Gardening Ideas Fruit, Vegetable, & Herb Gardens Vegetables A Month-By-Month Guide for When to Plant Vegetables in the South By Southern Living Editors Updated on July 27, 2022 Fact checked by Elizabeth Berry Fact checked by Elizabeth Berry Elizabeth Berry is a fact checker and writer with over three years of professional experience in the field. She has fact checked lifestyle topics ranging from destination wedding venues to gift guide round-ups for a variety of publications including Brides, The Spruce, and TripSavvy. In addition to her fact checking background, she also has over six years experience of reporting, writing, and copy editing articles for digital magazines including Woman's Day and The Knot. Elizabeth also has a strong background in e-commerce content as both a fact checker and writer. brand's fact checking process Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Lauren Rubinstein Picture this: You step outside your house at lunchtime, hungry for a classic tomato sandwich (with your choice of mayonnaise, of course; I prefer Duke's). You walk across your yard toward the garden and lean down to pick a fat juicy tomato, maybe a Cherokee Purple. It's warm, and when sliced, makes for a delicious sandwich. And if you're looking out at your backyard right now and not seeing a garden, it's not too late! Treat this guide as your vegetable garden planner—it tells you when to plant vegetables. Remember, though, to make sure these recommendations are accurate according to your zone, as some of the times might shift. Gardening Calendar: What to Plant in January: Spend this month preparing the soil and the space you've chosen for your garden. This can be out in the yard, or you can grow vegetables in pots. What to Plant in February: Beets What to Plant in March: Cabbage, Carrots, Collards, Kale, Lettuce, Onions, Potatoes (white), Radishes, Swiss Chard, Turnips What to Plant in April: Pole Beans, Broccoli, Cantaloupe, Corn, Spinach, Squash (summer and winter) You Might Like: Our Favorite Squash Casserole Recipe What to Plant in May: Lima Beans, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Okra, Peppers, Sweet Potatoes, Watermelon What to Plant in June: Tomatoes What to Plant in July: Pole Beans, Lima Beans, Pumpkins, Winter Squash What to Plant in August: Kale, Beets, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Carrots What to Plant in September: Kale, Onions, Swiss Chard, Turnips From October through December: Spend these months preparing your next year's planting guide! Check out this video. Also, if there is something specific you want to grow and don't see it on the list, look into your state's extension agency's website. There, you can find resources to help you know when to plant your vegetables. For other tips and helpful knowledge, read Southern Living's secrets for starting a vegetable garden. If you're looking for an aesthetically pleasing vegetable garden, or you don't want to dedicate space in your yard to a garden plot, consider starting an edible garden of plants that are beautiful and functional. If you have questions, send them to the Grumpy Gardener! You'll have plenty of vegetables to eat, but you probably won't be able to eat them all yourself. Give them as gifts or learn how to can and preserve them. Host a canning party! Whatever you do, make sure to take advantage—or rather, eat—of all the beautiful fruits of your labor. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit