BOUNTY GARDENS

February Activities

Direct Sow

• Try sowing seeds in a cold frame or greenhouse for broccoli, cauliflower, kale and lettuce.

Houseplants

• Repot houseplants that have outgrown their containers.

Journal

• Visit Weather.gov or Noaa.gov to estimate the last frost date in your area.

Maintenance

• Clean and sharpen garden tools.
• Add new garden tools to your collection or replace older tools, if needed.

Prune

• Prune a few branches from flowering shrubs and trees.

Soil

• If the snow has melted, add an organic mulch to the garden.

Start Seeds Indoors

• Based on the last frost date in your area, start seeds under grow lights for geraniums, parsley, tarragon, thyme, sage and thyme.

Wildlife

• Clean and fill bird feeders.

March Activities

Direct Sow

• Try sowing seeds in a cold frame or greenhouse for broccoli, cauliflower, kale and lettuce.

Journal

• Assess the need for seeds and seed starting kits.
• Research companion plants that may help deter unwanted insects and disease.

Maintenance

• Clean and sharpen garden tools, if you haven't done so already.
• Add new garden tools to your collection or replace older tools, if needed.

Prune

• Prune trees and shrubs that might break under heavy snow.
• Do not prune flowering shrubs; e.g., azalea, daphne, forsythia, rhododendron, viburnum and weigela.

Soil

• Have a soil sample tested at your nearest extension office.
• Gather gardening information and advice at your extension office.
• Amend garden soil based on test results.
• Add an organic mulch to the garden.

Start Seeds Indoors

• Based on the last frost date in your area, start seeds under grow lights for herbs, lettuce, mixed greens and spinach.

Wildlife

• Clean and fill bird feeders.

April Activities

Direct Sow

• Sow seeds for beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, kale, lettuce, peas, and spinach.

Journal

• Note any companion plants that can help prevent pests and disease.

Maintenance

• Clean and sharpen garden tools.

Prune

• Prune damaged or dead branches from trees.
• Prune grapevines and fruit trees.
• Hard-prune woody perennials.
• Prune trees and shrubs that might break under heavy snow.
• Do not prune flowering shrubs; e.g., azalea, daphne, forsythia, rhododendron, viburnum and weigela.

Soil

• Have a soil sample tested at your nearest extension office, if you haven't done so already.
• Amend soil with compost and organic fertilizer.
• Pull weeds and add an organic mulch to garden.

Start Seeds Indoors

• Based on the last frost date in your area, start seeds under grow lights for beans, beets, cabbage, cucumbers, eggplant, kale, lettuce, melons, onions, peppers, pumpkins, spinach, squash and tomatoes.

Transplant Outside

• Plant pansies, penstemon and snapdragons.
• At the end of the month, plant potatoes.
• Harden off and move broccoli and cauliflower outside to a cold frame.

Wildlife

• Add a hummingbird feeder or plants that attract hummingbirds.
• Add a birdhouse for nesting.
• Clean and fill bird feeders and birdbaths.
• Keep birdbaths filled with fresh, clean water to also prevent mosquito infestation.

May Activities

Direct Sow

• Sow seeds for beans, beets, corn, cucumbers, kale, lettuce, melons, peas, potatoes, spinach, squash and swiss chard,

Prune

• After blooms fall, prune flowering shrubs and trees.
• Hard-prune dead or overgrown shrubs.
• Remove dead material.

Soil

• Check with the extension office on your soil test results and gather more gardening information from the office for your area.
• Pull weeds and control them organically.
• Add an organic fertilizer around perennials and shrubs.
• Add compost around fruit trees.
• Add an organic mulch to the soil.

Start Seeds Indoors

• Start seeds under grow lights for brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, eggplant, kale, kohlrabi, okra, peppers, squash, tomatoes and watermelons,

Transplant Outside

• Gently harden-off seedlings for cucumbers eggplant, peppers and tomatoes and move them outside,

Wildlife

• Clean and fill bird feeder.

