The “what”and the “when”

Other Tasks

March

Choose long-season vegetables (tomatoes, peppers, celery); herbs (holy basil, parsley); and flowers (viola, strawflower).

If your climate allows, try a spring cover crop such as buckwheat or fava beans.

A cold frame or plastic tunnel will warm the soil for earlier planting. Prune trees and shrubs for shape before they leaf out.

April

Add more vegetables (cabbage, squash); herbs (thyme, lemon balm); and flowers (alyssum, zinnia).

As soon as ground is workable, plant trees, shrubs, and cold-tolerant plants such as peas, onions, kale, calendula, and bachelor buttons.

Enrich soil with compost in preparation for planting.

May

Some plants, such as corn and cucumbers, tend to do well when started just a few weeks before transplanting outside.

Almost all seeds, transplants, and perennials can go in the ground, but check your region’s typical last frost date for those tender ones (beans, squash).

June

Successive plantings of quick-growing veggies such as radishes and greens can be started.

Keep seeds and transplants moist. Mulch any bare soil once plants have sprouted.