🌼 January – Prep & Early Indoor Starts

January is for planning, preparing soil, and starting hardy seeds indoors.

What to plant:

• Indoors: chillies, peppers, aubergines

• Outdoors (mild areas): garlic, onion sets

• Herbs indoors: basil, chives, parsley on windowsills

Tasks:
Clean tools, plan your layout, buy seeds, warm up soil covers.

🌱 February – Early Starters Begin

Daylight increases, making it perfect for early sowing.

What to plant:

• Indoors: tomatoes, sweet peas, celery

• Outdoors: broad beans, early peas (under cloches), hardy lettuces

• Flowers: pansies, violas, snapdragons indoors

Tasks:
Start seeds in trays, prepare beds if soil isn’t frozen.

🌿 March – The Real Start of the Growing Season

Things start to come alive! March is a busy month for gardeners.

What to plant:

• Vegetables: carrots, beetroot, spinach, parsnips

• Indoors: cucumbers, courgettes, squash

• Flowers: marigolds, sunflowers, cosmos, nasturtiums

• Potatoes: first early potatoes go into the ground

Tasks:
Protect young plants from frost; start hardening off seedlings.

🌼 April – Peak Seed-Sowing Month

Warmer weather makes April ideal for sowing almost everything.

What to plant:

• Vegetables: lettuce, kale, radishes, spring onions

• Flowers: dahlias, zinnias, asters

• Herbs: coriander, dill, basil (indoors or sheltered)

• Potatoes: second early varieties

Tasks:
Install supports for peas & beans, mulch around perennials.

🌱 May – Planting Out Time

Frost is nearly gone, making this the perfect month for moving plants outdoors.

What to plant:

• Vegetables: tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, courgettes, beans

• Flowers: bedding plants, petunias, geraniums, fuchsias

• Herbs: basil, mint, thyme, rosemary

Tasks:
Harden off all indoor seedlings. Water consistently and protect from sudden cold nights.

🌿 June – Growth & Warm Weather Planting

Long sunny days mean rapid growth and high yields.

What to plant:

• Fast growers: lettuce, radishes, rocket

• Herbs: parsley, chives, coriander

• Flowers: sunflowers, cosmos, wildflower mixes

• Veg: sweetcorn, pumpkins, late carrots

Tasks:
Stake tall plants, begin regular feeding for fruiting crops.

🌞 July – Harvest & Quick Crops

Peak summer! Many crops are ready to pick, and there’s still time to plant more.

What to plant:

• Salad crops: lettuce, rocket, chard

• Late carrots, beetroot

• Herbs: basil, dill, sage

• Flowers: marigolds, calendula

Tasks:
Water early in the day; deadhead flowers to encourage new blooms.

🌻 August – Late Summer Planting

Now is the time to sow for autumn and winter crops.

What to plant:

• Vegetables: kale, spinach, chard, winter lettuces

• Flowers: hardy annuals for next spring (cornflowers, poppies)

• Herbs: coriander for a late-season crop

Tasks:
Harvest regularly and prepare soil for autumn sowing.

🍂 September – Cool-Season Crops Begin

Temperatures drop, but the soil is still warm enough for strong growth.

What to plant:

• Vegetables: pak choi, winter spinach, mustard greens

• Flowers: spring bulbs (daffodils, crocus)

• Garlic for next year

Tasks:
Mulch beds, clean up summer crops, divide perennials.

🍁 October – Autumn Planting & Prep

This is the last major planting month of the year.

What to plant:

• Flowers: tulips, alliums, hyacinths

• Vegetables: broad beans, garlic

• Spinach & winter lettuce in sheltered areas

Tasks:
Add compost to beds, plant bulbs deeply, tidy up spent annuals.

❄ November – Put the Garden to Bed

Cold arrives, and growth slows down.

What to plant:

• Garlic

• Broad beans (autumn varieties)

• Winter-hardy salads in cold frames

Tasks:
Add mulch, protect pots from freezing, clean tools.

❄ December – Rest, Plan, Reflect

A quiet gardening month, but still productive in preparation.

What to plant:

• Indoors: microgreens, herbs

• Outdoors: garlic (if not frozen), winter peas in mild regions

Tasks:
Review what worked, plan next year's layout, order seeds early.

🌼 Final Thoughts

A garden thrives when you plant with the seasons. By knowing what to grow each month, you’ll enjoy a continual cycle of sowing, growing, and harvesting all year long. Whether you’re a complete beginner or expanding your homestead garden, this guide keeps your planting on track and ensures success.