• Vegetable gardens can provide tasty and nutritious food and extend your food budget.gr??ne tomaten image by Mario Schr??der from Fotolia.com
  
  

Using Bedding Plants

• Bedding plants allow you to get a jump start on the growing season.tomato plants image by Gina Smith from Fotolia.com
  
  Vegetable gardens using young plants should be started after the last spring freeze date. Depending on your location, dates range from the end of April to the beginning of June. Be prepared to cover young bedding plants in the event of a late freeze.
  
  If you are planting seeds, begin planting closer to the early last freeze date. Cover the ground with damp sheets overnight if freezing temperatures are in the forecast.
  
  

Start Your Own Bedding Plants With Seeds

• Carefully plant your seedlings without damaging fragile roots.neurtured seedling image by leafy from Fotolia.com
  
  Plants can be started from seeds indoors long before it is safe to plant them in the ground. If you have a warm, sunny room with ample space to accommodate seedling bedding trays, you can begin planting in late February or early March. Once the danger of freezing temperatures has passed, you can then transplant your vegetables outside in your garden area. If you use peat pots, you can plant the entire seedling without disturbing tender roots.
  
  

Bottom Line

• Whether you begin your plants indoors or buy bedding plants, plant no earlier than the average last freeze date. If covering the plants in not convenient, wait until the last freeze date to get your plants in the ground.