Seasonal Planting Guide for Culinary Gardens
Know Your Seasons: Climate, Zones, and Timing
Frost Dates Define Your Planting Windows
Use your average last spring frost and first fall frost to map safe sowing periods. Cool greens can handle light chills, while basil sulks in cold nights. Share your frost dates and we’ll suggest a personalized sowing rhythm.
Microclimates Hide in Plain Sight
Sunny walls store heat, low spots collect frost, and patios dry quickly after rain. Tuck tomatoes near warm brick, and keep lettuces cooler with afternoon shade. Tell us where your warmest corner lives for smarter placements.
Soil Temperature Beats Calendar Dates
Peas wake up around cool soils, while cucurbits prefer warmer beds. A simple probe thermometer helps avoid stalled seeds. If you track soil temps, comment your latest reading and we’ll help match crops to conditions.
Greens, Peas, and Herbs to Start the Season
Sow arugula, spinach, radishes, and snap peas as soon as soil is workable. Parsley and chives handle chill beautifully. What’s your earliest edible each year? Share your first harvest story to inspire fellow gardeners.
Row Covers and Cold Frames for a Head Start
Floating row covers trap warmth and fend off flea beetles, while simple cold frames extend sowing into late winter. Show us your setup, or ask for a starter plan tailored to your bed size and budget.
Summer Planting: Heat-Loving Bounty for the Kitchen
Plant basil every few weeks for tender leaves all season. Pair it with tomatoes to boost aroma and reduce soil splash. Tell us your favorite basil variety—Genovese, Thai, or lemon—and we’ll share recipe matches.
Autumn Planting: Cool Weather, Concentrated Taste
Tuck garlic in when nights consistently cool, and reseed spinach and cilantro for sweet, crisp leaves. Carrots planted late summer turn candy-sweet after light frost. What fall flavor do you crave most—garlic, kale, or carrots?
Autumn Planting: Cool Weather, Concentrated Taste
Use low tunnels or hinged cold frames to guard against sudden frosts and stretch harvests. Share your earliest frost date and we’ll recommend fabric weights and spacing that balance warmth with airflow.
Succession and Companion Planting for Culinary Yield
Radish to bush beans to fall spinach in one strip; lettuce to basil to garlic in another. Rotate families to avoid fatigue. Ask for our printable map and we’ll tailor it to your bed dimensions.
Tomatoes with basil for aroma, carrots with scallions to confuse flies, and marigolds near peppers for nematode suppression. Share a pairing that worked for you, and we’ll suggest a new match to try next.
Use tight spacing for cut-and-come-again greens and vertical supports to free pathways. Record harvest weights for honest adjustments next season. Post your weekly harvest total and join our friendly yield challenge.
