📅 Seasonal Gardening Guides

🌸 Spring (March - May)

Spring is the season of renewal and rapid growth. As soil temperatures rise and days lengthen, it's time to prepare beds, start seeds, and plant cool-season crops.

Early Spring (March - early April)

• Soil preparation: Once soil is workable (doesn't stick when squeezed), add 2-3 inches of compost to all beds
• Soil testing: Test pH and nutrients every 2-3 years. Adjust as needed
• Tool maintenance: Sharpen hoes, pruners, and shovels. Oil tool handles
• Seed starting indoors: Start tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and herbs 6-8 weeks before last frost
• Direct sow outdoors: Plant peas, fava beans, radishes, arugula, spinach as soon as soil can be worked
• Prune fruit trees: Before buds break, prune for shape and remove dead wood
• Divide perennials: Spring-blooming perennials can be divided after flowering
• Mulch perennials: Apply 2-3 inches of compost around emerging perennials

Mid-Spring (mid-April - May)

• Harden off seedlings: Gradually acclimate indoor seedlings to outdoor conditions over 7-10 days
• Plant potatoes: 2-4 weeks before last frost date
• Direct sow succession plantings: Plant lettuce, carrots, beets every 2 weeks for continuous harvest
• Set up irrigation: Install drip lines or soaker hoses before plants are large
• Mulch paths: Apply wood chips or straw to suppress weeds in pathways
• Plant cover crops: In beds that won't be used until summer
• Monitor pests: Check for aphids, flea beetles, cutworms. Intervene early

Late Spring (late May)

• Transplant warm-season crops: After last frost, plant tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, basil
• Direct sow: Beans, squash, cucumbers, corn when soil reaches 60°F (15°C)
• Thin seedlings: Give plants proper spacing - crowding reduces yields and increases disease
• Stake tomatoes early: Install cages or stakes at planting time to avoid root damage later
• Side-dress early plantings: Add compost around spring crops for continued growth
• Watch weather: Keep row covers handy for unexpected late frosts

☀️ Summer (June - August)

Summer is peak growing and harvesting season. Focus shifts to maintaining healthy plants, managing water, and starting fall crops.

Early Summer (June)

• Mulch heavily: Apply 3-4 inches of organic mulch around all plants to conserve moisture and suppress weeds
• Water deeply: 1-2 inches per week, less frequent but deeper encourages deep roots
• Harvest regularly: Pick vegetables at peak ripeness. Regular harvesting encourages more production
• Prune tomatoes: Remove suckers and lower leaves for better air circulation
• Hand-pollinate squash: If not many pollinators, hand-pollinate for better fruit set
• Monitor pests daily: Check for squash bugs, cucumber beetles, hornworms
• Plant succession crops: Beans, carrots, beets, lettuce for continuous harvest

Mid-Summer (July)

• Start fall crops: Begin brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, kale) indoors or in shade
• Maintain consistent watering: Especially for tomatoes - irregular watering causes blossom end rot and cracking
• Ferment weeds for tea: Make compost tea or fermented weed tea for liquid fertilizer
• Save seeds: Let some lettuce, arugula, cilantro go to seed. Collect when dry
• Thin fruit: Remove excess fruit from trees for larger, better quality harvest
• Deadhead flowers: Remove spent blooms to encourage more flowers
• Plan fall garden: Order seeds for autumn planting

Late Summer (August)

• Plant fall garden: Transplant brassicas, direct sow carrots, beets, turnips, radishes, greens
• Sow cover crops: In beds finishing production, plant buckwheat, clover, or field peas
• Continue harvesting: Tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash at peak production
• Preserve harvest: Can, freeze, dehydrate, ferment excess produce
• Collect compost materials: Gather fall leaves from neighbors for compost pile
• Order garlic: Purchase garlic bulbs for fall planting
• Renovate strawberry beds: Mow, thin, and fertilize strawberry plants

🍂 Fall (September - November)

Fall extends the growing season, offers excellent conditions for many crops, and provides crucial time for soil preparation and planning.

