Gardening Calendar Month by Month
Know exactly what to sow, plant, and harvest every month of 2026. Tasks are organized by month and calibrated for common USDA hardiness zones.
Published May 3, 2025 · Updated for 2026 Season
A month-by-month gardening calendar takes the guesswork out of timing. Each month has specific tasks that — if done on schedule — lead to a productive, stress-free growing season. The tasks below apply broadly to Zones 4–9; colder zones shift tasks later and warmer zones earlier.
January
- ✓Start onion and leek seeds indoors (Zones 6–11)
- ✓Order seed catalogs and plan your garden layout
- ✓Start peppers and eggplant indoors (Zones 8–11)
- ✓Check seed inventory and restock what you need
February
- ✓Start tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant indoors (Zones 5–7)
- ✓Start broccoli and cabbage indoors (Zones 6–8)
- ✓Direct sow peas outdoors (Zones 7–9)
- ✓Start onions indoors (Zones 5–6)
March
- ✓Start tomatoes and peppers indoors (Zones 4–5)
- ✓Direct sow spinach, peas, and lettuce (Zones 5–7)
- ✓Begin hardening off seedlings started in January (warmer zones)
- ✓Start cucumbers and squash indoors late March (Zones 6–7)
April
- ✓Transplant broccoli, cabbage, and kale outdoors (Zones 5–7)
- ✓Direct sow carrots, beets, and radishes outdoors (Zones 5–7)
- ✓Start cucumbers and squash indoors (Zones 4–5)
- ✓Begin hardening off tomatoes and peppers (Zones 6–7)
May
- ✓Transplant tomatoes and peppers outdoors after last frost (Zones 5–6)
- ✓Direct sow beans, corn, and squash outdoors (Zones 5–7)
- ✓Plant herbs like basil outdoors (after last frost)
- ✓Succession sow lettuce and radishes every 2 weeks
June
- ✓Transplant warm-season crops in cold zones (Zone 4)
- ✓Plant sweet potato slips outdoors (Zones 6–11)
- ✓Succession plant beans every 3 weeks for continuous harvest
- ✓Side-dress heavy feeders (tomatoes, corn) with compost
July
- ✓Start fall broccoli, kale, and cabbage indoors (6–8 weeks before fall frost)
- ✓Keep up with succession planting of fast crops
- ✓Harvest and preserve summer crops
- ✓Mulch beds to retain moisture during peak heat
August
- ✓Transplant fall brassica starts outdoors
- ✓Direct sow spinach, arugula, and kale for fall harvest
- ✓Plant garlic in late August (warmer zones)
- ✓Begin clearing finished summer crops to prep for fall
September
- ✓Direct sow spinach, lettuce, and radishes for fall (Zones 5–8)
- ✓Plant spring-flowering bulbs
- ✓Start overwintering onions indoors (cooler zones)
- ✓Harvest summer crops before first frost warning
October
- ✓Plant garlic cloves for next year (Zones 4–8)
- ✓Direct sow cold-hardy greens under row cover
- ✓Harvest root vegetables before hard freeze
- ✓Clean and store garden tools for winter
November
- ✓Plant cover crops to protect and enrich soil over winter
- ✓Start planning next year's garden layout
- ✓Mulch perennial beds for winter protection
- ✓Browse seed catalogs and place early orders
December
- ✓Order seeds for next year — best selection is now
- ✓Start a garden journal to record this year's successes
- ✓Check stored root vegetables for rot
- ✓Research new varieties and growing techniques
Get Your Zone-Specific Schedule
FAQs
What should I plant in January?▼
In January, most gardeners start onion and leek seeds indoors. In warmer zones (8–11), peppers and eggplant can also be started. It's also the best time to order seeds for the season.
When is the best month to plant a vegetable garden?▼
The best month depends on your zone. For most of the US (Zones 5–7), late April through May is ideal for warm-season crops after the last frost. Cool-season crops can go in as early as March.