Gardening is a rewarding activity that brings beauty, food, and satisfaction to your life.
To help you stay organized and make the most of each month, we’ve crafted a detailed gardening calendar with tips, explanations, and actionable steps for every month.
Use this as your go-to guide for a thriving garden all year long.
January
As the new year kicks off, it’s the perfect time to start thinking about your garden. Sure, the weather might be chilly, but there’s still plenty you can do to set yourself up for a successful growing season.
January sets the stage for a productive year in the garden. It’s a slower month, but the groundwork you do now will pay off big time as the months go by.
- Soil Testing:
- Conduct a soil test to check pH and nutrient levels. Use a home testing kit or send samples to a lab.
- Amend soil based on results, adding lime to raise pH or sulfur to lower it.
- Incorporate organic matter like compost to improve soil fertility.
- Seed Starting:
- Start seeds for cool-weather crops indoors, such as broccoli, cauliflower, and kale.
- Use seed trays with a sterile seed-starting mix, keeping them at 65-75°F (18-24°C) for optimal germination.
- Place trays near a south-facing window or under grow lights.
- Equipment Maintenance:
- Sharpen garden tools and clean them with soapy water to prevent rust.
- Check hoses and irrigation systems for leaks.
Plants To Grow In This Month:
- Vegetables: Start seeds indoors for tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and onions. In milder climates (like USDA Zones 8-10), you can plant garlic and shallots.
- Flowers: Sow seeds for pansies and violas indoors; consider starting amaryllis and paperwhite bulbs.
- Fruits: Strawberries (indoors)
- Herbs: Basil (indoors)
February
As winter winds down, February is a key month for getting your garden ready for the spring rush. Your garden is starting to wake up, and with a little preparation, you’ll be set for success.
- Transplanting: Begin hardening off seedlings by placing them outside for a few hours each day, gradually increasing exposure to sunlight and wind over 7-10 days.
- Direct Sowing:
- Sow peas, spinach, and radishes outdoors as soon as the soil is workable.
- Use a row cover to protect against late frosts.
- Pruning:
- Prune dormant fruit trees and berry bushes.
- For apples and pears, remove any dead or crossing branches to improve air circulation.
Plants To Grow In This Month:
- Vegetables: Start seeds indoors for broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and lettuce.
- Flowers: Sow seeds for petunias, snapdragons, and geraniums indoors.
- Fruits: Start citrus trees indoors
- Herbs: Chives (indoors)
March
March is when things really begin to take off. With the first signs of spring around the corner, it’s the perfect time to prepare your soil.
Fertilize garden beds, plant cool-weather crops, and start taking care of those weeds before they become a bigger problem. March is the month to hit the ground running.
- Fertilizing: Apply a balanced fertilizer (e.g., 10-10-10) to garden beds before planting. Incorporate compost or well-rotted manure into the soil.
- Planting:
- Direct sow carrots, radishes, and lettuce in well-drained soil.
- Plant potatoes in trenches about 4 inches deep.
- Weed Control: Begin weeding early; use mulch to suppress weed growth around emerging seedlings.
Plants To Grow In This Month:
- Vegetables: Sow peas, spinach, radishes, and carrots outdoors; start seeds for lettuce and herbs indoors.
- Flowers: Sow sweet peas and marigolds indoors; plant pansies outdoors.
- Fruits: Raspberries (bare-root outdoors)
- Herbs: Parsley (indoors)
April
April is the month when everything starts to come alive in the garden. With warmer weather and the last frost behind us, it’s time to transplant seedlings and get them settled into the garden.
This is also a great month to lay down some mulch to keep moisture in and weeds out, as well as to start keeping an eye on pests.
There’s a lot to do, but it’s exciting because your garden’s really starting to take shape now.
- Transplanting: Transplant hardened-off seedlings of tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants into the garden after the last frost date. Space them according to the variety’s requirements (e.g., 18-24 inches apart for tomatoes).
- Mulching: Apply a 2-3 inch layer of organic mulch (straw, wood chips) around plants to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
- Pest Monitoring: Check for early signs of pests like aphids or slugs; introduce beneficial insects such as ladybugs and lacewings.
Plants To Grow In This Month:
- Vegetables: Plant potatoes, beets, onions, and carrots outdoors; sow beans and corn as the soil warms.
- Flowers: Transplant marigolds; sow zinnias and cosmos outdoors.
- Fruits: Strawberries (bare-root outdoors)
- Herbs: Cilantro (outdoors)
May
May marks the full swing of the growing season. With warm temperatures and longer days, it’s time to plant your heat-loving crops like cucumbers, beans, and corn.
it’s time to set up your irrigation systems to ensure your plants get the water they need through the hot months.
It’s a busy month but one full of promise as your garden begins to thrive. The hard work you put in now will pay off with a bountiful harvest down the road.
- Warm-Season Crops: Plant cucumbers, squash, beans, and corn once temperatures are consistently above 60°F (15°C). Consider using transplants for quicker harvests.
- Irrigation Setup: Set up drip irrigation systems or soaker hoses to ensure consistent watering during hot months. Water deeply once a week rather than shallowly every day.
- Weeding and Maintenance: Regularly check for weeds; use landscape fabric under mulch for added weed suppression.
Plants To Grow In This Month:
- Vegetables: Plant tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash, and melons outdoors after the last frost.
- Flowers: Sow sunflowers, cosmos, and nasturtiums outdoors.
- Fruits: Melons and cucumbers
- Herbs: Basil and Dill
June
By June your garden should be in full bloom, with some crops already ready for harvest.
