Growing StrongA MonthA MonthA MonthA Month----bybybyby----Month Garden CalendarMonth Garden CalendarMonth Garden CalendarMonth Garden Calendar

for Southeastern Idahofor Southeastern Idahofor Southeastern Idahofor Southeastern Idaho

A few caveats:A few caveats:A few caveats:A few caveats:

• Keep in mind that in Idaho what Keep in mind that in Idaho what Keep in mind that in Idaho what Keep in mind that in Idaho what

might have been true in March last might have been true in March last might have been true in March last might have been true in March last

year may not be true until May this year may not be true until May this year may not be true until May this year may not be true until May this

year year year year ---- or viceor viceor viceor vice----versa!versa!versa!versa!

• Always determine soil moisture Always determine soil moisture Always determine soil moisture Always determine soil moisture

levels before working your soil as levels before working your soil as levels before working your soil as levels before working your soil as

recommended in any of the recommended in any of the recommended in any of the recommended in any of the

following guidelines.following guidelines.following guidelines.following guidelines.

• There are almost as many opinions There are almost as many opinions There are almost as many opinions There are almost as many opinions

about garden issues as there are about garden issues as there are about garden issues as there are about garden issues as there are

gardeners gardeners gardeners gardeners –––– keep experimenting to keep experimenting to keep experimenting to keep experimenting to

find what works in your specific find what works in your specific find what works in your specific find what works in your specific

conditions. conditions. conditions. conditions.

A few caveats:A few caveats:A few caveats:A few caveats:

• On the calendar On the calendar On the calendar On the calendar ““““startstartstartstart”””” refers to refers to refers to refers to

starting seeds indoors in containers starting seeds indoors in containers starting seeds indoors in containers starting seeds indoors in containers

and planting out when conditions are and planting out when conditions are and planting out when conditions are and planting out when conditions are

suitable.suitable.suitable.suitable.

• On the calendar On the calendar On the calendar On the calendar ““““direct sowdirect sowdirect sowdirect sow”””” means means means means

planting the seeds directly in the planting the seeds directly in the planting the seeds directly in the planting the seeds directly in the

ground.ground.ground.ground.

• If youIf youIf youIf you’’’’re not failing some of the time re not failing some of the time re not failing some of the time re not failing some of the time

youyouyouyou’’’’re not trying enough new things.re not trying enough new things.re not trying enough new things.re not trying enough new things.

• Embrace imperfection!Embrace imperfection!Embrace imperfection!Embrace imperfection!

Calendar categoriesCalendar categoriesCalendar categoriesCalendar categories

• PlanningPlanningPlanningPlanning

• MaintenanceMaintenanceMaintenanceMaintenance

• Seed StartingSeed StartingSeed StartingSeed Starting

• PlantingPlantingPlantingPlanting

• Soil BuildingSoil BuildingSoil BuildingSoil Building

• PropagationPropagationPropagationPropagation

• Harvest and Food StorageHarvest and Food StorageHarvest and Food StorageHarvest and Food Storage

• Just for Fun!Just for Fun!Just for Fun!Just for Fun!

This entire presentation will be posted on This entire presentation will be posted on This entire presentation will be posted on This entire presentation will be posted on

the IFCGA website at the IFCGA website at the IFCGA website at the IFCGA website at www.ifcga.orgwww.ifcga.orgwww.ifcga.orgwww.ifcga.org

JANUARY

� Make garden plan. Remember to rotate your crops

� Peruse garden catalogs

Hot prospects: note season length, sunlight &

water needs

� Inventory seeds

� Inventory seed starting supplies, order as needed

� Order seeds - the earlier the better - See our seed company list with links at www.ifcga.org

� Get (or get out) garden

notebook. Review notes from last year and start seed/plant list

� Set up garden calendar to identify planting times

throughout the spring

� Evaluate last year's garden and research

areas of concern or interest

PLANNING

Enter spring frost-free date

(include year):

05/20/2011

mm/dd/yyyy

When To start inside

Safe time to set out plants

(relative to frost-

free date)

