Seasonal Gardening Calendar
Timing is the foundation of successful gardening. Whether you are sowing heirloom tomatoes in a sunny North American backyard, tending brassicas on an English allotment, or nurturing perennials in a container garden, seasonal conditions dictate when roots establish and plants thrive.
Planting schedules depend heavily on your regional climate zone and local frost dates. In temperate regions across the United States and the United Kingdom, spring begins with cool-season seeds sown under glass, followed by warm-season transplants once soil temperatures rise past the final frost date. Autumn shifts the focus toward soil enrichment, bulb planting, and protective mulching before winter dormancy sets in. Use our monthly calendar below to track exact seasonal tasks tailored to your climate.
Download printable PDF planting calendars and seasonal worksheets.
Explore complete plant profiles for sunlight, watering, and soil guidance.
Four distinct seasons, moderate rainfall & winter frost
January
Seasonal gardening schedule for Temperate climates (USDA 6–8 & UK)
Check winter protection
After storms, make sure fleece, mulch and pot wraps are still in place. Lift pots onto feet so they drain and do not freeze to the ground.
Sow onions and chillies indoors
Onions from seed and slow chillies need a long season. Sow them on a warm, bright windowsill or under grow lights.
Prune apple and pear trees in winter
Winter pruning shapes free-standing apple and pear trees while they are dormant. Take out dead, diseased and crossing branches, then thin crowded spurs so light reaches the centre.
Plant bare-root hedges and trees
Bare-root hedging such as privet, yew and beech, and fruit trees, are cheapest now. Plant on any day the soil is not frozen or waterlogged and firm them in well.
Harvest winter vegetables
Pick leeks, kale, Brussels sprouts, parsnips and winter cabbage as needed. Parsnips and sprouts taste sweeter after frost.
Order seeds and plan crop rotation
Check last year's notes, list what grew well and order seed early. Move each crop family to a new bed to reduce soil pests and diseases.
Keep houseplants away from cold drafts and radiators
Short days and dry indoor air stress houseplants. Move them closer to bright windows, water less and group them together to raise humidity.
Spread compost and well-rotted manure
Spread a 5 cm (2 in) layer of compost or rotted manure on empty vegetable beds. Worms will pull it in before spring sowing.
Feed and water garden birds
Birds eat many garden pests in spring. Put out seed, fat balls and fresh water, and keep the water from freezing.
Force rhubarb for an early crop
Cover a dormant rhubarb crown with a bucket or forcing pot. The pale, tender stems are ready in about eight weeks.
February
Seasonal gardening schedule for Temperate climates (USDA 6–8 & UK)
Prune apple and pear trees
While the trees are dormant, remove dead, crossing and crowded branches to open up the centre of the tree.
Plant bare-root roses and fruit bushes
Plant while they are dormant, on any day the ground is not frozen or waterlogged. Soak the roots for an hour first.
Chit seed potatoes
Stand seed potatoes in egg boxes, eyes up, in a cool, bright, frost-free place. Short, sturdy green shoots give an earlier crop.
Start peppers, eggplant and slow flowers indoors
Peppers, eggplant (aubergine), geraniums and petunias need a long season. Sow on a heated mat or warm windowsill with good light.
Cut back ornamental grasses and late perennials
Cut old stems of grasses and perennials such as sedum and coneflowers to the ground before new shoots appear.
Prune summer-flowering clematis
Cut late-flowering (group 3) clematis back to a pair of strong buds about 30 cm (12 in) above the ground.
Prune wisteria in late winter
Shorten the side shoots you cut back in summer to two or three buds, which sets up the flower buds for spring.
Plant shallots and garlic in mild areas
Push shallot sets and garlic cloves into well-drained soil with the tips just showing, 15 cm (6 in) apart.
Warm the soil for early sowings
Cover beds with clear plastic, cloches or fleece for two weeks before sowing to warm and dry the soil.
March
Seasonal gardening schedule for Temperate climates (USDA 6–8 & UK)
Start tomatoes and peppers indoors
Sow six to eight weeks before your last frost date, in a warm spot with plenty of light so seedlings stay sturdy.
Prune bush roses
As new growth starts, cut stems back to outward-facing buds and remove dead, weak or crossing wood.
Sow hardy vegetables outdoors
Broad beans, peas, spinach and radish can be sown as soon as the soil is workable and no longer sticky.
Start brassicas and lettuce indoors
Sow cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kale and lettuce in modules for planting out in April.
Plant onion sets and early potatoes
Plant onion sets with tips just showing. In milder areas, plant first early potatoes under fleece late in the month.
Divide perennials as growth starts
Lift and split crowded clumps of hostas, daylilies, asters and grasses. Replant the young outer pieces.
