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Monthly Garden Activities for Zone 10

January Activities

Direct Sow
  • Sow seeds outside for carrots, onions, peas, pumpkins, radishes and spinach.
Journal
  • Start a garden journal, if you haven't done so already.
  • Note last season's successes and improvements that you wish to make next season.
Harvest
  • Continue to harvest arugula, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, green onions, kale, leeks, mustard greens, and spinach.
Maintenance
  • Start the year off right with clean and sharpened garden tools.
Prune
  • Prune flowering branches from immature citrus trees to energize the tree itself.
  • Thin wildflower seedlings if needed.
Soil
  • Start a composting system, if you haven't done so already.
  • Amend soil with compost and organic fertilizer.
  • Add mulch to keep soil temps regulated and retain moisture.
Start Seeds Indoors
  • Start seeds for warm-weather crops like eggplant, lettuce, peppers, squash and tomatoes.
Transplant Outside
  • Transplant seedlings that were started indoors for cool-weather crops like broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and greens.
Wildlife
  • Attract birds with a bird feeder to keep garden free of unwanted insects.

February Activities

Direct Sow
  • Sow seeds outside for beans, beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, kale, leeks, melons, onions, parsley, peas, peppers, radishes, squash, tomatoes and turnips.
Harvest
  • Harvest arugula, beets, carrots, chard, chervil, chives, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley and spinach.
Houseplants
  • Repot houseplants that have outgrown their containers.
Maintenance
  • Clean and sharpen garden tools.
  • Clean perennial garden beds and add foliage to compost.
Prune
  • Hard-prune woody perennials.
  • Leave flowering shrubs intact at this time: azaleas, daphne, fall-blooming clematis, forsythia, hibiscus, japonica, plum, peach and cherry trees, rhododendrons, viburnums and weigelas.
  • Plants that can be divided at this time include daisies, daylilies, hostas, rudbeckias and shastas.
Soil
  • Add slow-release organic fertilizer around shrubs and perennials.
  • Amend soil with compost and organic fertilizer.
  • Add mulch to keep weeds under control.
Start Seeds Indoors
  • Start seeds indoors for warm-weather crops like eggplant, lettuce, melons, squash and tomatoes.
Transplant Outside
  • Transplant seedlings that were started indoors for cool-weather crops like broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and greens.
Wildlife
  • Clean and fill bird feeders.

March Activities

Direct Sow
  • Sow beets, corn, kale, lettuce, potatoes, spinach and swiss chard.
Harvest
  • Continue to harvest arugula, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, carrots, chard, chervil, chives, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsnips, peas, and spinach as they become ready.
Prune
  • Prune and fertilize citrus trees.
Soil
  • Amend soil with compost and an organic fertilizer if needed.
Start Seeds Indoors
  • Start seeds for brussels sprouts, eggplant, okra, peppers, squash, tomatoes, watermelons and flowers.
Transplant Outside
  • Plant beans, beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, corn, cucumbers, kale, lettuce, peas, peppers, spinach and tomatoes.
Wildlife
  • Clean and fill bird feeders.

April Activities

Direct Sow
  • Sow seeds for beans, beets, celery, corn, cucumbers, kale, lettuce, melons, peas, potatoes, pumpkins, spinach, squash and swiss chard.
Harvest
  • Continue to harvest arugula, beets, carrots, chervil, chives, fennel, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsnips, peas and swiss chard.
Maintenance
  • Check plants for pests and disease.
  • Add sticky traps to control pests like aphids.
Prune
  • Check plants for pests and disease. Prune damaged or dead limbs from shrubs.
  • Cut back spring ground covers after they bloom.
  • Hard prune overgrown shrubs.
  • Move plants to a better location if needed.
  • Prune flowering shrubs after they bloom.
  • Remove partially dead shrubs or hard prune to regenerate the plant.
Soil
  • Amend soil with compost and an organic fertilizer, if needed.
Transplant Outside
  • Plant cucumbers, eggplant, peppers and tomatoes outside.
Wildlife
  • Add a hummingbird feeder or plants that attract hummingbirds.
  • Add a birdhouse for nesting.
  • Clean and fill bird feeders and birdbaths.
  • Keep birdbaths filled with fresh, clean water to also prevent mosquito infestation.

