Spring (Mar-May)
| Task | Details |
|---|
| Soil prep | Add compost, test pH (most vegetables prefer 6.0-7.0) |
| Cool-season crops | Plant peas, spinach, lettuce, radishes, kale — 4-6 weeks before last frost |
| Start seeds indoors | Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant — 6-8 weeks before last frost date |
| Prune | Prune fruit trees and summer-flowering shrubs before buds break |
Summer (Jun-Aug)
| Task | Details |
|---|
| Warm-season crops | Plant tomatoes, peppers, squash, beans, corn after last frost |
| Water deeply | 1-2 inches/week, morning is best — evening watering invites fungus |
| Mulch | 2-3 inches straw/wood chips — retains moisture, suppresses weeds |
| Harvest frequently | Pick beans, zucchini, cucumbers daily — more picking = more production |
Fall (Sep-Nov)
| Task | Details |
|---|
| Fall crops | Plant garlic, shallots for next year; sow spinach and kale for fall harvest |
| Clean up | Remove dead plants — diseased material goes in trash, not compost |
| Cover crops | Plant winter rye or clover to protect and enrich soil over winter |
Companion Planting
| Crop | Good Companions | Bad Companions |
|---|
| Tomatoes | Basil, marigolds, carrots | Fennel, potatoes, dill (mature) |
| Beans | Corn, squash, radishes | Onions, garlic |
| Carrots | Onions, leeks, rosemary | Dill, parsnips |
Pro Tip: Know your USDA hardiness zone and last frost date. Planting too early kills more gardens than pests or disease. Find your zone at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov — it's the single most important piece of data for any gardener.