{"key":"crops-that-lose-the-most-margin-when-planted-late","title":"Crops That Lose the Most Margin When Planted Late","shortTitle":"Late-Planting Margin Loss","slug":"crops-that-lose-the-most-margin-when-planted-late","permalink":"/data/rankings/crops-that-lose-the-most-margin-when-planted-late/","description":"Crops ranked by how much heat and maturity margin they lose when planting slips by two weeks.","updated":"2026-05-23","category":"Data ranking","methodology":"This ranking compares the typical on-time GDD margin with the margin remaining two weeks later across published crop-location records. Crops rank higher when they lose more margin, cross below zero more often, or are warm-season crops with tighter timing needs.","caveat":"This measures modeled timing pressure, not every factor that can affect real gardens, such as microclimate, transplant size, soil warmth, irrigation, or variety choice.","top":{"rank":1,"cropKey":"broccoli","cropName":"Broccoli","cropCategory":"cool-season","targetGdd":900,"score":72,"label":"High late-start pressure","averageTwoWeekMarginLoss":159,"averageTwoWeekAvailableGddLoss":159,"averageOnTimeMargin":2619,"averageTwoWeekLateMargin":2460,"negativeAfterDelayCount":0,"publishedLocations":428,"reason":"Broccoli are noticeably punished by late planting, especially in shorter or cooler locations."},"entries":[{"rank":1,"cropKey":"broccoli","cropName":"Broccoli","cropCategory":"cool-season","targetGdd":900,"score":72,"label":"High late-start pressure","averageTwoWeekMarginLoss":159,"averageTwoWeekAvailableGddLoss":159,"averageOnTimeMargin":2619,"averageTwoWeekLateMargin":2460,"negativeAfterDelayCount":0,"publishedLocations":428,"reason":"Broccoli are noticeably punished by late planting, especially in shorter or cooler locations."},{"rank":2,"cropKey":"kale","cropName":"Kale","cropCategory":"cool-season","targetGdd":700,"score":72,"label":"High late-start pressure","averageTwoWeekMarginLoss":159,"averageTwoWeekAvailableGddLoss":159,"averageOnTimeMargin":2819,"averageTwoWeekLateMargin":2660,"negativeAfterDelayCount":0,"publishedLocations":428,"reason":"Kale are noticeably punished by late planting, especially in shorter or cooler locations."},{"rank":3,"cropKey":"carrots","cropName":"Carrots","cropCategory":"cool-season","targetGdd":750,"score":72,"label":"High late-start pressure","averageTwoWeekMarginLoss":159,"averageTwoWeekAvailableGddLoss":159,"averageOnTimeMargin":2769,"averageTwoWeekLateMargin":2610,"negativeAfterDelayCount":0,"publishedLocations":428,"reason":"Carrots are noticeably punished by late planting, especially in shorter or cooler locations."},{"rank":4,"cropKey":"swiss-chard","cropName":"Swiss Chard","cropCategory":"cool-season","targetGdd":750,"score":72,"label":"High late-start pressure","averageTwoWeekMarginLoss":159,"averageTwoWeekAvailableGddLoss":159,"averageOnTimeMargin":2769,"averageTwoWeekLateMargin":2610,"negativeAfterDelayCount":0,"publishedLocations":428,"reason":"Swiss Chard are noticeably punished by late planting, especially in shorter or cooler locations."},{"rank":5,"cropKey":"cauliflower","cropName":"Cauliflower","cropCategory":"cool-season","targetGdd":1000,"score":72,"label":"High late-start pressure","averageTwoWeekMarginLoss":159,"averageTwoWeekAvailableGddLoss":159,"averageOnTimeMargin":2519,"averageTwoWeekLateMargin":2360,"negativeAfterDelayCount":2,"publishedLocations":428,"reason":"Cauliflower are noticeably punished by late planting, especially in shorter or cooler locations."},{"rank":6,"cropKey":"watermelons","cropName":"Watermelons","cropCategory":"warm-season","targetGdd":1350,"score":59,"label":"Moderate late-start pressure","averageTwoWeekMarginLoss":95,"averageTwoWeekAvailableGddLoss":95,"averageOnTimeMargin":558,"averageTwoWeekLateMargin":463,"negativeAfterDelayCount":130,"publishedLocations":428,"reason":"Watermelons can cross from workable to tight when delayed in some published locations."