Table 3.5. Description of growth stages (plant appearance and estimated number of weeks) for most vegetable crops grown in the Spring in Florida1. (continued)
Crop Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4 Stage 5
Expected growing
season (weeks)
Strawberry Young plants
October
Growing plants
November
Early harvest
December-January
Main harvest period
February-March
Late harvest
April
23-30
Summer squash
(crookneck,
straightneck, zucchini)
Small plants
1-2
Growing plants
2-3
Fruit production
3-4
Late fruit production
1
7-9
Sweet corn Small plants
3-4
Large plants
5-8
Ear development
2-3
10-15
Sweetpotato Early vine growth
2-3
Expanding vines
5-6
Storage root enlargement
6-10
Late season 13-17
Tomato Small plants
2-3
1st bloom
2-3
2nd-3rd bloom
6-7
Harvest
1-2
Late harvest
1-2
12-14
Watermelon 6-in vines
2-3
12-in vines
2-3
Small fruit
3-4
Large fruit
2-3
Harvest 1-2 13-15
1 Same growth stages used for irrigation and fertilizer schedules; for South Florida, each stage may be 30% longer because of winter planting during short days.
Table 3.6.
12
Crop Growth Stage 1
0.202 to 0.403
Stage 14 value to Stage 3 value (See Figure 4)
Legumes: sandbean, lima bean and southernpea 3
4
0.955
0.855
Beet 3
4
1.00
0.90
Cole crops:
Collards, kale, mustard, turnip
3434
0.95
0.805
0.905
1.005
Carrot 3
4
1.00
0.70
Celery 3
4
1.00
0.90
Cucurbits: cucumber, cantaloupe, pumpkin, squash, watermelon 3
4
0.90
0.70
Lettuce, endive, escarole 3
4
0.95
0.90
Okra 3
4
1.005
0.905
Onion (dry) 3
4
0.95
0.75
Onion (green) 3 and 4 0.95
Parsley 3 1.005
Potato 3
4
1.10
0.70
Radish 3
4
0.80
0.75
Spinach 3
4
0.95
0.90
Sweet corn 3
4
1.10
1.00
Sweetpotato 3
4
1.105
0.705
1 adapted from Doorenbos, J., and Pruitt, W. O. 1977. Crop water requirements. Irrigation and Drainage Paper No. 24, (rev.) FAO, Rome and Allen, R.G., L.S.Pereira, D.
Raes, and M. Smith. 1998. Crop evapotranspiration: Guidelines for computing crop water requirements Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome.
2 low plant population; wide row spacing
3 high plant population; close row spacing
4 0.30 or Kc value from Stage 1
5 values estimated from similar crops
2019 Vegetable Production Handbook of Florida 17