There are two major planting periods for mild temperate climate zones. The two major planting periods are in the spring-from March to May-and in the fall-from the middle of July to September. You will be able to harvest your spring planting produce during June, July, and August, and you will be able to harvest your fall plantings during the time from October to December. During January and February, you should be planning your vegetable garden for the coming year-working out what vegetables you are going to plant and when you are going to plant them. Here are some general month by month guidelines for a mild temperate climate-once again, make sure that you make the necessary adjustments for your climate.

January

• purchase your seeds


• if you didn't put compost on your vegetable garden in the fall, January is the time to do so, unless your ground is frozen.


• if necessary, apply lime, sulfur, and fertilizer, using either 5-10-10 or 6-12-12 soil analysis.


• if you are going to be growing in seed boxes, you should get these beds ready now for peppers, eggplants, and/or tomatoes. The beds should be ready by the beginning of February.

February

• plant seed boxes


• good vegetable candidates for early planting include the following: carrots, collards, spinach, turnips, English peas, snow peas, Irish potatoes, radishes, turnips, lettuce, and mustard.


• if you are transplanting any vegetables, use starter fertilizer solution around each plant.

March

• if you have planted any quickly maturing vegetables, like mustard, radishes, spring onions, and turnips, now is the time to do your second planting.


• when your plants are 2 to 3 inches tall, thin them.


• control weeds by putting down mulch

April

• now is the time to plant vegetables that are susceptible to frost damage. Included in this group are the following popular vegetables (some climates may need to plant these later or transplant these later in order to avoid any damage done to vegetables by a possible late frost):


• snap beans, lima beans, pole beans, sweet corn, cantaloupe, eggplant, okra, cucumbers, field peas, peppers, squash, tomatoes, and/or watermelon.


• within two to three weeks, make a second planting of snap beans, corn and squash.


• in order to provide for adequate pollination, make sure that you plant at least two rows of each vegetable.

May

• watch out for the most typical garden pests: Mexican bean beetle, Colorado potato beetle, bean leaf beetle, cabbage worm, tomato hornworm, Harlequin cabbage bug, blister beetle, corn earworm, cucumber beetle, and squash bug.

July

• at this point, you can plant your sweet potatoes and a second planting of your Southern peas.


• start planning your fall garden, if your climate allows for fall harvesting.


• plant your pumpkins for Halloween

August

• for your fall garden, plant your snap beans and Irish potatoes, cucumbers, squash, and any vegetables that are mildew resistant. Begin your broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, kale, and onions.

• if you live in an area that has mild falls, you can plant or transplant these vegetables: broccoli, beets, cabbage, carrots, mustard, collards, lettuce, radishes, onions, spinach, and/or turnips.