Regular fertilization and succession planting will help keep your garden productive through the summer months. It’s also important to keep an eye on pests and remove them quickly.
With a bit of care, you can expect a steady flow of fresh produce.
- Harvesting: Begin harvesting early crops like lettuce, radishes, and strawberries. Harvest regularly to encourage further production.
- Fertilization: Side-dress heavy feeders like tomatoes with additional fertilizer (e.g., fish emulsion) every 4-6 weeks during the growing season.
- Succession Planting: Plant second rounds of beans and other quick-growing crops like turnips for continuous harvest.
Plants To Grow In This Month:
- Vegetables: Sow beans, corn, summer squash, and cucumbers directly into the ground.
- Flowers: Plant dahlias and gladiolus bulbs; sow seeds for late summer blooms like asters.
- Herbs: Thyme
July
By July, the heat is on, and your garden needs all the attention it can get. Make sure to water deeply and regularly, especially with the hot weather.
Check for pests and make sure your plants have enough room to grow by pruning when necessary.
It’s a month to fine-tune your care routine and prepare for the next harvest.
- Water Management: Water deeply once a week; consider using mulch to conserve moisture during hot weather. Monitor soil moisture regularly.
- Pest Control: Inspect plants for pests like aphids, spider mites, and caterpillars; apply organic pesticides if necessary.
- Pruning: Prune excess growth on fruiting plants to improve air circulation and light penetration.
Plants To Grow In This Month:
- Vegetables: Start seeds for fall crops like kale, broccoli, turnips, and radishes.
- Flowers: Sow seeds for late summer blooms such as chrysanthemums and asters.
- Herbs: Oregano
August
As we move into late summer, it’s a great time to plant those fall crops like kale and beets.
You’ll also want to keep harvesting your summer vegetables and preserving the extra bounty.
While it may feel like summer’s winding down, there’s still plenty to do in the garden.
- Fall Crops: Start planting fall crops such as kale, beets, turnips, and radishes. Use row covers to extend the growing season if needed.
- Harvesting: Continue harvesting summer vegetables and preserve excess produce through canning or freezing methods.
- Soil Preparation: Begin preparing garden beds for winter by adding compost or organic matter. Consider planting cover crops like clover or rye.
Plants To Grow In This Month:
- Vegetables: Start seeds for fall carrots, beets, and radishes. Plant garlic for next year’s harvest.
- Flowers: Sow seeds for fall-blooming flowers like pansies and violas.
- Herbs: Sage
September
As the weather cools, September is a great time to focus on planting for the fall and tidying up your garden for winter by clearing out old plants and debris.
Start mulching to protect perennials from the upcoming frost. September is a month for setting yourself up for the season’s change.
- Cool Season Planting: Direct sow cool-season vegetables like cabbage, carrots, and spinach in well-prepared beds.
- Garden Cleanup:
- Remove spent plants and debris to prevent disease in the following season.
- Compost healthy plant material.
- Mulching: Apply mulch around perennials to protect them from frost; use straw or shredded leaves.
Plants To Grow In This Month:
- Flowers: Plant spring-flowering bulbs like tulips and daffodils; sow hardy annuals for winter blooms.
- Fruits: Planting of apple trees can begin
- Herbs: Fennel
October
October marks the end of the growing season, and it’s time to wrap things up.
It’s time to plant spring-flowering bulbs, harvest any remaining vegetables, and ensure your soil is ready for next year’s crops.
October is the time to reflect and plan for next year.
- Bulb Planting: Plant spring-flowering bulbs such as tulips and daffodils at a depth of three times their height (typically 6 inches deep).
- Final Harvests: Harvest remaining vegetables before frost; store root vegetables in a cool, dark place with good ventilation.
- Soil Testing: Test soil again if planning significant amendments for next season; add organic matter based on results.
Plants To Grow In This Month:
- Vegetables: Continue planting garlic.
- Flowers: Continue planting spring bulbs
November
November is a time to protect your garden from the winter cold and plan for the next season. Mulching, wrapping vulnerable plants, and reviewing your garden’s successes and challenges will help you prepare for a new year of gardening.
- Winter Protection: Mulch around tender perennials with straw or leaves; wrap vulnerable shrubs in burlap if necessary.
- Planning for Next Year: Review successes from this year’s garden, and order seeds from catalogs for next season’s planting based on your garden layout plan.
- Composting:
- Add fallen leaves and kitchen scraps to the compost pile; ensure it’s kept moist but not soggy.
- Avoid adding meat or dairy products to the compost to prevent attracting pests.
Plants To Grow In This Month:
- Indoor Gardening: Indoor gardening can continue with herbs or microgreens.
December
December is a time for rest, reflection, and planning. With winter settling in, you can focus on caring for your indoor plants and maybe even starting an indoor herb garden.
It’s also a great time to look back on the year’s gardening experiences and start making plans for the next one. A little preparation now can make next year’s garden even better.
- Indoor Gardening:
- Focus on caring for indoor plants; consider starting an indoor herb garden using pots.
- Ensure proper drainage in pots to prevent root rot.
- Reflection and Planning: Reflect on gardening experiences over the year; create a detailed plan for next year’s garden layout including crop rotation strategies based on previous plant locations.
Plants To Grow In This Month:
- Indoor Gardening: Indoor gardening can continue with herbs or microgreens.
Final Thoughts
Gardening is a rewarding journey that requires both patience and preparation.
By following this month-by-month guide, you’ll be able to stay organized and make the most of each season, ensuring your garden thrives year-round.
With a little planning and effort, you’ll enjoy a bountiful and beautiful garden season after season.