May Activities

Direct Sow
  • Sow seeds for succession planting.
Feed Plants
  • Weed before fertilizing to avoid giving weeds a boost.
  • Fertilize plants, including those in containers.
  • Add compost around fruit trees.
    • Harvest
    • Harvest beans, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, corn, cucumber, onions, peppers and tomatoes.
    Prune
    • Finish pruning flowering shrubs. Prune tomato plants, fruit trees, overgrown shrubs and annuals.
    Soil
    • Amend soil with compost and an organic fertilizer, if needed.
    Transplant Outside
    • Transplant seedlings outside for brussels sprouts, eggplant, flowers, lettuce, melons, okra, peppers, squash and tomatoes.
    Wildlife
    • Clean and fill bird feeders.

    June Activities

    Direct Sow
    • Continue sowing seeds for corn, cucumbers, warm-season lettuce, melons, okra, pumpkins, warm-season spinach and squash.
    • Sow cover crop seeds in any unoccupied areas.
    Feed Plants
    • Weed before fertilizing to avoid giving weeds a boost.
    • Fertilize garden with compost and an organic fertilizer like worm castings. Include plants in containers.
    • Add compost around fruit trees.
    Harvest
    • Continue harvesting asparagus, beans, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, corn, cucumbers, peppers and tomatoes.
    • Remove any unharvested winter vegetables.
    Prune
    • Prune flowering shrubs.
    • Remove suckers from tomato plants.
    • Pinch old blooms from annuals and perennials.
    • Hard prune annuals up to 1/3 of the plant.
    • Thin fruit trees.
    Soil
    • Add mulch to uncovered soil.
    • Spray weeds with a mixture of white vinegar and dish soap.
    Transplant Outside
    • Plant cover crops in any unoccupied areas.
    Wildlife
    • Clean and fill bird feeders.

    July Activities

    Direct Sow
    • Sow seeds for beans, beets, broccoli, carrots, warm-season lettuce, squash and turnips for the Fall season.
    Feed Plants
    • Fertilize garden with compost and an organic fertilizer like worm castings.
    • Fertilize plants in containers and rose bushes.
    Harvest
    • Continue to harvest basil, beans, blackberries, carrots, cucumbers, eggplant, garlic, warm-season lettuce, okra, onions, peppers, raspberries, squash, strawberries, and tomatoes.
    Journal
    • Note any companion plants that might attract good bugs to keep unwanted pests under control.
    • Think about what you would like to have in your Fall garden.
      • Prune
      • Do not prune flowering shrubs at this time.
      • Continue to remove suckers from tomato plants.
      Soil
      • Add mulch to keep roots cool and regulate moisture and also add mulch to bare spots in the garden.
      • Water regularly and deeply.
      Start Seeds Indoors
      • Start seeds for beets, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, eggplant, kale, peas, peppers, pumpkins, spinach, squash and tomatoes.
      Transplant Outside
      • Plant eggplant, peppers and tomatoes for a late summer harvest.
      • Continue succession planting warm-season lettuce, peas, radishes and spinach.
      • Plant beans, beets, carrots, lettuce, squash and turnips for a fall harvest.
      • Plant a cover crop in unused garden spaces.
      Wildlife
      • Clean and fill bird feeders.

    August Activities

    Direct Sow
    • Sow seeds for cosmos, marigolds, nasturtiums and zinnias.
    Feed Plants
    • Continue to fertilize garden with compost and an organic fertilizer.
    • Fertilize citrus trees after harvest.
    Harvest
    • Harvest citrus and all vegetables.
    • Harvest cucumber, squash and zucchini when approximately 6 inches long.
    • Harvest seeds from high-producing plants.
    Maintenance
    • Examine plants for issues to determine if they need more water, shade or fertilizer.
    • Remove plants that have stopped producing to avoid pests and disease.
    • Remove standing water to prevent mosquito infestation.
    • Remove old plants to make way for the new Fall garden.
    Prune
    • Pinch off basil for a bushier plant.
    • Trim herbs to extend harvest.
    • Prune eggplant, peppers and tomato suckers.
    • Prune plants if leaves overlap other plants.
    • Prune old blooms off roses down to the first 5-leaf junction at a slight angle leaving 1/4 inch above the junction.
    Soil
    • Fertilize citrus trees after harvest.
    • Amend soil with nutrients before planting any Fall crops.
    • Water garden and roses regularly and deeply.
    • Continue adding mulch.
    • Garden, trees and container plants need long, deep watering sessions.
    Start Seeds Indoors
    • Start seeds for broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, greens, kale, radishes and swiss chard.
    Transplant Outside
    • Plant garlic at the end of the month for a Spring harvest.
    Wildlife
    • Clean and fill bird feeders.

