Seasonal notes
Garden Blog
When to plant, when to harvest, and what to grow together. Pick a topic, or narrow it to your crop.
67 posts
27 posts
Harvest & storage
The signs a crop is ready, how to pick it, and how to cure and store it.
When to Harvest Basil (and Keep It Coming All Summer)
Basil is ready for its first harvest about 60 to 70 days after sowing, once a plant is 6 to 8 inches tall. Cut above a leaf pair to keep it branching, pinch off flowers, and harvest the same plant again and again.
Jun 4, 2026 · 6 min read
When to Harvest Green Beans (Signs They're Ready)
Green beans are ready about 50 to 60 days (bush) or 60 to 70 days (pole), picked young when the pods are firm, smooth, pencil-thick, and 4 to 6 inches long, before the seeds bulge. Pick every 1 to 3 days to keep them coming.
Jun 4, 2026 · 6 min read
When to Harvest Beets (Size + Signs)
Beets are ready about 50 to 70 days after sowing, when the root shoulder is roughly 1.5 to 3 inches across at the soil line. Here are the size cues, the lift-and-twist method, and how to store the roots and the greens.
Jun 4, 2026 · 6 min read
When to Harvest Broccoli (Signs It's Ready)
Broccoli is ready about 60 to 90 days after planting, when the central head is 4 to 7 inches across with tight, dark-green buds, before any open to yellow. Here are the cues, the cut, and the weeks of side shoots that follow.
Jun 4, 2026 · 6 min read
When to Harvest Brussels Sprouts: Size, Feel, and Frost Timing
Brussels sprouts are ready 80 to 110 days after transplanting, once the bottom sprouts are 1 to 1.5 inches across and feel firm. Pick from the bottom up, top the plant to size up the rest, and let a light frost sweeten the flavor.
Sep 26, 2026 · 7 min read
When to Harvest Butternut Squash (Signs It's Ready)
Butternut squash is ready about 100 to 110 days from planting, when the rind turns deep tan, hardens past a thumbnail, and the stem goes corky and dry.
Jun 4, 2026 · 6 min read
When to Harvest Cabbage (Signs It's Ready)
Cabbage is ready about 70 to 100 days after transplanting, when the head feels firm and solid as you squeeze it and has reached full size for the variety. Cut it before it splits.
Jun 4, 2026 · 6 min read
When to Harvest Carrots (Signs They're Ready)
Carrots are ready about 50 to 80 days after sowing, when the shoulder is roughly 1/2 to 3/4 inch across at the soil line. Here are the cues, the lift-don't-yank method, and how to store them.
Jun 4, 2026 · 6 min read
When to Harvest Cauliflower (Signs It's Ready)
Cauliflower is ready about 55 to 100 days after planting, when the head is full, firm, compact, and about 6 to 8 inches across, before the curds loosen and separate. White types usually need blanching. Here are the cues.
Jun 4, 2026 · 6 min read
When to Harvest Corn (Signs Sweet Corn Is Ready)
Sweet corn is ready about 18 to 24 days after the silks first appear, usually 60 to 100 days from planting by variety. The signs: brown dry silks, a full firm ear with a blunt tip, and a kernel that squirts milky juice.
Jun 4, 2026 · 6 min read
When to Harvest Cucumbers: 4 Signs They're Ready
Cucumbers are ready 50 to 70 days after planting. Check 4 signs (firmness, color, size, no yellowing) before you pick, and harvest every 1 to 2 days.
Jun 4, 2026 · 6 min read
When to Harvest Eggplant (Signs It's Ready)
Eggplant is ready about 65 to 80 days after transplanting, picked young while the skin is glossy and firm. Here are the signs, the thumb press test, and how to cut it clean without snapping the woody stem.
Jun 4, 2026 · 6 min read
When to Harvest Garlic (Signs It's Ready)
Fall-planted garlic is ready in early-to-mid summer, when the lower 3-4 leaves have browned but 5-6 upper leaves stay green. Here are the signs, the lift, and how to cure it.
Jun 4, 2026 · 6 min read
When to Harvest Kale (and Keep It Producing)
Kale is ready about 50 to 65 days after sowing for full leaves, or about 25 to 30 days for baby leaves. Pick the outer leaves from the bottom up, leave the central bud, and the plant keeps producing for months.