June Activities

Direct Sow

• Sow seeds for beans, corn, cucumbers, okra and squash.

Harvest

• Pick some peas, lettuce and spinach so they can keep producing.
• Harvest beets, broccoli, cauliflower and kale.

Maintenance

• Remove standing water to prevent mosquito infestation.

Prune

• Thin fruit on fruit trees.

Soil

• Pull weeds and control them organically.
• Add an organic mulch and fertilizer to the soil.
• Continue to add organic matter to the compost.

Wildlife

• Clean and fill bird feeder.

July Activities

Direct Sow

• Sow seeds for beets, bush beans, carrots, kale, pumpkins, spinach, summer squash and swiss chard.

Harvest

• Continue to harvest basil, blackberries, blueberries, cherries, cucumbers, eggplant, garlic, green beans, okra, onions, potatoes, peppers, raspberries, squash and tomatoes.

Journal

• Note fall perennials that you would like to plant; e.g., alyssum, cosmo, marigold, nasturtium and sunflower.
• List companion plants that can help reduce pests and disease.

Maintenance

• Add support to fruit trees as needed.
• Remove plant debris and cool season annuals.

Prune

• Deadhead annuals and perennials.
• Thin fruit on fruit trees.
• Remove tomato suckers and prune tomato plants.
• Save, dry and label seeds from high-performing plants.
• Trim hedges and shrubs while avoiding flowering shrubs.
• Stop pruning flowering shrubs.

Soil

• Fertilize rose bushes.
• Pull weeds and control them organically.
• Add an organic mulch and fertilizer to the soil.
• Continue to add organic matter to the compost.
• Water garden deeply and thoroughly.

Start Seeds Indoors

• Start seeds under grow lights for beets, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, peas, pumpkins, spinach and squash.

Transplant Outside

• Move seedlings outside for broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, green beans, radishes and summer squash.

Wildlife

• Clean and fill bird feeder.

August Activities

Direct Sow

• Sow seeds in a cold frame for beets, carrots, lettuce, radishes and spinach for a fall garden.

Harvest

• Collect, dry and label seeds from high-producing plants.
• Harvest and try canning peaches, pears and plums.

Journal

• Make a shopping list of seeds that you wish to plant for fall.

Maintenance

• Clean and sharpen garden tools.
• Check and/or replace seed starting kits, if needed.
• Add shade cloth over plants that are stressed by the heat.

Prune

• Deadhead annuals and perennials.
• Remove tomato suckers or spent tomato plants and pumpkin vines.
• Prune eggplant and peppers.
• Cut back overlapping leaves from squash.
• Trim back herbs.
• Stop pruning shrubs except for damaged and dead limbs.
• At the end of the month, remove small fruits or female flowers from pumpkins, tomatoes and any other large plants.

Soil

• Add an organic mulch to keep roots cool and to retain moisture.
• Pull weeds and control them organically.
• Add an organic fertilizer around the garden.
• Stop fertilizing shrubs and trees.
• Provide deep and thorough watering to garden, containers and fruit trees.

Start Seeds Indoors

• Start seeds under grow lights for cool-season crops.

Transplant Outside

• At mid-month, gently harden and move seedlings outside for broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, kale, swiss chard and provide shade, if needed.

Wildlife

• Clean and fill bird feeder.

September Activities

Direct Sow

• Collect, dry and label seeds from high-performing plants.
• Sow a succession crop of carrots, kale, lettuce, radishes and spinach in a greenhouse or cold-frame and if a weather-protected structure is not available, have frost covers ready to use.

Harvest

• Harvest apples and all remaining crops before the frost arrives.

Journal

• Organize seed packets and list seeds that you would like to plant in a fall garden.
• Consider adding a greenhouse, hoop house or cold frame for a fall and winter garden.

