A warm-season vegetable, sensitive to cold temperatures and frost, it can be direct sown into warm spring soil after all danger of frost has passed, but it can also be started indoors about 3 weeks before transplanting. Flowers begin to set fruit with day temperatures between 68 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit and night temperatures between 60 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Protect plants if temperatures are expected to dip below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Mulching helps to moderate soil temperature and to maintain soil moisture.