Effectively Planning a Food Growing Schedule for All Seasons
Maybe you’ve always dreamed of living more sustainably, and for you, growing your food would be a big part of that. The good news is that you are in good company, especially if you live in the South.
Research shows that the southern part of the United States features the largest number of home gardeners with an estimated 29% of people gardening there. The second–most popular region for gardening is in the Midwest, where 26% of people are gardening. This is followed by 23% of gardeners in the western part of the country and 22% of gardeners in the Northeast.
The question is, how exactly do you go about growing plenty of food to last all year? Here’s a rundown on how to effectively plan a food-growing schedule for all seasons.
Winter to Spring
January is an excellent month to order seeds and get organized for your year of home gardening. Then, you can start planting hardy crops in the middle of February, or mid-March if you live in a colder, mountainous area. These hardy plants range from sugar snaps to snow peas and even garden peas and potatoes.
Crops that are ideal to grow between the middle of February to the early weeks of April include:
● Turnip seed
● Radish
● Rutabaga
● Mustard
● Spinach
● Lettuce
● Parsnip
● Carrots
If you have transplants of collard greens, kale, cabbage, broccoli or onions, consider sowing them directly into your garden during this time frame too. You can also start your own seeds of tomatoes, peppers and eggplants indoors during this time to have some transplants prepared for the upcoming spring season.
Spring
When spring is in full swing, meaning that you’ve gone past your area’s average last frost date, it’s safe to begin planting any warm-season crop. These crops include, for example, lima beans, southern peas, tomatoes and cucumbers. Note that your last frost date might be as early as March in a warmer region and as late as late April—or even later—in a colder or mountainous region.
Note that some warm-season plants are capable of tolerating light frost, which means you can start them a few weeks earlier if you wish. These crops range from zucchini to squash, sweet corn and green beans.
On the contrary, plants like sweet potatoes, eggplants, peanuts and peppers are frost-sensitive, and therefore, should not be planted too early. The okra you’d like to grow for gumbo and the melons you’d like to incorporate into your smoothies and other fruity treats should also be grown after your last frost.
Summer to Fall
The late summer is the perfect time for growing a variety of other vegetables. And don’t worry, the summertime pests, drought and heat are no match for these plants, which will become part of your fall garden.
Here is a rundown on the top plants to grow between July and September:
● Leeks
● Kohlrabi
● Swiss chard
● Beets
Plant these crops directly into your garden about two months before you expect your first fall frost. This could be as early as the start of October if you live in a mountain region. Meanwhile, if you reside in a coastal area, it may not be until early November. You can also plant any tomato transplants during this time in addition to starting cauliflower.
Fall to Winter
When October rolls around, you can begin planning garlic and onion from cloves and seeds, respectively. However, feel free to do this a little earlier in September if you live in a mountain area. Both of these crops will easily grow during the winter and will be ready for harvesting in the latter part of spring.
Note that any tomatoes, squash or cucumbers planted during the warmer months of the year should continue to produce till your region’s first frost comes. Likewise, hardy veggies like kale, collards and cabbage should continue producing through the month of December.
If you’re growing crops that are less hardy, like lettuce or broccoli, you can extend their life simply by placing cold frames over them. You can also grow them in a tunnel house without heat to sustain them longer.
Start Planning a Food Growing Schedule to Cover Your Household for a Year Today!
Being able to grow your own healthy food on your own property can easily spark a sense of security and pride. However, if you’re not sure about how to grow a sustainable garden, your green-thumb dream will remain just that: a pipedream.
Fortunately, planning a food-growing schedule doesn’t have to be complicated. Follow the above-listed tips for creating a food growing schedule for all seasons, and start living more independently and healthily than ever before.
Tess DiNapoli is an artist, freelance writer, and content strategist. She has a passion for yoga and often writes about health and wellness, but also enjoys covering the fashion industry and the world of fitness.