Early Fall (September)

• Plant garlic: Plant cloves 4-6 weeks before ground freezes (late September-October)
• Sow fall greens: Last chance for lettuce, spinach, arugula, asian greens
• Harvest tomatoes: Before first frost, pick all tomatoes. Green ones will ripen indoors
• Plant cover crops: Sow winter rye, hairy vetch, crimson clover in empty beds
• Divide perennials: Divide and replant spring and summer bloomers
• Mulch fall crops: Protect from temperature fluctuations
• Clean up disease: Remove diseased plant material, don't compost it

Mid-Fall (October)

• Harvest root vegetables: After light frost improves flavor - carrots, beets, parsnips, turnips
• Harvest winter squash: Before hard frost. Cure at 80-85°F for 10 days
• Protect tender crops: Cover with row covers on frost nights
• Plant spring bulbs: Tulips, daffodils, alliums for spring color
• Rake leaves: Shred and add to compost or use as mulch
• Turn compost pile: Final turn before winter
• Plant trees and shrubs: Fall is ideal for woody plant establishment
• Apply lime if needed: Lime works slowly, fall application is perfect

Late Fall (November)

• Mulch heavily: Apply 6-8 inches of leaves or straw over garlic and perennials
• Harvest cold-hardy crops: Kale, Brussels sprouts, leeks improve after frost
• Store root crops: Layer in damp sand in cool (32-40°F), humid location
• Clean and oil tools: Prepare tools for winter storage
• Drain irrigation systems: Prevent freeze damage to pipes and emitters
• Protect perennials: Mulch tender perennials after ground freezes
• Plan next year: Review notes, plan crop rotations, order seed catalogs

❄️ Winter (December - February)

Winter is for planning, learning, and maintaining dormant plants. In mild climates, some harvesting and planting continues.

Early Winter (December)

• Harvest from cold frames: Kale, chard, mâche, winter lettuce continue producing
• Force bulbs indoors: Pot amaryllis, paperwhites for winter blooms
• Prune deciduous trees: After leaves drop, shape and remove dead branches
• Protect plants from snow: Brush heavy snow off evergreens to prevent breakage
• Review garden journal: Note what worked, what didn't, plan improvements
• Order seed catalogs: Request catalogs from favorite companies
• Start winter sowing: Plant cold-hardy seeds outdoors in milk jug mini-greenhouses

Mid-Winter (January)

• Plan garden layout: Sketch garden map, plan crop rotations
• Order seeds: Order early for best selection, especially heirlooms
• Inventory supplies: Check seed viability, replace expired products
• Start onions indoors: Long-season onions need early start (8-10 weeks)
• Prune fruit trees: Continue pruning on mild days
• Check stored produce: Remove any showing rot before it spreads
• Read and learn: Study gardening books, take online courses

Late Winter (February)

• Start seeds indoors: Begin slow-growing crops like peppers, eggplant
• Prune roses: Cut back hybrid teas and floribundas before buds break
• Force branches indoors: Cut forsythia, quince, cherry branches to bloom inside
• Sow microgreens: Quick indoor crops in trays on sunny windowsills
• Check mulch depth: Replenish if wind has blown it away
• Plan bee garden: Select pollinator-friendly plants for spring planting
• Sharpen mower blade: Prepare lawn equipment for spring

Regional Adaptations

Cold Climates (Zones 3-5)

• Short growing season requires early starts indoors and season extension
• Focus on cold-hardy varieties and quick-maturing crops
• Heavy winter mulch essential for perennials
• Cold frames and high tunnels extend season significantly

Temperate Climates (Zones 6-8)

• Long growing season allows succession planting of most crops
• Two main planting seasons: spring and fall
• Winter gardening possible with row covers and cold frames
• Watch for pest pressure year-round in mild winters

Warm Climates (Zones 9-11)

• Year-round growing possible for many crops
• Plant heat-sensitive crops in fall and winter
• Intense summer heat may require shade cloth
• Focus on drought-tolerant and heat-adapted varieties
• Irrigation and mulching critical in hot, dry periods