Maintenance

• If houseplants are outside, repot them if needed, spray them with an insecticidal soap and bring them indoors.
• Clean up and remove garden debris.
• Pull weeds and control them organically.

Prune

• Allow perennial plants to die back before cutting them back.
• Pinch off female flowers from eggplant, melons, pumpkins, squash and tomatoes.
• Remove foliage from pumpkins to encourage fruit to ripen.
• Stop pruning shrubs and trees.

Soil

• Add organic mulch and organic fertilizer to garden beds.
• Ensure perennials are adequately watered.
• Annuals may not need as much water as temperatures begin to drop.
• Stop watering deciduous trees.
• Stop fertilizing shrubs and trees.

Transplant Outside

• Plant new perennial plants.
• Plant garlic and shallots.

Wildlife

• Clean and fill bird feeder.

October Activities

Harvest

• Harvest brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, gourds, herbs, kale, lettuce, parsnips, potatoes, pumpkins, spinach, sweet potatoes, swiss chard and winter squash.

Journal

• Make a list of seeds that were collected last month and how you plan to use them next year.
• Note last season's successes and improvements you would like to make.
• Assess seed-starting supplies needed for fall; e.g., starting mix, warming mats, grow lights.

Maintenance

• Add fall leaves and healthy garden debris to compost.
• Clear and remove debris from garden beds.
• Pull weeds and control them organically.
• Drain irrigation system, turn off its water supply and store lines in a protected area.
• Clean, sharpen or replace garden tools.
• If houseplants are still outside, repot them if needed, spray them with an insecticidal soap and bring them indoors.

Prune

• Cut back newly formed roses and remove any damaged limbs.
• Deadhead spent flowers from fall containers.
• Except for damaged limbs, stop pruning shrubs and trees.
• Remove dead vines from grapevines.
• Allow perennials to die back completely before cutting them back.

Soil

• Add compost to garden beds.
• If a cover crop is not planted, add organic mulch to unused areas.
• Add organic mulch to roses bushes and grapevines.
• Provide deep watering to newly planted perennials.

Start Seeds Indoors

• Start seeds under grow lights for herbs and lettuce.

Transplant Outside

• Plant garlic, lettuce, parsnips, radishes, shallots and spinach.

November Activities

Maintenance

• Pull weeds and control them organically.
• Clear and remove garden debris.
• Empty birdbaths and pots and move them indoors.
• Have row covers ready to use if you planted cool-season crops.
• Clean and sharpen garden tools.

Soil

• Have a soil sample tested at a local extension office.
• Get expert garden advice from the extension office.
• Amend soil based on test results.
• Add a layer of compost to garden beds.
• Add organic mulch to garden beds that have exposed soil.

Start Seeds Indoors

• Sow seeds under grow lights for herbs, lettuce and microgreens.

Transplant Outside

• Plant hardy perennials and provide them with a deep watering.
• Plant cool-season transplants in a cold frame or greenhouse.
• Plant garlic and shallots.

Wildlife

• Clean and fill bird feeder.

December Activities

Direct Sow

• Try sowing seeds in a greenhouse for winter crops like arugula, beets, carrots, endive, kale, lettuce, onions, parsley, parsnips, potatoes, radishes, turnips and scallions. Add additional insulation as needed; e.g., organic mulch, fabric covers.

Harvest

• Harvest herbs and lettuce.

Journal

• Organize seed packets and start a shopping list of seeds for a spring garden.
• Research companion plants that may help reduce unwanted insects and disease.
• Note tools that you have and tools that you need.

Maintenance

• Clean and sharpen garden tools.
• Start a compost system, if you haven't done so already.

Soil

• Add compost to garden beds.
• Add a thick layer of organic mulch to garden beds.

Start Seeds Indoors

• Start seeds under grow lights for herbs and lettuce.

Transplant Outside

• Plant greens and root vegetables in a greenhouse that can withstand heavy snow.

Wildlife

• Clean and fill bird feeder.