Year-Round Gardening: What to Plant in Each Season

Isn’t it interesting to see how your garden changes with the seasons? As the days grow longer, so do the opportunities to cultivate a beautiful garden throughout the year.

I have grown to love tending to my garden in Peterborough, New Hampshire, over many years now, the beauty and challenges of each season.

Today, I’m excited to show you how to keep your garden lively and productive from spring to summer, fall, and winter. Let’s look together at the gardener’s yearly calendar, simply filled in to give an idea of what you should be doing and when you could do it!

Spring: A Time of Renewal

Spring is undoubtedly one of the most invigorating times of the year for gardeners. As the frost begins to thaw, the garden awakens to a pulse of life with the first green shoots popping through.

Early Spring: From March to April, this is the time to put in the ground your cool-weather vegetables: peas, spinach, and lettuce. These vegetables perform excellently in the light frost of early spring. It’s also the ideal time for planting perennial herbs such as chives, thyme, and sage, which can stand a bit of frost.

Late Spring (May): Once your ground starts to warm, get busy sowing into open ground all those warmth-loving crops like tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers. Be very careful, though, since frosts are still possible—be sure to have some frost covers on hand to throw over tender seedlings just in case.

Personal tip: I remember a spring one year; we had an unexpected frost, and I covered my newly planted tomatoes with old bed sheets. I saved every last one. It was a small victory that reminded me of the unpredictable nature of gardening.

Summer: Abundance and Care

Summer is a time of rapid activity in the garden. This is your time to enjoy the fruits of your labor but also to keep up with the needs of your growing plants.

Early to Mid-Summer (June to July): This is the time to plant the quick-growing heat lovers, such as beans, squash, and corn. Water is the key to keeping these plants happy and growing steadily. Do this either in early morning or evening to avoid quick evaporation.

Late Summer (August): Start to put in plants for fall harvest, such as broccoli, kale, and carrots. It is also a good time to start up a new batch of lettuce and spinach, because the cooling temperatures will encourage strong growth.

Garden Chat: Next-door neighbor Linda confided her secret about growing lush green lettuce even in the heat of summer—using lightweight shade cloth to keep the soil cool and moist.

Fall: Getting Ready and Transition

The garden slows its pace as fall approaches, although there are still many associated gardening activities that can keep one quite busy.

Early Fall: Crops from the summer garden are still coming out. Garlic and onions are also planted for harvesting next year. This is a great time to fill those empty spaces with more of the greens that can tolerate cooler temperatures.

Late Fall (October-November): Commence with the winterization of the garden. Mulch around perennials; clean up leaves that have fallen; and consider the possibility of planting cover crops, such as winter rye, to enrich the soil.

Cozy Corner: Nothing is compared to a cup of hot apple cider when gazing at the fiery fall colors in your very own garden.

Winter: Plan and Protect

Winter may be a quiet time, but it is quite the time for reflection and preparation.

Early Winter (December): If you live in a milder climate, keep on growing cold-hardy vegetables like kale or Brussels sprouts. If you do not live in a milder climate, take this time to plan next year’s garden and to order seeds.

Late Winter (January to February): Begin spring planting and start sowing seeds indoors. If you are maintaining your own herb collection on the windowsill, you may also wish to start basil and parsley in order to have fresh flavors during the winter months.

Winter Wisdom: Last year I started some tomatoes inside, seeding them by late February. They were just splendidly robust by the time they went outside in May!

Conclusion

Gardening can be a deeply rewarding pursuit that keeps your spirits high and your pantry full.

Whether you are coaxing seedlings to life in spring, nurturing your crops through the heat of summer, gathering in your bounteous harvest in fall, or dreaming up next year’s garden in winter, each season offers its own joys and challenges.

Remember, all the little moves you make to care for your garden add up to the year when it’s beautiful and abundant. Keep on planting, keep on planning, and by all means, keep loving every moment in your garden!