Setting-out date

Crop

Number

of weeks

to start seeds before

setting-out

date

From To From To

Artichoke 8 25-Mar on frost-free date 20-May

Basil 6 15-Apr 1 week after 27-May

Beets* 4 to 6 25-Mar 8-Apr 2 weeks before 6-May

Broccoli 4 to 6 25-Mar 8-Apr 2 weeks before 6-May

Cabbage 4 to 6 8-Apr 25-Mar 4 weeks before 20-May 22-Apr

Cauliflower 4 to 6 8-Apr 8-Apr 2 weeks before 20-May 6-May

Celery & celeriac

10 to 12 4-Mar 18-Mar 1 week after 27-May

Collards 4 to 6 11-Mar 25-Mar 4 weeks before 22-Apr

Corn

salad/mache 4 to 6 25-Feb 1-Apr 3 to 6 weeks before 8-Apr 29-Apr

Corn* 2 to 4 22-Apr 20-May 0 to 2 weeks after 20-May 3-Jun

Cucumber 3 to 4 29-Apr 13-May 1 to 2 weeks after 27-May 3-Jun

Eggplant 8 to 10 25-Mar 15-Apr 2 to 3 weeks after 3-Jun 10-Jun

Kale 4 to 6 11-Mar 25-Mar 4 weeks before 22-Apr

Kohlrabi* 4 to 6 11-Mar 25-Mar 4 weeks before 22-Apr

Johnny’s Selected Seeds Interactive Calculators have

handy tools for calculating the correct dates for starting, direct sowing and transplanting your seeds and plants,

and much more. Go to www.johnnyseeds.com

As you’re planning think about what makes the best

use of your garden space but still is easy to navigate.

Single rows

Wide rows

JANUARY

� Watch trees for damaging

snow loads

� Use sand or sawdust-based

products to deal with icy spots near beds or lawn

MAINTENANCE

� For our orderly gardeners this is a good time

to clean, sharpen, and oil tools so they’ll be ready to go when you need them

JANUARY

� Clean/disinfect pots and

planters by soaking in a solution of 1 part bleach and 9

parts water for 1 hour. If you

have salt deposits add 1 part

vinegar and increase soak to

12 hours.

� Be sure you have good quality potting soil - do

not use soil from the garden or cheap versions from discount stores

SEED STARTING

� Do a germination test if seeds are old or were poorly

stored

� Get your plant stand up, lights and timer connected,

insulate from cold if necessary

� Put the Feb 1 Class on your calendar - Get Growing:

Seed Starting & Transplanting Basics

JANUARYSOIL BUILDING

� Get our Feb 15 class, Healthy

Soils I: The Soil Foodwebwith Dr Elaine Ingham on

your calendar; learn the basics

of healthy soil from a world-

renowned soil microbiologist.

Healthy soil = healthy plants = healthy food

JANUARYPROPAGATION

� If you want to save seeds from some of your plants this

season begin researching the

plants and methods that you

will need. Seed Saver’s

Exchange (seedsavers.org) is

a good resource!

JANUARYHARVEST & STORAGE

� Check on stored veggies

� Make garlic powder if garlic is

starting to sprout

� Continue harvesting carrots, parsnips

and leeks that are covered with straw in the garden (if the voles haven’t already

harvested them for you!)

JANUARYJUST FOR FUN!

� Plant your own ginger plant

indoors

� Cool-grown, super-early

tomatoes can be started at the end of the month

� If you have a good enough

light source plant some basil, cilantro or dill for a

delicious early harvest.

FEBRUARY

� Complete seed orders

(including potatoes)

PLANNING

� Review January calendar to

catch anything you missed

� Do some soil research –these

videos are excellent. remember that you're feeding the soil, not

the plant!

� Order or buy soil amendments so you have them on

hand for next month

� Anticipate usual pests problems and be sure you have

what you need on hand, i.e. cabbage butterflies will require either floating row cover or Bt spray. Jan 25

class is Organic Insect and Disease Control!

www.ifcga.org/healthy soil.html

FEBRUARY

� Good time to prune trees while

still dormant (exceptions:

maple and birch)

� Prepare beds that thaw early

(near house or reflective wall)

MAINTENANCE

� Cut back plants like geraniums

that have been wintered over in the house

FEBRUARY

� Start onions, leeks, shallots

� Start seeds of annuals which require a long growing season, e.g. lobelia,

petunia, snapdragon, etc

SEED STARTING

� If you have a cold frame or greenhouse consider

direct sowing cold tolerant greens towards the end of the month. Be prepared for hard frosts with row

cover or blankets, etc!