Feed fruit trees and bushes
Scatter a balanced fertilizer around fruit trees, berries and roses, then mulch with compost to keep moisture in.
Plant asparagus and rhubarb crowns
Plant asparagus crowns in trenches and rhubarb crowns in rich soil. Do not harvest asparagus for the first two years.
Protect blossom from late frost
Peach, apricot and early plums flower before the frosts end. Cover small trees with fleece on cold nights.
Prune hydrangeas and butterfly bush
Remove old flower heads from mophead hydrangeas, and cut butterfly bush (buddleia) hard back to a low framework.
April
Seasonal gardening schedule for Temperate climates (USDA 6–8 & UK)
Plant seed potatoes
Plant about 10 cm deep once the soil starts to warm. Draw soil over the shoots if a frost is forecast.
Sow salads little and often
Sow lettuce, beetroot and carrots every two to three weeks for a steady harvest instead of a glut.
Feed lawns and borders
As growth picks up, apply a balanced fertilizer to lawns, shrubs and perennials, and water it in.
Start squash, cucumbers and melons indoors
Sow seeds on their edge in small pots, three to four weeks before the last frost. They grow fast and dislike root disturbance.
Sow carrots, parsnips and beets outdoors
Sow thinly in shallow drills once the soil warms. Cover carrots with fine mesh against carrot fly.
Plant strawberries and herbs
Plant new strawberry plants and perennial herbs such as thyme, sage, chives and mint (in a pot to stop it spreading).
Sow hardy annual flowers
Sow cornflowers, California poppies, calendula and love-in-a-mist directly where they are to flower.
Prune forsythia after flowering
Cut back flowered stems of forsythia to strong new shoots, and remove a few old stems at the base.
Protect seedlings from slugs and snails
Check after rain and at dusk. Use beer traps, copper tape or wildlife-safe ferric phosphate pellets.
May
Seasonal gardening schedule for Temperate climates (USDA 6–8 & UK)
Plant out tender crops after the last frost
Harden off tomatoes, courgettes, beans and summer bedding for a week before planting them outside.
Watch for late frosts
Keep fleece handy for clear, cold nights and cover blossom on fruit trees and newly planted tender crops.
Sow beans and sweet corn outdoors
Sow bush and pole beans, runner beans and sweet corn once the soil is warm. Plant corn in blocks for good pollination.
Plant summer bedding and containers
Plant petunias, geraniums, fuchsias, begonias and calibrachoa in pots and baskets after the last frost.
Earth up potatoes
Draw soil up around potato shoots when they reach 20 cm (8 in). It protects them from frost and stops tubers turning green.
Plant dahlias and cannas outdoors
Plant dahlia tubers and canna rhizomes once the risk of frost has passed, and put stakes in at the same time.
Thin fruit and remove suckers
Thin apples, pears and plums so fruit grows bigger, and remove suckers growing from the base of fruit trees and roses.
Start feeding container plants
Feed pots and hanging baskets every 10–14 days with a liquid fertilizer once plants are growing strongly.
Sow herbs outdoors
Sow dill, cilantro (coriander), parsley and chervil directly in the ground every few weeks for a steady supply.
Harvest asparagus spears
Cut asparagus spears when they are 15–20 cm (6–8 in) tall. Stop cutting in mid-June so plants can build up strength.
June
Seasonal gardening schedule for Temperate climates (USDA 6–8 & UK)
Feed tomatoes every week
Once the first flowers set fruit, give tomatoes a potassium-rich liquid feed each week.
Harvest early crops
Pick salad leaves, peas, early potatoes and strawberries as they ripen; regular picking keeps plants producing.
Deadhead flowers regularly
Removing faded flowers from roses and bedding plants keeps new blooms coming all summer.
Pinch out tomato side shoots
On cordon (indeterminate) tomatoes, snap off the shoots that grow between the leaf and main stem while they are small.
Sow successional crops
Keep sowing lettuce, carrots, beets, radishes and bush beans every two to three weeks.
Net fruit against birds
Cover strawberries, cherries and currants with netting before the fruit colours. Check it daily so birds cannot get trapped.
Prune spring-flowering shrubs
Once they finish flowering, cut back lilac, mock orange and weigela, removing some older stems at the base.
Watch for aphids and caterpillars
Check leaf undersides weekly. Squash aphids, pick off caterpillars and cover brassicas with fine mesh.
Plant out leeks and winter brassicas
Plant leeks deep in dibbed holes and set out kale, sprouts and winter cabbage for harvesting from autumn.
Pick herbs before they flower
Harvest basil, mint, oregano and thyme regularly. Pinch out flower buds for more leaves and better flavour.