Jun 4, 2026 · 6 min read
When to Harvest Lettuce (Leaf + Head Types)
Lettuce is ready about 30 to 60 days after sowing. Pick the outer leaves of leaf types as soon as they are 3 to 4 inches, and cut head types when they are full and firm. Here are the cues, the cut-and-come-again trick, and how to beat the bolt.
Jun 4, 2026 · 6 min read
When to Harvest Onions (Signs They're Ready)
Storage onions are ready when about half to most of the tops have flopped over and the necks soften, usually around 90 to 110 days. Here are the signs, plus how to lift, cure, and store them.
Jun 4, 2026 · 6 min read
When to Harvest Peas (Snow, Snap & Shelling)
Peas are ready about 55 to 70 days after sowing. Pick snow peas while the pods are flat, snap peas when they are plump and glossy, and shelling peas when the pods are full and round. Pick every 1 to 2 days, because the sugars turn to starch fast.
Jun 4, 2026 · 6 min read
When to Harvest Peppers (Green vs Ripe)
Bell peppers are full size and firm at green stage around 60 to 70 days, and fully ripe in red, yellow, or orange around 80 to 90 days. Here are the cues, the cut-don't-pull method, and the green-versus-ripe trade-off.
Jun 4, 2026 · 6 min read
When to Harvest Potatoes (Signs They're Ready)
Dig new potatoes around flowering, about 6 to 8 weeks after planting. Wait for maincrop potatoes until the tops die back and the skin sets, roughly 90 to 120 days.
Jun 4, 2026 · 6 min read
When to Harvest Pumpkins (Signs They're Ready)
Pumpkins are ready about 90 to 120 days from planting, when the color is deep and even, the rind shrugs off a thumbnail, and the stem turns hard and woody.
Jun 4, 2026 · 6 min read
When to Harvest Radishes (Signs They're Ready)
Salad radishes are ready fast, about 22 to 35 days after sowing, when the root is roughly 1 inch across at the soil line. Pull promptly, check the shoulder, and learn how daikon and winter types differ.
Jun 4, 2026 · 6 min read
When to Harvest Spinach (Signs It's Ready)
Spinach is ready about 37 to 50 days after sowing, once a plant has five or six leaves that are 3 to 6 inches long. Pick the outer leaves or cut the whole plant above the crown, and harvest before it bolts in heat.
Jun 4, 2026 · 6 min read
How to Cure Sweet Potatoes (No Root Cellar Needed)
Cure sweet potatoes about 7 to 14 days at 80 to 85°F and 85 to 90% humidity, then store at 55 to 60°F. No greenhouse required, a warm closet works.
Sep 26, 2026 · 8 min read
When to Harvest Sweet Potatoes (Signs They're Ready)
Sweet potatoes are ready about 90 to 120 days after transplanting, before the first fall frost. Dig when the vines yellow, then cure before you eat them.
Jun 4, 2026 · 7 min read
When to Harvest Swiss Chard (Signs It's Ready)
Swiss chard is ready for its first cut about 50 to 60 days after sowing, once the outer leaves reach 8 to 12 inches. Take the outer leaves and leave the center, and one plant keeps producing all season.
Jun 4, 2026 · 6 min read
When to Harvest Tomatoes (Signs They're Ready)
Tomatoes are ready about 60 to 85 days after transplant, when they are fully colored and give slightly to a gentle squeeze. Here are the cues, the twist-or-cut method, and how to ripen the rest on the counter.
Jun 4, 2026 · 6 min read
When to Harvest Zucchini (Best Size + Signs)
Zucchini is ready about 45 to 65 days after planting, best picked young at 6 to 8 inches long and about 2 inches thick, when the skin is glossy and a thumbnail dents it easily. Here are the size cues, the cut-don't-pull method, and why you check daily.
Jun 4, 2026 · 7 min read
24 posts
When to plant
Planting windows by crop, keyed to your last and first frost.
When to Plant Basil (Frost and Soil Temperature)
Plant basil outdoors 1 to 2 weeks after your last spring frost, once nights stay above 50 F and the soil has warmed. Start seeds indoors 6 weeks before the last frost for an early crop.
