BOUNTY GARDENS

January Activities

Direct Sow

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

Journal

• Start a garden journal, if you haven't done so already.
• Note last season's successes and improvements that you wish to make next season.

Harvest

• Continue to harvest arugula, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, green onions, kale, leeks, mustard greens, and spinach.

Maintenance

• Start the year off right with clean and sharpened garden tools.

Prune

• Prune flowering branches from immature citrus trees to energize the tree itself.
• Thin wildflower seedlings if needed.

Soil

• Start a composting system, if you haven't done so already.
• Amend soil with compost and organic fertilizer.
• Add mulch to keep soil temps regulated and 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 outside for beans, beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, cucumbers, eggplant, kale, leeks, onions, parsley, peas, radishes and turnips.

Harvest

• Harvest arugula, beets, carrots, chard, chervil, chives, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley and spinach.

Houseplants

• Repot houseplants that have outgrown their containers.

Maintenance

• Clean and sharpen garden tools.
• Clean perennial garden beds and add foliage to compost.

Prune

• Hard-prune woody perennials.
• Leave flowering shrubs intact at this time: azaleas, daphne, fall-blooming clematis, forsythia, hibiscus, japonica, plum, peach and cherry trees, rhododendrons, viburnums and weigelas.
• Plants that can be divided at this time include daisies, daylilies, hostas, rudbeckias and shastas.

Soil

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

Start Seeds Indoors

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

Transplant Outside

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

Wildlife

• Clean and fill bird feeder.

March Activities

Direct Sow

• Sow beets, corn, kale, lettuce, potatoes, spinach and swiss chard.

Harvest

• Continue to harvest arugula, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, carrots, chard, chervil, chives, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsnips, peas, and spinach as they become ready.

Prune

• Prune and fertilize citrus trees.

Soil

• Amend soil with compost and an organic fertilizer if needed.

Start Seeds Indoors

• Start seeds for brussels sprouts, eggplant, okra, peppers, squash, tomatoes, watermelons and flowers.

Transplant Outside

• Plant beans, beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, corn, cucumbers, kale, lettuce, peas, peppers, spinach and tomatoes.

Wildlife

• Clean and fill bird feeder.

April Activities

Direct Sow

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

Harvest

• Harvest more arugula, beets, carrots, chervil, chives, fennel, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsnips, peas and swiss chard.

Maintenance

• Check plants for pests and disease.
• Add sticky traps to control pests like aphids.

Prune

• Prune damaged or dead limbs from shrubs.
• Cut back spring ground covers after they bloom.
• Hard prune overgrown shrubs.
• Move plants to a better location if needed.
• Prune flowering shrubs after they bloom.
• Remove partially dead shrubs or hard prune to regenerate the plant.

Soil

• Amend soil with compost and an organic fertilizer, if needed.

Transplant Outside

• Plant cucumbers, eggplant, peppers and tomatoes outside.

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 succession planting.

Harvest

• Harvest beans, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, corn, cucumber, onions, peppers and tomatoes.

Prune

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

Soil

• Amend soil with compost and organic fertilizer, if needed.
• Weed before fertilizing to avoid giving weeds a boost.
• Fertilize plants, including those in containers.
• Add compost around fruit trees.

Transplant Outside

• Transplant seedlings outside for brussels sprouts, eggplant, flowers, lettuce, melons, okra, peppers, squash and tomatoes.

Wildlife

• Clean and fill bird feeder.

June Activities

Direct Sow

• Sow more seeds for corn, cucumbers, warm-season lettuce, melons, okra, pumpkins, warm-season spinach and squash.
• Sow cover crop seeds in any unoccupied areas.

Harvest

• Harvest more asparagus, beans, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, corn, cucumbers, peppers and tomatoes.
• Remove any unharvested winter vegetables.

Maintenance

• Clean up debri to avoid unwanted pests and disease.
• Remove standing water to prevent mosquito infestation.