� Check the garden calendar

that you made last month to see what needs to be

planted!

FEBRUARYSOIL BUILDING

� Watch any – or all – of the

informative videos on our new page devoted especially to

understanding soil health; you’ll

find Dr Buz Kloot, Dr Elaine

Ingham, NRCS and even some

curriculum resources there.

� Check it out here: www.ifcga.org/healthy soil.html

or go to www.ifcga.org and follow the Building Healthy Soil links on the Main Menu page

FEBRUARY

� Use the geranium cuttings to

start plants for use outdoors later in the spring

PROPAGATION

� Bring out bulbs forced in

November, water and put in

bright room

� If you are using walls of water you can plant some tomatoes

at the end of the month for

putting out in mid-April

FEBRUARY

�Start celery and/or celeriac

seeds!

JUST FOR FUN!

�Start artichokes for planting

out in walls o' water in late

March

MARCH

� Remove heavy mulch from garden beds but do

not work the soil until it has dried out enough to do ball soil test

MAINTENANCE

� Divide perennials now through May - earlier the

better but watch your soil moisture

� Remove quackgrass, etc.

by digging and extracting all its nefarious roots as

soon as it emerges

� Install drip irrigation system as

soon as soil is dry enough

� Remove dead stalks, etc. from last year's

perennials

� Once soil dries adequately (use the ball test)

break out the bio-fork* and start loosening soil and working in compost

� Apply soy-based dormant oil when buds start to

swell but before they are open

� For the rest of us, search the garden for all the

tools forgotten in the fall and check condition *More vigorous methods, like a tiller, may be necessary for a new garden site

MARCH

� Later in month is a good time to

start most tomatoes

SEED STARTING

� Start brassicas; cauliflower,

cabbage, broccoli, kale, etc.

� Check the garden calendar

that you made in January to see what needs to be started

or planted!

MARCH

� Add compost to beds but do

not work in if soil is still wet

SOIL BUILDING

� Turn the compost pile as soon as you can.

Start a new one from the unfinished goodies in the current one

� Send off soil test if you're

doing one

� Add soil amendments if snow

is gone and soil is workable -

otherwise wait until April

Compost pile

MARCH

� Direct sow greens, radishes and peas in the garden

if you are feeling frisky! Be prepared to cover!

PLANTING

� Transplant rhubarb before it

shows signs of new growth

� Direct sow peas, greens, radishes in

protected beds near house or in cold frame. Be prepared to cover!

� Check planting calendar to

see what needs to be started now

� If you started artichokes you may begin putting

them out in walls ‘o water at the end of the month. Be prepared to cover!

MARCHHARVEST & STORAGE

� As weather warms complete

harvesting of carrots, parsnips, and leeks

� Keep an eye on storage squash - process for freezer if

necessary

� Leave some parsnips in the

ground if you want to collect seeds (biennial) or have a

self-sown crop

� Storage onions and shallots

(choose varieties for storage)

should still be good but watch for the occasional sprouter and

remove

MARCH

�Try forcing flowering shrubs

like forsythia, pussy willow,

apple (protect from aridity

and too much warmth)

JUST FOR FUN!

APRIL

� Remove mulch from roses and other flowering

plants that were protected over the winter

MAINTENANCE

� Keep ahead of weeds:

remove perennials by

digging, annuals by pulling or cutting off

(before seeds form)

� Start sheet mulching pathways*

� Get out your Cobrahead and keep it at your

side for the next 5 months – you’ll use it for everything!

� Remove old canes from raspberries

� Install support for peas with tall growth habit

� Turn the drip system on and check for leaks or

other problems

APRIL

� Remove mulch from roses and other flowering

plants that were protected over the winter

MAINTENANCE

� Keep ahead of weeds:

remove perennials by

digging, annuals by pulling or cutting off

(before seeds form)

� Start sheet mulching pathways*

� Get out your Cobrahead and keep it at your

side for the next 5 months – you’ll use it for everything!

