Planting dates should be considered to avoid common problems and pests in the landscape these may include: frost dates, pest emergence, temperature and water availability. As an example, sweet corn planted early may avoid the worst of the corn earworm, while later plantings come under much more pressure. On the other hand, it is helpful to delay planting beans, corn, cabbage, and onions until the soil is warm enough to germinate the seeds or to allow rapid root growth. Doing so lessens root decay, damping off, and root maggot damage associated with cold, damp weather. Also, early squash may reach maturity before the squash vine borer does serious damage.

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