Projects for the Month of January
Direct Sow
- Sow seeds outside 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.
Projects for the Month of February
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.
Projects for the Month of March
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.
Projects for the Month of April
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.
Projects for the Month of May
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.
Projects for the Month of June
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.
Projects for the Month of July
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.
Projects for the Month of August
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.
Projects for the Month of September
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.
Projects for the Month of October
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.
Projects for the Month of November
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.
Projects for the Month of December
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.