Spring Planning and Planting
Start cool-season crops as soon as soil can be worked - peas, lettuce, spinach, radishes tolerate frost. Succession plant salad greens every 2 weeks for continuous harvest.
Warm-season crops require warm soil temperatures - wait until consistent 60°F soil temperature before planting tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash. Use row covers or cloches for early planting and protection.
Summer Production
Harvest and preserve abundance. Process tomatoes, freeze beans, dry herbs. Keep planting succession crops and fall vegetables.
Manage irrigation, monitor pests intensively, and stay ahead of weeds. Summer heat and humidity create ideal conditions for both crop growth and pest proliferation requiring constant vigilance.
Fall Planting for Winter Harvest
Calculate planting dates by counting back from first frost, adding days to maturity plus "fall factor" for slower growth in declining daylight. Plant greens, roots, and brassicas 10-12 weeks before first frost.
Season extension with row covers, low tunnels, or cold frames allows harvests well into winter. Many crops become sweeter after frost exposure, improving flavor quality.
Winter Activities
Plan next season's crop rotations, order seeds, maintain equipment, and complete off-season projects. Winter workshops and conferences build knowledge and connections.
Harvest overwintered crops in cold frames or hoop houses. Greens, roots stored in the ground with heavy mulch, and storage crops provide fresh produce through winter months.
Succession Planting Strategy
Plant small amounts of fast-maturing crops every 1-3 weeks throughout the season. This provides continuous supply rather than gluts and shortages, improving cash flow and customer satisfaction.
Use multiple varieties with different maturity dates for the same planting date. Early, mid, and late-season varieties extend harvest windows without additional planting.