Jun 4, 2026 · 6 min read
When to Plant Bush Beans (Soil Temp + Frost Timing)
Plant bush beans after your last spring frost, once the soil hits 60°F. Sow seed 1 inch deep, 2 to 4 inches apart. For a fall crop, sow 6 to 8 weeks before the first fall frost.
Jun 4, 2026 · 7 min read
When to Plant Beets (Spring and Fall Timing by Zone)
Plant beets 2 to 4 weeks before your last spring frost, as soon as the soil can be worked and reaches about 50 F. Sow a second crop in late summer for a fall harvest. Beets are direct-sown, never transplanted.
Jun 4, 2026 · 6 min read
When to Plant Broccoli (Spring and Fall Timing by Zone)
Set broccoli transplants out 2 to 4 weeks before your last spring frost, once soil reaches about 40 F. For a fall crop, plant 6 to 10 weeks before the first fall frost. Timing by zone, soil-temp cues, and the common mistakes.
Jun 4, 2026 · 6 min read
When to Plant Butternut Squash (Soil Temp + Frost Timing)
Plant butternut squash after the last spring frost, once the soil holds 65 to 70°F, usually 1 to 2 weeks past frost. Most varieties need 100 to 110 warm days, so count back from your first fall frost for the late cutoff.
Jun 4, 2026 · 6 min read
When to Plant Cabbage (Spring and Fall Timing)
Set cabbage transplants out 2 to 4 weeks before the last spring frost, once soil reaches about 45 F. For a fall crop, plant transplants 6 to 8 weeks before the first fall frost. Cabbage matures in 60 to 100 days.
Jun 4, 2026 · 6 min read
When to Plant Carrots (Spring and Fall Timing by Zone)
Sow carrot seeds 2 to 4 weeks before your last spring frost, once the soil warms past 40 to 45 F. For a fall crop, sow 10 to 12 weeks before the first fall frost. Carrots tolerate light frost and sweeten as the weather cools.
Jun 4, 2026 · 7 min read
When to Plant Cauliflower (Spring and Fall Timing by Zone)
Set cauliflower transplants out 2 to 4 weeks before your last spring frost, once soil reaches about 50 F. In hot-summer zones, plant for fall instead, 6 to 8 weeks before the first fall frost.
Jun 4, 2026 · 6 min read
When to Plant Cucumbers (Frost + Soil Temp by Zone)
Plant cucumbers 1 to 2 weeks after your last spring frost, once soil reaches at least 60 to 65 F. Get timing by zone, soil-temp thresholds, days-to-maturity by variety, and fall succession.
Jun 4, 2026 · 7 min read
When to Plant Eggplant (Soil Temp + Frost Timing)
Set eggplant transplants out 1 to 3 weeks after your last spring frost, once the soil hits 60 to 70 F and nights stay above 50 F. Start seeds indoors 6 to 10 weeks before that frost date.
Jun 4, 2026 · 6 min read
When to Plant Garlic (Fall Timing by Zone)
Plant garlic in fall, about 3 to 6 weeks before the ground freezes, so roots set before winter. That lands mid-September to November across most US zones. Plant cloves 2 inches deep, pointy end up, 4 to 6 inches apart.
Jun 4, 2026 · 8 min read
When to Plant Lettuce (Spring and Fall Timing by Zone)
Plant lettuce 2 to 4 weeks before your last spring frost, once the soil hits 40°F. It germinates best at 60 to 70°F and bolts in summer heat, so sow again 6 to 8 weeks before the first fall frost.
Jun 4, 2026 · 6 min read
When to Plant Onions (Spring Timing by Zone)
Plant onions as early as the soil can be worked in spring, about 2 to 4 weeks before your last frost, once soil hits 50 F. In the Deep South, short-day onions go in during fall instead. Match the onion type to your latitude.
Jun 4, 2026 · 6 min read
When to Plant Peas (Spring and Fall Timing by Zone)
Plant peas 4 to 6 weeks before your last spring frost, as soon as the soil can be worked and hits at least 40°F. Seedlings shrug off light frost, so peas go in early. Sow a fall crop 8 to 10 weeks before the first fall frost.
