Season

• The best time to start a vegetable garden is early spring, when the ground and air temperature warms. This gives vegetable plants natural summer sun and warmth for growing, and gives Wyoming gardeners -- who have only short summers -- the longest possible growing season.
  
  

Planting Dates

• Plant summertime vegetables just after the last frost date in your region to protect them from cold air. This timing will range from late May in south Wyoming to late June in the north of the state. Gardeners in the far north of USDA zone 2, where summer lasts only a matter of weeks, should plant vegetables in pots or plant only frost-hardy vegetables.
  
  

Day and Prep

• Vegetable seedlings are best planted on cool, overcast days to keep them from drying or wilting during the process. Choose and prepare a site where the veggies will get six to eight hours of full sun every day and quick drainage. Mix 3 inches of organic compost into the top 6 to 10 inches of soil to build a rich planting foundation, and follow up with balanced or starter fertilizer. Preparing the site ahead of time will allow the soil to rest and save time during planting.
  
  

Cultivars

• Plant summertime fruits and veggies like tomatoes, squash, beans, peas, corn, peppers, eggplants and okra in the spring. Because summers in Wyoming can be short, plant seedlings rather than seeds, and choose quick tomato, squash, pepper, corn and bean cultivars. Quick cultivars come to maturity earlier, and will help you get the veggie harvest in before frost hits. In Zone 2, plant only quick, frost-hardy vegetables like carrots, beets, radishes, lettuce, broccoli, cabbage and spinach outdoors. Plant any other vegetables indoors in pots for cold-weather protection.