� Remove old canes from raspberries

� Install support for peas with tall growth habit

� Turn the drip system on and check for leaks or

other problems

APRILMAINTENANCE

*Sheet mulching Quick & Dirty

� After clearing existing weeds

from the pathway add a layer of

overlapping cardboard or several

layers of newspaper; water thoroughly

� Top with 3-6” (or more) of

leaves, grass clippings (untreated), straw, old hay, wood

chips. This being southeastern

Idaho be sure to go all the way to

the edges so the wind can’t

catch the edge and whip the

whole shebang into Wyoming

� Water lightly again. Using the

pathway will pretty quickly

compress the materials

� The mulch will suppress weeds and conserve moisture. It will

decompose over the next year

but the positive benefits often

last for a second year.

APRIL

� Can start tomatoes as late as

mid-April

SEED STARTING

� Check the garden calendar!

� Start peppers, eggplants

� Late in the month is a fine time to start okra but you can also wait a couple more weeks

APRILSOIL BUILDING

� Put finished compost in beds

as seeds and starts are planted

� Keep adding to the new

compost, balancing greens and browns as much as you can

� Don’t walk on your garden

beds or any soil that you intend to plant

� As soil dries out sufficiently, cut down cover crop

and turn it gently. Keep moist while it's breaking down

APRILPLANTING

� Check planting calendar to

see what needs to be sown now

� Transplant onions, leeks

� Direct sow peas, greens,

radishes, carrots, parsnips and other cool weather crops

like turnips, rutabagas, etc

� Transplant brassicas late in the month. Cover with

row cover or monitor for cabbage butterflies, using Bt

as needed. Be prepared to cover if temperatures are

forecast to be 32 degrees F or less

� Plant potatoes under straw later in the month

� Plant or transplant strawberries and raspberries

APRILPLANTING

�Allow at least a week

to harden off plants

before planting out in

the garden!

� Start with 1hr in a sunny location then double each

day until out all day. Take wind conditions into

account. Start over if weather forces plants indoors for more than a day or two. If nighttime temps allow

you can leave them out overnight.

APRILHARVEST & STORAGE

� Keep cutting your fall-sown

spinach and greens to ensure longer harvest

� Compost all the old and moldy stored produce – good start for

this year’s new compost pile

APRILJUST FOR FUN!

�Transplant those early

tomatoes at the end of the month if you have walls o’

water or other serious

protection (like a

greenhouse)

�Be prepared to add

additional cover if necessary

MAYPLANNING

� Use your garden notebook to keep tabs on

plant health, yield, flavor, harvest time, etc. throughout the summer - this will help you

make more informed choices next season

� Update your garden plan as

necessary – the better your notes are now the more

helpful they will be when

making decisions for next

year

You’ll love yourself

when next season comes around!

MAYMAINTENANCE

� Keep ahead of weeds

using your Cobrahead, a stirrup or regular hoe or

winged weeder and

copious quantities of

organic mulch

� Keep sheet mulching pathways (see April Maintenance)

� Start supporting tomatoes as needed

MAYSEED STARTING

� Start tender herbs like basil

� Start cukes, melons, pumpkins, etc. 2-3 weeks

before planting out

� To give warmth-loving annual flowers like zinnias, cosmos and marigolds a head-start

you can start some this month

MAYSOIL BUILDING

� Turn compost and continue

adding greens and browns. Water if necessary

� Continue to add compost and

other soil amendments as necessary when planting

Compost close-up

MAYPLANTING

� Continue with small plantings of greens,

radishes, etc. every couple of weeks until weather is hot

� Transplant tomatoes and peppers towards the

end of the month. Be prepared to cover!

� Direct sow beets, chard,

kohlrabi, carrots, etc.

� Direct sow zucchini and other

squash later in the month

� Stagger sowings of corn by 2 weeks or select

varieties with different “days to maturity” to lengthen harvest (at least 4’x4’ block of each type)

� Plant potatoes

MAYHARVEST & STORAGE

� Harvest your rhubarb and

strawberries at their peak for

immediate use, freezing or

making jams or syrups

� When harvesting lettuce and

other greens cut to about 2" to encourage continued

production

MAYJUST FOR FUN!