Jun 4, 2026 · 6 min read
When to Plant Peppers (Frost Timing by Zone)
Start pepper seeds indoors 8 to 10 weeks before your last spring frost, then set transplants out 1 to 2 weeks after the frost passes, once soil hits 60 to 65 F and nights stay above 50 to 55 F.
Jun 4, 2026 · 6 min read
When to Plant Potatoes (Timing by Zone + Soil Temp)
Plant potatoes about 2 to 4 weeks before your last spring frost, once the soil warms to 45 F. That falls February to April in most US zones. In the South, a second crop goes in late summer for a fall dig.
Jun 4, 2026 · 6 min read
When to Plant Pumpkins (Frost, Soil Temp + Halloween Timing)
Direct-sow pumpkins about 1 to 2 weeks after the last spring frost, once soil hits 65 to 70 F. For a Halloween harvest, count back 90 to 120 days and plant late May to early July.
Jun 4, 2026 · 6 min read
When to Plant Radishes (Spring and Fall Timing)
Plant radishes 4 to 6 weeks before your last spring frost, as soon as the soil reaches about 45 F. Spring types mature in 22 to 35 days. Sow again in late summer for a fall crop, and reseed every 1 to 2 weeks.
Jun 4, 2026 · 6 min read
When to Plant Spinach (Spring and Fall Timing)
Plant spinach 4 to 8 weeks before the last spring frost, as soon as the soil hits 40°F. Sow a fall crop 6 to 8 weeks before the first fall frost. Seeds go in 1/2 inch deep, direct-sown.
Jun 4, 2026 · 6 min read
When to Plant Sweet Potatoes (Soil Temp + Frost Timing)
Plant sweet potato slips 2 to 4 weeks after your last spring frost, once soil holds above 65°F. Get timing by zone, the soil-temp gate, and the mistake that rots slips in cold ground.
Jun 4, 2026 · 6 min read
When to Plant Swiss Chard (Spring and Fall Timing)
Plant swiss chard 2 to 4 weeks before your last spring frost, once the soil hits 40°F. For a full fall crop, sow about 9 to 14 weeks before the first fall frost. Seeds go half an inch to an inch deep.
Jun 4, 2026 · 8 min read
When to Plant Tomatoes (Frost + Soil Temp by Zone)
Set tomato transplants out 1 to 2 weeks after your last spring frost, once soil hits at least 60 F. Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before that frost date. Cold soil stalls them, so wait for warmth.
Jun 4, 2026 · 6 min read
When to Plant Tulip Bulbs (by USDA Zone)
Plant tulip bulbs in fall once soil at 6 inches deep cools to 50-60°F, usually September to November depending on your zone. Warm zones need 6-10 weeks of pre-chilling first.
Sep 26, 2026 · 7 min read
When to Plant Zucchini (Frost + Soil Temp Timing)
Plant zucchini after your last spring frost, once the soil hits at least 60 F (ideally 65 to 70 F). Direct-sow seeds 1/2 to 1 inch deep, or set out transplants started 2 to 4 weeks earlier. Warm zones get a second fall crop.
Jun 4, 2026 · 6 min read
15 posts
Companion planting
What to grow together, what to keep apart, and which pairings are folklore.
Basil Companion Plants (What Works and What's a Myth)
Basil grows well next to tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and most summer vegetables, and its flowers draw pollinators when it blooms. The popular "improves tomato flavor / repels pests" claims are mostly traditional, not proven. Here is what the evidence actually supports.
Jun 4, 2026 · 6 min read
Bean Companion Plants (and What to Keep Apart)
Good bean companions are corn and squash (the Three Sisters), plus flowers like nasturtium and marigold that draw pollinators and beneficial insects. Keep beans clear of fennel. The famous "no onions near beans" rule is mostly folklore, not proven.
Jun 4, 2026 · 7 min read
10 Broccoli Companion Plants (and What to Keep Apart)
Sweet alyssum, thyme, onion, and nasturtium have the strongest evidence behind them for broccoli, from a trap-crop trial and an Oregon State study on parasitoid wasps. Keep broccoli away from tomatoes, strawberries, pole beans, and a tight block of other brassicas.
