Planning Calendar

Wondering what to do when in the garden?

January

1st: Start the new year right—grow soil sprouts or microgreens.

5th: Force paperwhite bulbs indoors.

17th: Take advantage of citrus season—make your own cleaning solution.

21st: Start pruning trees now through March.

February

1st: It’s seed starting time! Begin with leek and onion seeds.

8th: Winter sow native and hardy perennial seeds in milk jugs outdoors (Webinar).

13th: Repot and fertilize houseplants.

14th: Force branches into early bloom indoors.

22nd: Scout for winter damage by the weather and critters.

27th: Start garden planning!

March

4th: Sow lettuce and arugula seeds indoors.

19th: Prune your hydrangeas.

27th: Start melting snow and warming soil in a temporary greenhouse or hoop house.

April

3rd: Start annual flower seeds indoors.

17th: Divide overgrown perennials (hostas, rhubarb, and sedum).

30th: Start transplanting outdoor winter sown seedlings into the ground.

May

3rd: Start safeguarding your plantings from squirrels.

5th: Forage for nutritious spring greens.

12th: Dig out creeping bellflower.

27th: Watch the forecast for late-season frost.

June

17th: Start watching for squash vine borers.

24th: Celebrate pollinator week—plant a pollinator garden!

25th: Keep an eye out for emerging Japanese beetles.

* Support Minnesota’s endangered rusty patched bumble bee: bwsr.state.mn.us/l2l

July

11th: Water established annuals and vegetables 1-2 times per week.

29th: Remember to water early or late in the day to reduce disease.

31st: Deadhead geraniums, lilies, daylilies, and roses to encourage more blooms.

August

5th: Succession plant peas, watermelon radish, and greens.

13th: Divide iris, peonies, allium, and other spring-blooming perennials.

September

2nd: Take advantage of Labor Day sales to fill spots in your yard.

5th: Plant peonies before first frost—cover new plants with mulch or straw.

8th: Start transitioning houseplants indoors again.

11th: Cover or harvest basil if nighttime temps dip below 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

14th: P lant a cover crop to nourish soil for next year.

16th: Collect and save seeds from native plants (web series).

19th: Plant crocus and daffodil bulbs.

October

1st: Refresh pots with fall-blooming flowers, like mums.

3rd: Harvest herbs to preserve.

5th: Average first frost for the Twin Cities area.

7th: Plant amaryllis bulbs indoors for December blooms.

9th: Plant tulip, daffodil, and other spring-flowering bulbs.

12th: Keep planting bulbs, trees, shrubs and perennials.

13th: Plant seed garlic for spring harvest (video).

20th: Dig up dahlia and gladiolus bulbs to store for winter.

27th: Choose a nice day to dig up and process horseradish roots outside.

November

4th: Create winter containers.

10th: Ease up on watering houseplants.

19th: Create a modern root cellar for your harvest.

25th: Clean and sharpen garden tools.

December

1st: Seed catalogs for next year start arriving!

8th: Cover strawberries with a deep layer of straw (video).

16th: Make an ice lantern.

26th: Reflect and write down what grew well (and what didn’t) for next year.