� Take a leisurely but attentive

stroll in your garden at least

a couple of times/week

JUNEPLANNING

� Use Johnny’s Selected Seeds Fall planting calculator to determine appropriate planting

dates. Go to johnnyseeds.com

� Begin thinking about planting

for fall harvest. Start by making a list of what you

want to be harvesting come

fall, i.e., greens, spinach,

Napa cabbages, etc.

Handy tool for planning

fall harvest plant dates

JUNEMAINTENANCE

� Don't let weeds go to seed –

your diligence now will be rewarded a hundredfold!

� If cool weather crops are

up and growing strong start mulching their beds

� Put up trellises or fences for

climbing plants like pole beans, cukes

� Observe your plants carefully to catch early insects - hand pick

or go to www.groworganic.com

for solutions

� Keep your annual flowers deadheaded to encourage

blooming

� Provide support to tomatoes as

needed

� Monitor for cabbage butterflies;

cover with row cover or apply Bt as needed

JUNESEED STARTING

� Everything can now go

directly into the soil

� Towards the end of the

month you can start lettuce seedlings to plant out in the

coolest part of the garden in

July

� Some fall harvest plants may need

to be planted this month – use your fall harvest planting calculator to

determine dates

JUNESOIL BUILDING

� If you are actively managing your compost pile turn it

again. Keep tabs on the

moisture level

Compost pile

� Mark plants as soon as you

select them with colored yarn or tags to help identify them once

it’s time to collect the seeds

PROPAGATION

� Begin monitoring plants that

exhibit characteristics you

want to preserve: vigor,

taste, fragrance, etc.

� Use the research you did in January to

understand what kind of preparations

are necessary to successfully save your desired varieties of seeds

JUNE

JUNEPLANTING

� Continue with small plantings of greens, radishes, etc. every couple of weeks until

weather is hot

� Sow more corn early in the

month

� Divide and replant Dutch

irises once blooming is finished (add some

compost, too)

� Direct sow annual flowers that like warmth

like zinnias, cosmos, marigolds

JUNEHARVEST & STORAGE

� Thin carrots and beets.

Steam baby beets for a delicious treat!

� Start watching peas – when

the pods have filled out they

are ready to harvest (a lot of happy sampling may be

required!)

� Pick produce when prime to keep plants producing - donate excess to friends, neighbors

or those in need

JUNEJUST FOR FUN!

� Try sowing some soybeans,

lima beans, black beans, black-eyed peas or other

dried bean varieties

� Build a scarecrow!

JULYMAINTENANCE

� Keep weeding – this is

the month when continued effort is the

most challenging – and

the most important!

� Mulch warm weather crops as temperatures heat up – an organic mulch will conserve moisture,

suppress weeds, and eventually break down and

enrich the soil

JULYSEED STARTING

� Continue to start lettuce

seedlings to plant out in the coolest part of the garden

� Start Chinese cabbage

seedlings for fall harvest -plant out when they are 4

weeks old

JULYSOIL BUILDING

� Once garlic is harvested

plant a succession crop of beans or a cover crop of

buckwheat

� Monitor moisture level of

compost and supplement if necessary

� Start a new compost pile if existing one is

nearly finished

JULYPLANTING

� Direct sow Chinese

cabbage for fall harvest

� Once garlic is harvested

plant a succession crop of beans or a cover crop of

buckwheat or summer mix

� Review June’s fall planting

schedule to see if other seeds need to be sown now

JULYHARVEST & STORAGE

� Start watching beans for

harvestable size

� Watch early cabbage for

signs of cracking and harvest if necessary

� Pull back straw on potatoes

that have finished blossoming

to check for usable tubers

� Harvest fruit at its peak for drying, freezing,

syrups, etc. (apricots, raspberries, cherries, and summer apples)

� Harvest garlic and hang in dry, shaded location

to cure for 4 weeks

JULYJUST FOR FUN!

� Make apricot or other fruit

leather

� Make a mosaic stepping stone

or garden decoration with a little person

AUGUSTMAINTENANCE

� Yes, weeding is still

important!