July
Seasonal gardening schedule for Temperate climates (USDA 6–8 & UK)
Water deeply in dry spells
Water in the morning or evening at the base of plants. Containers and hanging baskets may need water every day.
Pick courgettes and beans young
Harvest often while they are small and tender; left to grow, they slow the plant down.
Summer-prune trained fruit
Shorten this year's side shoots on apples, pears and trained fruit to encourage fruit buds for next year.
Prune summer raspberries after fruiting
Cut the canes that carried fruit down to the ground, and tie in the strongest new canes for next year.
Sow fall and winter crops
Sow kale, carrots, beets, chard and turnips now for harvests in autumn and early winter.
Feed fruiting vegetables every week
Tomatoes, peppers, squash and container plants need a potassium-rich liquid feed while they flower and fruit.
Prune wisteria in summer
Cut this year's long whippy shoots back to five or six leaves to keep the plant tidy and encourage flower buds.
Watch for blight on tomatoes and potatoes
Brown patches on leaves and stems in warm, wet weather are a sign of blight. Remove affected leaves straight away.
Harvest garlic and onions
Lift garlic when the lower leaves yellow, and onions when the tops flop. Dry them in the sun before storing.
August
Seasonal gardening schedule for Temperate climates (USDA 6–8 & UK)
Sow crops for autumn and winter
Sow spring cabbage, winter salads and oriental greens now for picking through the colder months.
Harvest the main crops
Pick tomatoes, sweetcorn and soft fruit as they ripen. Lift onions once their tops fall over and dry them in the sun.
Pick fruit as it ripens
Harvest plums, early apples, blackberries and blueberries as they ripen, and freeze or preserve any surplus.
Plant strawberry runners
Peg down healthy runners into small pots. Once rooted, cut them from the parent and plant out for next year.
Trim hedges after nesting season
Give privet, boxwood, yew and beech their main trim once birds have finished nesting.
Order spring-flowering bulbs
Order daffodils, tulips, crocus and alliums now for the best choice, ready for autumn planting.
Keep containers watered on hot days
Pots dry out fast in late summer. Water daily in hot weather and move them into light shade during heatwaves.
Prune lavender after flowering
Trim off faded flower stalks and about 2 cm (1 in) of leafy growth, but never cut into old bare wood.
Harvest and dry herbs
Cut herbs on a dry morning, then hang them in small bunches or dry them on a rack out of direct sun.
Sow green manure and fall salads
Sow arugula, lambs lettuce and winter purslane for autumn salads, and green manure on beds you have cleared.
September
Seasonal gardening schedule for Temperate climates (USDA 6–8 & UK)
Plant spring bulbs
Plant daffodils, crocus and alliums at about three times the depth of the bulb. Tulips can wait until November.
Sow green manure on empty beds
Cover bare soil with a green manure such as winter rye or clover to protect it and add organic matter in spring.
Harvest winter squash and pumpkins
Cut squash with a piece of stem once the skin is hard. Cure them in the sun for a week, then store in a cool, dry place.
Harvest apples and pears
Apples are ready when they twist off easily. Pick pears while still firm and let them ripen indoors.
Plant perennials, trees and shrubs
Autumn planting lets roots grow in warm soil before winter. Water new plants well until the rains return.
Renovate the lawn
Rake out thatch, aerate compacted areas and overseed bare patches while the soil is warm and moist.
Plant spring cabbage and onion sets
Plant spring cabbage, overwintering onions and garlic for an early crop next year.
Save seed from your best plants
Collect ripe, dry seed from beans, tomatoes and flowers like calendula and cosmos. Store in paper envelopes.
Bring houseplants back indoors
Before nights get cold, check plants that summered outdoors for pests, then bring them inside.
Sow hardy annuals for early flowers
Sow sweet peas, cornflowers and love-in-a-mist now for bigger, earlier plants next spring.
October
Seasonal gardening schedule for Temperate climates (USDA 6–8 & UK)
Bring tender plants indoors
Move citrus, pelargoniums and other frost-tender pots under cover before the first frost.
Lift and store root crops
Store only sound carrots, beetroot and potatoes in a cool, dark, frost-free place.
Plant garlic cloves
Plant garlic cloves 5 cm (2 in) deep and 15 cm (6 in) apart. A cold spell in winter helps the bulbs form.
Lift dahlias and tender bulbs
After frost blackens the leaves, lift dahlia tubers and canna rhizomes and store them dry and frost-free. In mild areas, mulch them heavily instead.
Plant tulips and spring bedding
Plant tulips late in the month, and set out pansies, violas and wallflowers for spring colour.
Leave the leaves for wildlife
Rake leaves off lawns and paths but leave some on borders, where they shelter insects and feed the soil.
