BOUNTY GARDENS

January Activities

Direct Sow

• Sow seeds for carrots, onions, peas, pumpkins, radishes and spinach.

Harvest

• Harvest arugula, kale, lettuce, mustard greens and spinach.

Journal

• Start a garden journal, if you haven't done so already.
• Consider planting aloe, geranium, agave, bougainvillea, cacti, coral vine and desert rose.

Prune

• Prune flowering branches from immature citrus trees to energize the tree itself.

Soil

• Start a composting system, if you haven't done so already.
• Amend soil with compost and organic fertilizer.
• Add organic mulch to retain moisture.

Start Seeds Indoors

• Start seeds for warm-weather crops like eggplant, lettuce, peppers, squash and tomatoes.

Transplant Outside

• Transplant seedlings that were started indoors for cool-weather crops like broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and greens.

Wildlife

• Attract birds with a bird feeder to keep garden free of unwanted insects.

February Activities

Direct Sow

• Sow seeds for arugula, asparagus, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, chives, collard greens, dill, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, parsley, parsnips, peas, potatoes, radishes, squash, swiss chard and turnips.

Harvest

• Harvest asparagus and jalapeno peppers.

Maintenance

• Pull weeds and control them organically.

Prune

• Hard-prune woody perennials.
• Thin seedlings that were planted last month.

Soil

• Add slow-release organic fertilizer around shrubs and perennials.
• Amend soil with compost and organic fertilizer.
• Add organic mulch to keep weeds under control.

Start Seeds Indoors

• Start seeds for cantaloupe, cucumbers, honeydew melon, okra, pumpkins, squash and watermelon.

Transplant Outside

• Plant arugula, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, chives, collards, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, onion, spinach and swiss chard.

Wildlife

• Clean and fill bird feeder.

March Activities

Direct Sow

• Sow seeds for basil, beans, bok choy, cantaloupe, celery, cilantro, cucumbers, fennel, green honeydew melon, okra, peanuts, pumpkins, sweet corn, sweet potatoes, summer squash, watermelon and winter squash.

Harvest

• Harvest arugula, cherry tomatoes, eggplant, lettuce, oregano, radishes, sage, spinach, tomatillos, tomatoes and turnips,

Maintenance

• Pull weeds and control them organically.

Soil

• Keep garden and containers properly hydrated.

Transplant Outside

• Plant basil, bok choy, cantaloupe, celery, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplant, fennel, honeydew melons, jalapeno peppers, okra, oregano, parsley, pumpkins, sage, summer squash, thyme, tomatillos, tomatoes, watermelons and winter squash.

Wildlife

• Clean and fill bird feeder.

April Activities

Harvest

• Harvest beets, celery, bok choy, carrots, chives, collard greens, kale, kohlrabi, parsley, peas, swiss chard, summer squash and thyme

Prune

• Prune damaged or dead limbs from shrubs.
• Hard-prune overgrown shrubs.
• Move plants to a better location if needed.

Soil

• Add compost and an organic fertilizer, if needed.
• Add compost around fruit trees.

Wildlife

• Clean and fill bird feeder.

May Activities

Harvest

• Harvest basil, beans, cantaloupe, cauliflower, cilantro, cucumbers, dill, green beans, okra, onions, parsnips, potatoes and sweet corn.

Prune

• Prune tomato plants, fruit trees, overgrown shrubs and annuals.

Maintenance

• Pull weeds and control them organically.

Soil

• Add compost and organic fertilizer, if needed.

Wildlife

• Clean and fill bird feeder.

June Activities

Harvest

• Harvest broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, fennel, honeydew melons, leeks, peanuts, pumpkins, watermelon and winter squash,

Maintenance

• Check plants for pests and disease.
• Add sticky traps to control pests like aphids.
• Clear and remove garden debris.

Prune

• Prune flowering shrubs after they bloom.

Soil

• Keep garden and containers properly hydrated.

Wildlife

• Clean and fill bird feeder.

July Activities

Harvest

• Harvest basil, blackberries, cucumbers, garlic, green beans, okra, onions, peas, potatoes, peppers, squash, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelon and winter squash.

Maintenance

• Pull weeds and control them organically.

Soil

• Add organic fertilizer to garden and containers, if needed.

Wildlife

• Clean and fill bird feeder.

August Activities

Harvest

• Continue to harvest peanuts.

Maintenance

• Clear and remove garden debris.

Prune

• Continue pruning where needed.

Soil

• Add a layer of compost and fertilize, if needed.
• Cover bare soil with organic mulch.

Wildlife

• Clean and fill bird feeder.

September Activities

Harvest

• Continue to harvest sweet potatoes.

Prune

• Cut back plants to about 6 inches.

Soil

• Start a compost system if you haven't done so already.
• Cover unused garden soil with organic mulch.

Wildlife

• Clean and fill bird feeder.

October Activities

Journal

• Note last season's successes and improvements that you wish to make for the new year.
• Start a plan to add items that grow well in your area; e.g., avocados, bananas, beans, coconuts, eggplant, figs, kiwi, mangoes, papayas, peppers, pineapples, pomegranates, sweet potatoes, yams, coconut palms, date palms, and fan palms, hibiscus, orchids, bird of paradise, royal poinciana (flamboyant tree), jacaranda, and plumeria.

Maintenance

• Cover bare soil with an organic mulch if you haven't done so already.

Soil

• Have soil tested at your nearest extension office.
• Get gardening advice from the extension office.
• Amend soil based on test results.

Wildlife

• Clean and fill bird feeder.

November Activities

Journal

• Make a shopping list of seeds that you wish to plant next season.
• Shop for seed-starting supplies.

Wildlife

• Clean and fill bird feeder.

December Activities

Houseplants

• Repot houseplants that have outgrown their containers.

Journal

• Make a shopping list of seeds that you wish to plant next season.

Maintenance

• Clean and sharpen garden tools.

Soil

• Have a soil sample tested at a local extension office, if you haven't done so already.
• Amend soil based on test results.

Start Seeds Indoors

• Start seeds for celery, jalapeno peppers, leeks, oregano, parsley and thyme.

Wildlife

• Clean and fill bird feeder.