},{"rank":7,"cropKey":"peppers","cropName":"Peppers","cropCategory":"warm-season","targetGdd":1300,"score":58,"label":"Moderate late-start pressure","averageTwoWeekMarginLoss":95,"averageTwoWeekAvailableGddLoss":95,"averageOnTimeMargin":608,"averageTwoWeekLateMargin":513,"negativeAfterDelayCount":121,"publishedLocations":428,"reason":"Peppers can cross from workable to tight when delayed in some published locations."},{"rank":8,"cropKey":"winter-squash","cropName":"Winter Squash","cropCategory":"warm-season","targetGdd":1300,"score":58,"label":"Moderate late-start pressure","averageTwoWeekMarginLoss":95,"averageTwoWeekAvailableGddLoss":95,"averageOnTimeMargin":608,"averageTwoWeekLateMargin":513,"negativeAfterDelayCount":121,"publishedLocations":428,"reason":"Winter Squash can cross from workable to tight when delayed in some published locations."},{"rank":9,"cropKey":"pumpkin","cropName":"Pumpkin","cropCategory":"warm-season","targetGdd":1300,"score":58,"label":"Moderate late-start pressure","averageTwoWeekMarginLoss":95,"averageTwoWeekAvailableGddLoss":95,"averageOnTimeMargin":608,"averageTwoWeekLateMargin":513,"negativeAfterDelayCount":121,"publishedLocations":428,"reason":"Pumpkin can cross from workable to tight when delayed in some published locations."},{"rank":10,"cropKey":"strawberries","cropName":"Strawberries","cropCategory":"cool-season","targetGdd":600,"score":57,"label":"Moderate late-start pressure","averageTwoWeekMarginLoss":125,"averageTwoWeekAvailableGddLoss":125,"averageOnTimeMargin":2972,"averageTwoWeekLateMargin":2848,"negativeAfterDelayCount":0,"publishedLocations":428,"reason":"Strawberries are noticeably punished by late planting, especially in shorter or cooler locations."},{"rank":11,"cropKey":"beets","cropName":"Beets","cropCategory":"cool-season","targetGdd":650,"score":57,"label":"Moderate late-start pressure","averageTwoWeekMarginLoss":125,"averageTwoWeekAvailableGddLoss":125,"averageOnTimeMargin":2922,"averageTwoWeekLateMargin":2798,"negativeAfterDelayCount":0,"publishedLocations":428,"reason":"Beets are noticeably punished by late planting, especially in shorter or cooler locations."},{"rank":12,"cropKey":"melons","cropName":"Melons","cropCategory":"warm-season","targetGdd":1200,"score":57,"label":"Moderate late-start pressure","averageTwoWeekMarginLoss":95,"averageTwoWeekAvailableGddLoss":95,"averageOnTimeMargin":708,"averageTwoWeekLateMargin":613,"negativeAfterDelayCount":102,"publishedLocations":428,"reason":"Melons can cross from workable to tight when delayed in some published locations."},{"rank":13,"cropKey":"basil","cropName":"Basil","cropCategory":"warm-season","targetGdd":700,"score":53,"label":"Some late-start pressure","averageTwoWeekMarginLoss":95,"averageTwoWeekAvailableGddLoss":95,"averageOnTimeMargin":1208,"averageTwoWeekLateMargin":1113,"negativeAfterDelayCount":28,"publishedLocations":428,"reason":"Basil can cross from workable to tight when delayed in some published locations."},{"rank":14,"cropKey":"tomatoes","cropName":"Tomatoes","cropCategory":"warm-season","targetGdd":1200,"score":51,"label":"Some late-start pressure","averageTwoWeekMarginLoss":84,"averageTwoWeekAvailableGddLoss":84,"averageOnTimeMargin":721,"averageTwoWeekLateMargin":638,"negativeAfterDelayCount":97,"publishedLocations":428,"reason":"Tomatoes can cross from workable to tight when delayed in some published locations."},{"rank":15,"cropKey":"sweet-corn","cropName":"Sweet Corn","cropCategory":"warm-season","targetGdd":1100,"score":51,"label":"Some late-start pressure","averageTwoWeekMarginLoss":84,"averageTwoWeekAvailableGddLoss":84,"averageOnTimeMargin":821,"averageTwoWeekLateMargin":738,"negativeAfterDelayCount":82,"publishedLocations":428,"reason":"Sweet Corn can cross from workable to tight when delayed in some published locations."