Growing food at home is one of the most rewarding things you can do for yourself and your family right now. Maybe you feel like the current growing season has passed you by, and you will need to wait until next spring to start? or maybe you want to try something new this coming fall or winter?
Regardless of why you found yourself reading this article, we’re going to point out some great tips for growing your favorite fruits, vegetables, and herbs. We're here to help you become successful at year-round gardening.
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All vegetables need either a cool growing season, or a warm growing season to be healthy and prolific. Learning your correct grow zone/location is crucial to having a bountiful harvest. You may even want to contact your local Extension Office for exact planting dates and schedules.
The graphic above shows you:
- COOL- season crops that need to be planted between September – February
- WARM – season crops that need to be planted between the March – August
*These exact dates will obviously vary based on your location but this should help get you started!
SPRING March 1st – May 31st
WHAT TO PLANT NOW: In early spring, focus on sowing crops like: radish, carrots, turnips, peas, lettuce, spinach, kohlrabi, broccoli, cabbage, leeks, collards, onions, Brussels sprouts, asparagus, cauliflower, and herbs such as parsley, cilantro and dill.
As the season progresses, you’ll be ready to start your summer crops such as: tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, melons, cucumbers, squash, strawberries & more!
MORE THINGS TO DO: In early spring, you will want to start your seeds indoors and begin prepping your garden beds. Get a new garden hose or invest in a self-watering irrigation system. Learn how you can water more efficiently as things start to heat up and dry out. Sharpen and clean all of your garden tools to make sure they’re ready when you are.
As soon as the ground can be worked you should begin to:
SUMMER June 1st – August 31st
WHAT TO PLANT NOW: Continue planting your summer favorites such as tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, squash, melons, potatoes, onions, herbs, and maybe a few more root crops and leafy greens before it gets too hot for them. If you’re into fresh herbs, summer is the perfect time for growing basil, mint, lemongrass and chives.
MORE THINGS TO DO: Now is the time to get outside and “button-up” any gardening chores before the summer heat makes even the simplest jobs seem unbearable. Make sure you water your plants deep and regularly to ensure they aren’t drying up during the much longer, warmer days. As temperatures rise, so does your flexibility in terms of planting. No longer are you running the risk of an unexpected freeze damaging your newly planted seedlings, and your heat-loving crops will actually begin to thrive!
MORE TIPS AND TRICKS:
Plant these seeds in July/August – View
Herbs & Veggies to Plant NOW for a Summer Garden – View
Heat Loving Veggies & Herbs You Can Grow RIGHT NOW in Summer! – View
12 Plants That You Can Grow This Summer To DETER Mosquitoes – View
Have a Better Summer Garden With These 7 Tips! – View
FALL September 1st – November 30th
WHAT TO PLANT NOW:
Most gardeners will agree, the crop they look forward to planting the most during fall is garlic! Drop your favorite soft or hardneck varieties as long as the soil remains workable (for most this falls somewhere between September/October). If you get them into the ground early enough, potatoes will do well until your first freeze arrives.
Fall is also the best time for planting blueberry bushes. Start planting your fall root vegetables such as carrots, radishes, beets, turnips and parsnips. Love salads? Your favorite greens will thrive in the cooler temperatures of fall.
September - October is prime time for sowing your favorite cover crop varieties! “A cover crop slows the velocity of runoff from rainfall and snowmelt, reducing soil loss due to sheet and rill erosion. Over time, a cover crop regimen will increase soil organic matter, leading to improvements in soil structure, stability, and increased moisture and nutrient holding capacity for plant growth.” source: nrcs.usda.gov
MORE THINGS TO DO:
As summer winds down, be sure to replenish the nutrients in your garden beds by adding fresh compost or manure. We hope you’ve collected seed from your previous harvests by allowing them to “go to seed” and then harvesting them for future growing seasons. Learn about Seed Saving tips and tricks. Clean out any cold-frames you may have or the greenhouse in preparation for winter months ahead. Cut back any dead or dying perennials and clean/sterilize your garden tools. Take cuttings from your favorite herbs before they are destroyed by frost. Continue to enjoy them throughout fall and winter by growing an indoor container garden or grow them in the windowsill.
MORE TIPS AND TRICKS:
How to Plant a Fall Garden. Step-by-Step – View
Fall and Winter Gardening Made Easy – View
16 Crops To Plant NOW for Fall! – View
Our TOP 10 Favorite Fall & Winter Gardening YouTube Videos! – View
Quickest Crops to Mature for a Fall & Winter Harvest – View
WINTER December 1st – February 28th
WHAT TO PLANT NOW:
A great time to be starting your favorite summer crops INDOORS. You should be starting tomatoes, peppers, eggplant & more towards the end of Winter.
Grow sprouts & micro greens! Most of your favorite spring and summer vegetables do well in the form of sprouts, so get your “nutrient fix” by starting a tray of them in the windowsill of a south facing window. Love to cook? Herbs can be planted in small pots or containers indoors if you supply them with enough light.
Do you still have some crops left out in the garden from fall? Some would say that beets, parsnips, carrots, Brussels sprouts, kale, turnips and rutabagas all taste sweeter after a frost! So don’t be in such a hurry to pull these from your vegetable beds. Let winter come, then enjoy!
MORE THINGS TO DO:
For most gardeners, winter becomes a season of rest. A lot of us enjoy taking a few months off, regrouping from the long hauls of summer and fall, but if you’re still craving fresh food from your garden, we have great news! You STILL have options!
Southern states and warmer regions can grow most of their favorite fruits, veggies and herbs all the way through winter, without hesitation.
MORE TIPS AND TRICKS:
How to Store Vegetables for Winter – View
10 Vegetables You Can Over-Winterize – View
It’s Winter! What to do in the garden now?! – View
Most Popular Seeds to Plant Now for Fall/Winter Gardening – View