    September Activities

    Direct Sow
    • Plant a cover crop if a Fall garden will not be planted.
    • Sow seeds for beans, beets, bok choy, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, greens, kale, lettuce, okra, peas, peppers, radishes, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes and turnips.
    Harvest
    • Harvest seeds from high-producing plants.
    • Harvest any remaining vegetables and clear the way for a new Fall garden.
    • Harvest might include basil, beans, beets, cucumbers, eggplant, greens, peppers, squash, sweet potatoes and tomatoes.
    • Harvest fruit trees and gather herbs for drying.
    Maintenance
    • Provide shade until temperatures begin to drop.
    • Continue to remove weeds.
    Prune
    • Remove leaves from pumpkin plants to encourage fruit growth.
    • Remove flowers from melons, pumpkins and squash to energize existing fruit.
    • Remove immature fruit from eggplant, melons, pumpkins, squash and tomatoes for the same reason.
    Soil
    • Fertilize existing plants as needed.
    • Continue to add mulch to control weeds, retain moisture and enrich soil over time.
    • Keep root systems hydrated by providing deep watering.
    • Stop fertilizing trees and shrubs.
    Start Seeds Indoors
    • Start seeds for beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, greens, kale, radishes and swiss chard.
    Transplant Outside
    • If last month's seedlings are ready, plant broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, greens, kale, radishes and swiss chard.
    Wildlife
    • Clean and fill bird feeders.

    October Activities

    Direct Sow
    • Sow beets, bok choy, carrots, garlic, leeks, lettuce, mustard, onions, radishes, shallots, spinach, turnips and wildflowers.
    Harvest
    • Harvest arugula, beans, bok choy, broccoli, corn, eggplant, gourds, herbs (the whole plant) kale, lettuce, peppers, pumpkins, radishes, root vegetables, squash, sweet potatoes and tomatoes.
    • Make sure any harvested seeds are dried and labeled.
    Maintenance
    • Continue to mulch, water and weed.
    Prune
    • Thin beets, carrots, greens and lettuce.
    • Continue pruning where needed.
    • Remove dead or hanging limbs without doing any serious pruning at this time.
    Soil
    • Add a layer of compost to the garden and fertilize.
    • Cover bare soil with mulch.
    Start Seeds Indoors
    • Sow seeds for cool weather vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, lettuce, leeks, onions, peas, and swiss chard.
    Transplant Outside
    • Plant strawberries, shrubs and trees.
    Wildlife
    • Clean and fill bird feeders.

    November Activities

    Direct Sow
    • Sow broccoli, cauliflower, kale, lettuce, onions, peas and spinach.
    Harvest
    • Harvest arugula, beets, bok choy, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, collards, cucumbers, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, sweet potatoes and swiss chard.
    • Make sure to harvest any remaining eggplant, peppers, pumpkin, squash and tomatoes.
    • Gather seeds from flowers and vegetables.
    Maintenance
    • Clean and sharpen garden tools.
    Prune
    • Thin seedlings that were planted last month.
    Soil
    • Have soil tested at your nearest extension office.
    • Cover bare soil with mulch if you did not plant a cover crop or Fall garden.
    Transplant Outside
    • Plant beans, broccoli, garlic, kale, peas, leeks, lettuce, shallots, spinach and swiss chard.
    • Plant asters, mums, pansies and snapdragons.
    • Plant citrus trees.
    Wildlife
    • Clean and fill bird feeders.

    December Activities

    Harvest
    • Harvest beets, bok choy, carrots, celery, garlic, kale, lettuce, mustard greens, onions, radishes, shallots, snow peas and swiss chard.
    Journal
    • Update your garden journal with successes and failures.
    • Investigate companion plants that would help detour pests and disease.
    Maintenance
    • Clean and sharpen garden tolls.
    Prune
    • Cut back plants to about 6 inches.
    Soil
    • Start a compost system if you haven't done so already.
    • Add compost to garden soil after each harvest.
    • Cover bare soil with mulch.
    Start Seeds Indoors
    • Starts seeds for beans, beets, broccoli, cabbage, cantaloupe, cauliflower, collards, cucumbers, eggplant, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, mustard, okra, onion, parsley and radishes.
    Transplant Outside
    • Plant beans, beets, broccoli, cabbage, cantaloupe, carrots, cauliflower, collards, cucumbers, eggplant, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, mustard, okra, onion, parsley and radishes.
    • Plant azaleas, baby’s breath, carnations, daphne, delphiniums, jasmine, pansies, petunias, snapdragons, violets and witch hazel.
    Wildlife
    • Clean and fill bird feeders.
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