Make leaf mould
Pack damp fallen leaves into bags or a wire bin. In one to two years they make a crumbly soil improver.
Plant bare-root and container roses
Roses planted now root before winter. Add compost to the planting hole and water them in well.
Cut back faded perennials
Cut down perennials that collapse, but leave seed heads of coneflowers and grasses for birds and winter interest.
Clean and store pots and tools
Wash pots and seed trays, sharpen and oil tools, and store them in a dry shed for winter.
November
Seasonal gardening schedule for Temperate climates (USDA 6–8 & UK)
Plant tulips and bare-root trees
Tulip bulbs go in now. Bare-root trees, hedges and fruit can be planted while they are dormant.
Mulch beds and protect pots
Spread compost over empty beds, and wrap pots of borderline-hardy plants in fleece or bubble wrap.
Prune roses to prevent wind rock
Shorten tall rose stems by about a third so winter winds do not loosen the roots.
Plant hedges and fruit bushes
Plant bare-root hedging, currants, gooseberries and raspberries while they are dormant.
Insulate outdoor taps and drain hoses
Drain hoses and irrigation, turn off outside taps and cover them before hard frosts.
Protect tender perennials
Cover the crowns of agapanthus, red hot pokers and salvias with dry mulch or fleece in colder gardens.
Harvest parsnips and leeks
Dig parsnips and leeks as needed. Parsnips taste sweeter after a few frosts.
Add organic matter to heavy soil
Dig compost or manure into clay soil now, or simply spread it on top, and let winter frost break up the clods.
Water houseplants less
Most houseplants rest in winter. Let the top of the mix dry out before watering, and stop feeding until spring.
Pot up amaryllis and paperwhites
Pot amaryllis bulbs with the top third above the compost for flowers in about eight weeks.
December
Seasonal gardening schedule for Temperate climates (USDA 6–8 & UK)
Prune grapevines while dormant
Prune vines in early winter when they are fully dormant, so the cuts do not bleed sap.
Check stored crops for rot
Go through stored fruit, onions and potatoes, and remove anything soft or mouldy before it spreads.
Cut holly and evergreens for decoration
Cut holly, ivy and conifer stems for wreaths, taking a few from each plant so it keeps a good shape.
Brush snow off shrubs and greenhouses
Heavy snow can split branches and break greenhouse glass. Brush it off gently after heavy falls.
Care for poinsettias and Christmas cactus
Keep them in bright light away from drafts and radiators. Water when the top of the mix feels dry.
Plan next year's garden
Review your notes, sketch beds and rotations, and list the seeds and plants you want to try.
Prune deciduous trees and shrubs
With the leaves gone, it is easy to see and remove dead, damaged and crossing branches.
Ventilate the greenhouse on mild days
Open vents on sunny days to reduce damp and mould, and remove dead leaves from overwintering plants.
Harvest winter greens and sprouts
Pick Brussels sprouts from the bottom of the stem upward, and kale and collards a few leaves at a time.
Recycle the Christmas tree
Shred your tree for mulch or cut the branches to lay over tender plants as a frost blanket.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to common questions regarding seasonal timing, frost dates, and regional planting schedules.
What should I plant in October?▼
In temperate US and UK gardens, October is the optimal month to plant spring-flowering bulbs including daffodils, tulips, and alliums. It is also the perfect time to plant garlic cloves, autumn onion sets, and hardy winter salad greens such as kale, spinach, and corn salad. In warmer subtropical regions (USDA 9–10), October begins the main cool-season planting season for tomatoes, broccoli, carrots, and leafy vegetables.
When is the last frost date?▼
The last frost date is the average date in spring when an area experiences its final freezing temperatures. In the UK and US temperate zones (USDA 6–8), the last spring frost typically occurs between mid-April and late May. Knowing your local frost date determines when tender warm-season seedlings—such as tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and basil—can be safely transplanted into outdoor garden beds.
What are hardiness zones?▼
Plant hardiness zones categorize geographical areas based on their average annual minimum winter temperatures. Developed by the USDA and referenced widely across the US, UK, and Europe, hardiness zones (numbered 1 through 13) help gardeners choose perennials, trees, and shrubs capable of surviving local winters. In our calendar, Cold corresponds to USDA 3–5, Temperate to USDA 6–8 (including most of the UK), Subtropical to USDA 9–10, and Tropical to USDA 11 and above.
What to do in the garden in winter?▼
Winter is primarily a season of plant protection and soil preparation. Essential winter garden tasks include pruning dormant fruit trees, wisteria, and deciduous shrubs; insulating tender potted plants with fleece or moving them into unheated greenhouses; spreading organic compost or leaf mould over garden beds to nourish soil structure; and cleaning tools while planning spring seed orders.