Prune

• Prune flowering shrubs.
• Remove suckers from tomato plants.
• Pinch old blooms from annuals and perennials.
• Hard prune annuals up to 1/3 of the plant.
• Thin fruit trees.
• Cut back fall perennials.

Soil

• Add mulch to uncovered soil.
• Spray weeds with a mixture of white vinegar and dish soap.
• Weed before fertilizing to avoid giving weeds a boost.
• Add compost and organic fertilizer like worm castings. Include plants in containers.
• Add compost around fruit trees.

Transplant Outside

• Plant cover crops in any unoccupied areas.

Wildlife

• Clean and fill bird feeder.

July Activities

Direct Sow

• Sow seeds for beans, beets, broccoli, carrots, warm-season lettuce, squash and turnips for the Fall season.

Feed Plants

• Fertilize garden with compost and an organic fertilizer like worm castings.
• Fertilize plants in containers and rose bushes.

Harvest

• Continue to harvest basil, beans, blackberries, carrots, cucumbers, eggplant, garlic, warm-season lettuce, okra, onions, peppers, raspberries, squash, strawberries, and tomatoes.

Journal

• Note any companion plants that might attract good bugs to keep unwanted pests under control.
• Think about what you would like to have in your Fall garden.

Prune

• Do not prune flowering shrubs at this time.
• Continue to remove suckers from tomato plants.

Soil

• Add mulch to keep roots cool and regulate moisture and also add mulch to bare spots in the garden.
• Water regularly and deeply.

Start Seeds Indoors

• Start seeds for beets, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, eggplant, kale, peas, peppers, pumpkins, spinach, squash and tomatoes.

Transplant Outside

• Plant eggplant, peppers and tomatoes for a late summer harvest.
• Continue succession planting warm-season lettuce, peas, radishes and spinach.
• Plant beans, beets, carrots, lettuce, squash and turnips for a fall harvest.
• Plant a cover crop in unused garden spaces.

Wildlife

• Clean and fill bird feeder.

August Activities

Direct Sow

• Sow seeds for cosmos, marigolds, nasturtiums and zinnias.

Feed Plants

• Continue to fertilize garden with compost and an organic fertilizer.
• Fertilize citrus trees after harvest.

Harvest

• Harvest citrus and all vegetables.
• Harvest cucumber, squash and zucchini when approximately 6 inches long.
• Harvest seeds from high-producing plants.

Maintenance

• Examine plants for issues to determine if they need more water, shade or fertilizer.
• Remove plants that have stopped producing to avoid pests and disease.
• Remove standing water to prevent mosquito infestation.
• Remove old plants to make way for the new Fall garden.

Prune

• Pinch off basil for a bushier plant.
• Trim herbs to extend harvest.
• Prune eggplant, peppers and tomato suckers.
• Prune plants if leaves overlap other plants.
• Prune old blooms off roses down to the first 5-leaf junction at a slight angle leaving 1/4 inch above the junction.

Soil

• Fertilize citrus trees after harvest.
• Amend soil with nutrients before planting any Fall crops.
• Water garden and roses regularly and deeply.
• Continue adding mulch.
• Garden, trees and container plants need long, deep watering sessions.

Start Seeds Indoors

• Start seeds for broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, greens, kale, radishes and swiss chard.

Transplant Outside

• Plant garlic at the end of the month for a Spring harvest.

Wildlife

• Clean and fill bird feeder.

September Activities

Direct Sow

• Plant a cover crop if a Fall garden will not be planted.
• Sow seeds for arugula, beets, bok choy, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, greens, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, spinach, swiss chard and turnips.

Harvest

• Harvest seeds from high-producing plants.
• Harvest any remaining vegetables and clear the way for a new Fall garden.
• Harvest might include basil, beans, beets, cucumbers, eggplant, greens, peppers, squash, sweet potatoes and tomatoes.
• Harvest fruit trees and gather herbs for drying.