},{"rank":16,"cropKey":"beans","cropName":"Beans","cropCategory":"warm-season","targetGdd":900,"score":49,"label":"Some late-start pressure","averageTwoWeekMarginLoss":84,"averageTwoWeekAvailableGddLoss":84,"averageOnTimeMargin":1021,"averageTwoWeekLateMargin":938,"negativeAfterDelayCount":61,"publishedLocations":428,"reason":"Beans can cross from workable to tight when delayed in some published locations."},{"rank":17,"cropKey":"cucumbers","cropName":"Cucumbers","cropCategory":"warm-season","targetGdd":800,"score":48,"label":"Some late-start pressure","averageTwoWeekMarginLoss":84,"averageTwoWeekAvailableGddLoss":84,"averageOnTimeMargin":1121,"averageTwoWeekLateMargin":1038,"negativeAfterDelayCount":43,"publishedLocations":428,"reason":"Cucumbers can cross from workable to tight when delayed in some published locations."},{"rank":18,"cropKey":"zucchini","cropName":"Zucchini","cropCategory":"warm-season","targetGdd":750,"score":48,"label":"Some late-start pressure","averageTwoWeekMarginLoss":84,"averageTwoWeekAvailableGddLoss":84,"averageOnTimeMargin":1171,"averageTwoWeekLateMargin":1088,"negativeAfterDelayCount":36,"publishedLocations":428,"reason":"Zucchini can cross from workable to tight when delayed in some published locations."},{"rank":19,"cropKey":"spinach","cropName":"Spinach","cropCategory":"cool-season","targetGdd":450,"score":41,"label":"Some late-start pressure","averageTwoWeekMarginLoss":91,"averageTwoWeekAvailableGddLoss":91,"averageOnTimeMargin":3160,"averageTwoWeekLateMargin":3069,"negativeAfterDelayCount":0,"publishedLocations":428,"reason":"Spinach still lose margin when delayed, but the typical two-week penalty is less severe than the highest-pressure crops."},{"rank":20,"cropKey":"lettuce","cropName":"Lettuce","cropCategory":"cool-season","targetGdd":500,"score":41,"label":"Some late-start pressure","averageTwoWeekMarginLoss":91,"averageTwoWeekAvailableGddLoss":91,"averageOnTimeMargin":3110,"averageTwoWeekLateMargin":3019,"negativeAfterDelayCount":0,"publishedLocations":428,"reason":"Lettuce still lose margin when delayed, but the typical two-week penalty is less severe than the highest-pressure crops."},{"rank":21,"cropKey":"cabbage","cropName":"Cabbage","cropCategory":"cool-season","targetGdd":1000,"score":41,"label":"Some late-start pressure","averageTwoWeekMarginLoss":91,"averageTwoWeekAvailableGddLoss":91,"averageOnTimeMargin":2610,"averageTwoWeekLateMargin":2519,"negativeAfterDelayCount":0,"publishedLocations":428,"reason":"Cabbage still lose margin when delayed, but the typical two-week penalty is less severe than the highest-pressure crops."},{"rank":22,"cropKey":"peas","cropName":"Peas","cropCategory":"cool-season","targetGdd":600,"score":27,"label":"More forgiving","averageTwoWeekMarginLoss":58,"averageTwoWeekAvailableGddLoss":58,"averageOnTimeMargin":3031,"averageTwoWeekLateMargin":2972,"negativeAfterDelayCount":0,"publishedLocations":428,"reason":"Peas still lose margin when delayed, but the typical two-week penalty is less severe than the highest-pressure crops."},{"rank":23,"cropKey":"onions","cropName":"Onions","cropCategory":"cool-season","targetGdd":1300,"score":15,"label":"More forgiving","averageTwoWeekMarginLoss":31,"averageTwoWeekAvailableGddLoss":31,"averageOnTimeMargin":1457,"averageTwoWeekLateMargin":1426,"negativeAfterDelayCount":16,"publishedLocations":428,"reason":"Onions can cross from workable to tight when delayed in some published locations."},{"rank":24,"cropKey":"potatoes","cropName":"Potatoes","cropCategory":"cool-season","targetGdd":1100,"score":15,"label":"More forgiving","averageTwoWeekMarginLoss":31,"averageTwoWeekAvailableGddLoss":31,"averageOnTimeMargin":1657,"averageTwoWeekLateMargin":1626,"negativeAfterDelayCount":10,"publishedLocations":428,"reason":"Potatoes can cross from workable to tight when delayed in some published locations."}]}