Jun 4, 2026 · 7 min read
13 Cabbage Companion Plants (and What to Avoid)
Good cabbage companions are quick, low crops like lettuce and beets, flowering herbs for pest-eating insects, and trap crops like nasturtium and arugula. Keep cabbage away from tomatoes, pole beans, strawberries, and other brassicas.
Jun 4, 2026 · 8 min read
8 Carrot Companion Plants (and What to Keep Apart)
Good carrot companions are radishes, lettuce, onions, leeks, chives, and flowering herbs like dill and cilantro. Keep carrots apart from their own family: parsnip, celery, parsley, and fennel. Space and rotation matter more than any single neighbor.
Jun 4, 2026 · 7 min read
11 Cucumber Companion Plants (and What to Avoid)
Good cucumber companions are beans and peas for nitrogen, corn or sunflowers for a living trellis, and flowers that bring in the bees cucumbers need to set fruit. Keep cucumbers off potatoes and give the vines room to avoid powdery mildew.
Jun 4, 2026 · 7 min read
8 Eggplant Companion Plants (and What to Keep Apart)
Good eggplant companions are beans and peas for nitrogen, French marigolds for nematode-prone soil, and flowers for pollinators. Keep eggplant away from potatoes and out of last year's nightshade bed. WVU Extension backs beans and marigolds; most of the rest is honest tradition, not proven science.
Jun 4, 2026 · 7 min read
12 Garlic Companion Plants (and What to Avoid)
Good garlic companions are low crops like beets, lettuce, and chard that share the bed while garlic grows through winter, plus tomatoes, strawberries, and carrots. Keep garlic away from beans, peas, and other alliums planted too soon after it.
Sep 26, 2026 · 8 min read
Lettuce Companion Plants (and What to Keep Apart)
Good lettuce companions are carrots, radishes, onions, chives, and tall crops like tomatoes or trellised cucumbers that throw afternoon shade. The real, evidence-backed win is shade that slows bolting in summer heat. Keep lettuce clear of fennel and avoid crowding.
Jun 4, 2026 · 6 min read
Onion Companion Plants (and What to Keep Apart)
Good onion companions are carrots, beets, lettuce, and cabbage-family crops, mostly because onions are narrow and slow and fit between bigger plants. Keep onions away from beans and peas. The pest-repelling claims are mostly folklore.
Jun 4, 2026 · 6 min read
9 Pea Companion Plants (and What to Keep Apart)
Good pea companions are carrots, radishes, spinach, chard, cucumbers, corn, beans, potatoes, and turnips, extension-listed pairings that share the cool-season window or fill space the climbing vine leaves open. Keep peas away from onions and garlic.
Jun 4, 2026 · 7 min read
Pepper Companion Plants (and What to Keep Apart)
Good neighbors for peppers include basil, onions and garlic, carrots, lettuce and spinach, nasturtium, and tomatoes. Keep fennel and heavy-feeding brassicas apart. The reliable wins are spacing, pollinator support, and not crowding, not flavor magic.
Jun 4, 2026 · 6 min read
Spinach Companion Plants (and What to Keep Apart)
Good spinach companions are tall shade-givers like beans and corn, quick neighbors like radishes and lettuce, and flowers for pollinators. Keep spinach from chard and beets, which share leaf miners. Most pairing rules are folklore, so plant for shade, spacing, and pest sense.
Jun 4, 2026 · 6 min read
8 Tomato Companion Plants (and What to Keep Apart)
Good tomato companions are basil for its documented thrip control, plus marigold, garlic, onion, lettuce, carrots, nasturtium, and parsley for space and pest support. Keep tomatoes away from brassicas, fennel, potatoes, and black walnut.
Jun 4, 2026 · 7 min read
Zucchini Companion Plants (and What to Keep Apart)
Good zucchini companions are flowers like nasturtium and borage that pull in the bees zucchini needs to set fruit, plus beans and corn. Keep zucchini away from other squash and cucumbers, which share its pests. Most "avoid" charts are folklore.
Jun 4, 2026 · 7 min read
1 post
Seasonal projects
Jobs tied to the calendar: fall bulbs and garlic, cover crops, cold frames.