Maintenance

• Provide shade until temperatures begin to drop.
• Continue to remove weeds.

Prune

• Remove leaves from pumpkin plants to encourage fruit growth.
• Remove flowers from melons, pumpkins and squash to energize existing fruit.
• Remove immature fruit from eggplant, melons, pumpkins, squash and tomatoes for the same reason.

Soil

• Fertilize existing plants as needed.
• Continue to add mulch to control weeds, retain moisture and enrich soil over time.
• Keep root systems hydrated by providing deep watering.
• Stop fertilizing trees and shrubs.

Start Seeds Indoors

• Start seeds for beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, greens, kale, radishes and swiss chard.

Transplant Outside

• If last month's seedlings are ready, plant broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, greens, kale, radishes and swiss chard.

Wildlife

• Clean and fill bird feeder.

October Activities

Direct Sow

• Sow beets, bok choy, carrots, garlic, leeks, lettuce, mustard, onions, radishes, shallots, spinach, turnips and wildflowers.

Harvest

• Harvest arugula, beans, bok choy, broccoli, corn, eggplant, gourds, herbs (the whole plant) kale, lettuce, peppers, pumpkins, radishes, root vegetables, squash, sweet potatoes and tomatoes.
• Make sure any harvested seeds are dried and labeled.

Maintenance

• Continue to mulch, water and weed.

Prune

• Thin beets, carrots, greens and lettuce.
• Continue pruning where needed.
• Remove dead or hanging limbs without doing any serious pruning at this time.

Soil

• Add a layer of compost to the garden and fertilize.
• Cover bare soil with mulch.

Start Seeds Indoors

• Sow seeds for cool weather vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, lettuce, leeks, onions, peas, and swiss chard.

Transplant Outside

• Plant strawberries, shrubs and trees.

Wildlife

• Clean and fill bird feeder.

November Activities

Direct Sow

• Sow broccoli, cauliflower, kale, lettuce, onions, peas and spinach.

Harvest

• Harvest arugula, beets, bok choy, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, collards, cucumbers, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, sweet potatoes and swiss chard.
• Make sure to harvest any remaining eggplant, peppers, pumpkin, squash and tomatoes.
• Gather seeds from flowers and vegetables.

Maintenance

• Clean and sharpen garden tools.

Prune

• Thin seedlings that were planted last month.

Soil

• Have soil tested at your nearest extension office.
• Cover bare soil with mulch if you did not plant a cover crop or Fall garden.

Transplant Outside

• Plant beans, broccoli, garlic, kale, peas, leeks, lettuce, shallots, spinach and swiss chard.
• Plant asters, mums, pansies and snapdragons.
• Plant citrus trees.

Wildlife

• Clean and fill bird feeder.

December Activities

Harvest

• Harvest beets, bok choy, carrots, celery, garlic, kale, lettuce, mustard greens, onions, radishes, shallots, snow peas and swiss chard.

Journal

• Update your garden journal with successes and failures.
• Investigate companion plants that would help detour pests and disease.

Maintenance

• Clean and sharpen garden tolls.

Prune

• Cut back plants to about 6 inches.

Soil

• Start a compost system if you haven't done so already.
• Add compost to garden soil after each harvest.
• Cover bare soil with mulch.

Start Seeds Indoors

• Starts seeds for beans, beets, broccoli, cabbage, cantaloupe, cauliflower, collards, cucumbers, eggplant, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, mustard, okra, onion, parsley and radishes.

Transplant Outside

• Plant beans, beets, broccoli, cabbage, cantaloupe, carrots, cauliflower, collards, cucumbers, eggplant, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, mustard, okra, onion, parsley and radishes.
• Plant azaleas, baby’s breath, carnations, daphne, delphiniums, jasmine, pansies, petunias, snapdragons, violets and witch hazel.

Wildlife

• Clean and fill bird feeder.