� Ease off on the watering

schedule

� Avoid evening sprinkling

� Keep touring the garden – observe the web of life

you are supporting!

AUGUSTSOIL BUILDING

� As crops are harvested plant

a succession crop of beans if there’s time or, if not, a fall

cover crop mix

� Keep adding to the compost

pile and monitoring moisture

AUGUSTPLANTING

� Direct sow greens and

cilantro for a fall crop

� As crops are harvested sow a summer cover crop in the

empty beds (switch to a fall

or winter cover crop at the

end of the month)

AUGUSTPROPAGATION

� If you are planning to save

seeds now is the time to start monitoring the selected

plants. Start with easy ones

like lettuce, arugula, spinach,

orach, beans, hollyhocks,

tomatoes

AUGUSTHARVEST & STORAGE

� Harvest onions when the

tops tip over; dry for a couple

of weeks in a dry, shaded

location – spreading them

out on a screen in the garage

works well

� Continue to monitor and

regularly harvest all of your

crops for extended production

AUGUSTJUST FOR FUN!

� Enter something in the

Eastern Idaho State Fair –

check out funatthefair.comor call 208 785-2480

SEPTEMBERMAINTENANCE

� You’ll be sorely tempted -

but don’t stop weeding yet!

� As plants quit producing move

them into the compost pile

� Be prepared to cover frost-sensitive plants

when (not if) temperatures drop

SEPTEMBERPLANTING

� Direct sow spinach for an

early spring crop next year

� As crops are harvested sow

a winter cover crop in the empty beds

SEPTEMBERHARVEST & STORAGE

� Trim garlic and pack into

mesh bags for storage in a

cool dry location

� Trim onions and pack into

mesh bags for storage in a

cool dry location

� If it’s been a good season you will now

have plenty of tomatoes for canning,

drying, or giving away!

� Select specimens of your best tomatoes (from as many different plants of the same variety as

possible) and save the seeds

SEPTEMBERHARVEST & STORAGE

� If you’re planning on making

fermented hot sauce keep an eye on your peppers,

covering as needed so that

you get as many red ripe

peppers as you can before

hard frosts descend

� The fall greens you sowed in

August should be ready for

cutting sometime this month

OCTOBERMAINTENANCE

� Keep your eye out as the beds get emptied and

seeded with a cover crop for weeds that

camouflaged themselves among the other plants

and went to seed. Carefully remove them.

� Remove any diseased plant

material from the garden –don’t compost!

� Clean up garden weeds

and other detritus –compost as much as

possible but be sure avoid

rhizomatous or seedy

weeds

� Put away trellises and other supports

� Pull up drip system, roll up

individual lengths, tie and

label for ease of reinstallation

next season

OCTOBERPLANTING

� Plant garlic cloves in soil enriched with the compost

you built over the summer

� Continue to fill in beds with

winter cover crops or cover with chopped leaves, grass

clippings, etc.

� To extend the harvest of fall

crops use a double layer of row cover

OCTOBERHARVEST & STORAGE

� Harvest winter squash,

pumpkins, cabbages, etc. before hard frost (28 degrees F)

� For maximum storage life store most produce in as cool a location as possible; if you can

control the humidity – even better!

� Store tomatoes at temps above 50 degrees F spread out in a single layer - plastic open-grid

planting trays work well. Don't store in a bucket!

� Harvest cabbage, Brussels

sprouts, and kale when

temperatures start dipping

below 24 degrees F

NOVEMBERMAINTENANCE

� Is there snow on the

ground? Yes. Hooray!

Now you can stop

weeding!

NOVEMBERHARVEST & STORAGE

� Cover the crops you want to

winter over with 10-12” of

loose straw

� Bring in the last of the hardy

brassicas

NOVEMBER

JUST FOR FUN!

� Plant bulbs into pots for late

winter forcing. Store in cold location for at least 12

weeks.

DECEMBER

JUST FOR FUN!

� Put garden books, tools, and

supplies on your Christmas list

(gift certificates for Seed Savers Exchange or one of the

seed catalogues are a treat)

� Check out those early bird

catalogs and scour the internet in anticipation of next year’s

adventure!