I get lots of questions as to when to prepare the garden and plant certain things. Through my own experience and research I came up with this month by month gardening schedule focused for the Salt Lake and Utah county areas. If you live in warmer or colder areas just add or subtract about 2 weeks. This is just a a general format. Planting times and outdoor chores are subject to change due to weather. Each month is an approximate 4 week month, days and times may vary. List is subject to change depending on what I do in the garden, but here are the basics.
JANUARY
Week 1 – If snow is sparse water evergreen trees and shrubs
Week 2 – Order seed catalog’s and get your seeds ordered for the year.
Weeks 3-4 – Start perennial herbs indoors.
FEBRUARY
Week 1 – Start broccoli, spinach and cabbage indoors.
Week 2-3 – If snow has been sparse water evergreen trees and shrubs.
Week 4 – Sharpen pruning tools. Prune trees and non- flowering shrubs while dormant or sign up for a free class in March at the Conservation Garden Park in West Jordan UT. I teach a pruning class in central Utah sometime in March. Begin yard clean up of any debris if there is no snow on the ground.
MARCH
Week 1 – Start cauliflower and lettuce seeds indoors. Start tomatoes and peppers indoors if planning to place under walls of water mid April ( in 6 weeks).
Week 2 – Apply dormant oil to fruit trees if using. Continue yard clean up and apply a top cover of compost, 3-4 inches in all beds. Prepare garden beds by gently mixing organic compost and organic fertilizer into vegetable beds. Start planting Group A Hardy Plants (see list below) from seeds or starts outside as soon as soil can be worked (can be moist, but not wet).
Week 3 – Bare root fruit trees and shrubs become available at local nurseries.
Week 4 – Start tomato and pepper seeds indoors if planning to put outside mid May ( in 6 weeks).
APRIL
Week 1 – Start planting Semi-Hardy Plants from Group B including perennial herbs (see list below). Apply pre-emergent to turf grass to control annual weeds if using.
Week 2 – Cold tolerant flowers like pansies become available to plant at all nurseries. Prune shrubs that bloom after June.
Week 3 – Harden off tomato seedlings by exposing them to 50` F for 3 hours per day this week. Start melons, cucumber and squash indoors if desired.
Week 4 – Transplant tomato and seedlings under walls of water. Aerate turf grass. Prune roses. Plant dahlia and gladiolus bulbs outside.
MAY
Week 1 – Depending on the weather, water lawn and beds 1/2 – 1 inch per week. Harden off tomato seedlings by exposing them to 50` F for 3 hours every day this week. Fertilize lawn with organic fertilizer. Check sprinkler heads and check for adequate water coverage.
Week 2 – Start planting Tender Vegetables in Group C (see list below), including tomatoes. Check USU Pest Advisory to get a head start on controlling garden pests. Plant warm weather annual flowers. Enjoy the harvest of fresh spinach, lettuce, kale and other leafy greens from the garden.
Week 3 – Prune spring blooming shrubs after they finish blooming. Plant Very Tender Vegetables Group D from seeds outside.
Week 4 – Plant Very Tender Vegetables Group D from starts (see list below). Apply chelated iron to plants suffering form iron chlorosis like strawberries, raspberries and roses.
JUNE
Week 1 – Water lawn and beds 1-1 1/2 inches per week. Spray fruit trees if choosing to keep the pests away.
Week 2 – Continue harvesting leafy greens, peas and herbs from the garden.
Week 3 – Fertilize vegetables and flowers with a good organic fertilizer like fish emulsion. Check to see of soil is getting watered down 4-6 inches with a garden spade.
Week 4 – Continue harvest of veggies and herbs. Build compost for garden. Start broccoli and leek seeds indoors for a fall crop.
JULY
Week 1 – Water lawn and beds 1 1/2 – 2 inches per week. If you planted tomatoes in walls of water enjoy the first harvest by July 4th!
Week 2 – Fertilize annual flowers and veggies, especially potatoes and corn. Dead head perennials and annuals if needed.
Week 3 – Harvest potatoes if the tops begin to die back so you can use the bed for a fall crop.
Week 4 – Start planting Cold Crops Group E for fall. Add more compost and fertilizer to soil before planting.
AUGUST
Week 1– Water lawn and beds 1 1/2 – 2 inches per week. Go to your local Farmers Market.
Week 2 – Harvest garlic bulbs. Make a plan for what you want to preserve for food storage for the year.
Week 3 – Fertilize flowers, fruits and veggies. Apply more chelated iron to raspberries if needed. Harvest onions.
Week 4 – Preserve your harvest through canning, drying or freezing. Visit your local Farmer’s Market.
SEPTEMBER
Week 1 – Water lawn and beds 1-1 1/2 inches per week. Learn how to save seeds.
Week 2 – Plant trees and shrubs if adding to your landscape. Fertilize lawn. Visit your local Farmer’s Market.
Week 3 – Fall bulbs become available at local nurseries. Shop for late season perennials on sale.
Week 4 – Harvest potatoes if you haven’t already. Enjoy the last of the tender veggies before it freezes. Plant green cover crops (legumes) to enhance soil for next year.
OCTOBER
Week 1 – Water lawn and beds 1/2 – 1 inch per week.
Week 2 – Divide and transplant spring and summer blooming perennials. Plant fall bulbs if you haven’t already. Deeply water all evergreen trees and shrubs to prevent winter injury.
Week 3 – Winterize sprinkler system. Cover fall crop vegetables before hard freeze if using hoop houses or cold frames.
Week 4 – Clean out annuals and dead perennials. Fertilize lawn one last time for healthy spring lawn.
NOVEMBER
Week 1 – Clean and prepare garden tools for a winter.
Week 2 – Clean up any excess leaves or debris to keep the pests from wintering over.
Week 3-4 – Enjoy the beginning of the holidays! Happy Thanksgiving! try cooking up some fresh sage, thyme and onions sauteing in butter! Basting the turkey or making stuffing with it! Oh I love the holidays!
DECEMBER
Happy Christmas! Give dried herbs in cute glass jars or other yummy homemade garden gifts to neighbors for Christmas!
GROUP A HARDY – March 15th – May 1st
Artichoke, Kohlrabi, Asparagus, Onions, Rhubarb, Broccoli, Peas, Spinach, Cabbage, Kale, Radish, Turnip
GROUP B SEMI HARDY – March 20 – May 1st
Beet, Lettuce, Potato, Carrot, Parsley, Salsify, Cauliflower, Parsnip, Swiss Chard, Endive
GROUP C TENDER – May 5 – June 1
Celery, Spinach (again), Cucumber, Summer Squash, Corn
GROUP D VERY TENDER – May 20 – June 10
Cantoloupe, Pumpkin, Eggplant, Tomato, Pepper, Beans, Watermelon, Winter Squash
GROUP E PLANTS FOR FALL HARVEST – Average planting date end of July to beginning of August
Beets, Cabbage, Kale, Lettuce, Spinach, Chard, Carrots, Leeks, Broccoli, Peas