First, since you still have a little time, what type of soil do you have? Spinach and cauliflower, while they have their preferences, are fairly 'forgiving' to soil types. Carrots however, require some forethought.

First, there are different types of carrots that do better in different soils. To get the most out of whichever carrot you hope to grow, the soil should be well cultivated. All stones (at least to a pretty good degree of reasonableness) need to be removed. Sandy, silty, light loam (very friable soils,) to a good depth, will allow you to grow longer carrots. Carrots have a more difficult time in clay-based, or heavy soils, but there are shorter varieties that will do okay. If you do have a heavy soil, and want to grow the longer varieties, you'll probably want to amend the soil with a fair amount of organic matter.

Some people build a separate bed for carrots, mixing a soil, or soiless medium specifically blended for better results.

So, start looking at carrots and choosing a variety that you think you'll like. If you have the means and ability to conform the growing space around your carrot choice, then that's where to begin. If you wish to just grow a 'learning crop', then choose your carrot variety to fit your soil type. In any case, organic matter will help keep the soil moist and friable (loose).

I start cauliflower on June 23rd. Broccoli here can be started on July 6th. butterhead lettuce on July 23rd. Loose leaf lettuce on August 10th. Those dates work for here.

Carrots and beets do well planted about June 30th here.

Thanks. I've successfully grown plenty of spring carrots so I'm confident my soil is fine. I just need help with timing.

Ahhh... apologies, I misread your statement about "special prep".

My planting dates would differ from Wayne's and yours but "special prep" would include replacing the nutrients your spring plants removed from the soil, aerating the soil some, and weeding.

Dave

This will help. :)http://www.ourveggiegarden.com/IntensiveSuccession.html

I am in southern jersey and I started my broccoli, cauliflower, cabbages and Brussel sprouts June 1 inside where it is cooler than out. I will transplant them out by mid July as I have found transplanting any later they won't mature in time before cold weather hits. Parsnips were direct seeded last week and carrots today (hopefully). I'll do three plantings of carrots, one every two weeks. I have never had a good spinach crop yet so I can't help with that, but the other stuff I would start as soon as you can.

I recently printed out a Planting Calculator for Fall Harvest Crops on Johnny's website: http://www.johnnyseeds.com/growers-library/online-tools-calculators.html

You type in your first fall date so it is customized for your area. You might have to have EXCEL to run this.

This was a difficult spring due to wet and cold so I'm still planting for summer. Looks like I should have started broccoli seeds 4 weeks ago to set out this week. Pay attention to the code on the calculator that says whether the date is for direct seeding or transplanting. The spinach I planted in early April finally looks good. One thing about our first frost which is generally around 9/18 is that it might be just a night or two and then we have another month of great weather. My garden is in a low lying area so other vegetable gardens don't get hit with frost quite this early. I found it I put a low tunnel over late planted bush beans, they could survive this first, light frost. Generally they would be just blossoming on 9/18. Also, I lucked out two years ago while vacationing and got nice young broccoli plants around July 4 at a nursery that catered to summer people who were just starting their gardens.

I use pretty close to Wayne's timing on most things for fall. I start Brussels Sprouts in mid June, Cauliflower next weekend, Broccoli in early to mid July, lettuce in late July. Carrots are direct seeded in late July. Fall bush beans will be direct seeded in mid July.

I seed carrots every few weeks starting in March. Mine take about 100 days to maturity so I just started harvesting the first ones a few weeks ago. I've done 3-4 plantings since (including one just this past weekend).