a wide soil temperature range of 35-70 degrees F, with 65-70 optimal, sprouting in about 6-10 days. It is notably cold-tolerant among leafy greens but goes dormant above roughly 80 degrees F.
Tomato
Tomatoes thrive in slightly acidic soil, pH 6.0-6.8, and germinate best at 75-85 degrees F soil temperature, sprouting in 5-7 days. They need full sun, at least 6-8 hours of direct light daily, and typically reach harvest 60-100 days after transplanting depending on variety.
Zucchini
Zucchini needs slightly acidic soil, pH 6.0-6.5, and at least 60 degrees F soil at a 4-inch depth before seeds are planted. It requires full sun, at least 6 hours of direct light daily, and is one of the fastest vegetables to mature, ready for harvest in about 55 days.