MONTHLY

Organic Garden
Guide
BY GARDEN ZONE

[Link]

By Kellogg Garden Organics

 ORGANIC BUILDS LIFE

Table of Contents
Author: Kellogg Garden Organics 
Garden: January 4
Garden Planning Prepping & Maintaining 4
Planting & Harvesting By Garden Zone 5
Garden Checklist 6
Garden: February 7
Garden Planning Prepping & Maintaining 7
Planting & Harvesting By Garden Zone 8
Garden Checklist 9
Garden: March 10
Garden Planning Prepping & Maintaining 10
Planting & Harvesting By Garden Zone 11
Garden Checklist 13
Garden: April 14
Garden Planning Prepping & Maintaining 14
Planting & Harvesting By Garden Zone 15
Garden Checklist 16
Garden: May 17
Garden Planning Prepping & Maintaining 17
Planting & Harvesting By Garden Zone 18
Garden Checklist 19
Garden: June 20
Garden Planning Prepping & Maintaining 20
Planting & Harvesting By Garden Zone 21
Garden Checklist 22

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 ORGANIC BUILDS LIFE

Table of Contents

Garden: July 23
Garden Planning Prepping & Maintaining 23
Planting & Harvesting By Garden Zone 24
Garden Checklist 25

Garden: August 26
Garden Planning Prepping & Maintaining 26
Planting & Harvesting By Garden Zone 27
Garden Checklist 28
Garden: September 29
Garden Planning Prepping & Maintaining 29
Planting & Harvesting By Garden Zone 30
Garden Checklist 31
Garden: October 32
Garden Planning Prepping & Maintainingt 32
Planting & Harvesting By Garden Zone 33
Garden Checklist 34
Garden: November 35
Garden Planning Prepping & Maintaining 35
Planting & Harvesting By Garden Zone 36
Garden Checklist 37
Garden: December 38
Garden Planning Prepping & Maintaining 38
Planting & Harvesting By Garden Zone 39
Garden Checklist 40

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 MONTHLY ORGANIC GARDENING GUIDE BY GARDEN ZONE

Garden: January
Having a garden is like having a good and loyal friend. ~ Lucy Douglas

A lthough the pace is slower and the demands are fewer, January is a pivotal month for
planning and preparing for the garden to come. It’s full of possibilities, and isn’t that the
most exciting part of gardening?

Plan – January is seed catalog month! Pour over new catalogs that arrive in the mail, make a list
of new seeds, and place your order. Inventory your existing seeds, and compost any that are too
old to sow. Make a master plan of your garden. Plan for your new garden spaces. Observe the
changing light patterns that winter brings.

• Top 3 Raised Garden Bed Designs

• Organic Gardening Raised Bed Materials
• Container Gardening Tips Tricks and Ideas

Prepare/Maintain – Take stock of all your garden tools — make necessary repairs, sharpen
blades, and oil moving parts. Clean and organize your seed starting supplies, and be sure you
have enough seed-starter mix on hand for when your seeds arrive. Use a lightweight row cover
to protects crops, and be at the ready to cover tender garden plants in case of freeze.

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 MONTHLY ORGANIC GARDENING GUIDE BY GARDEN ZONE

SOW & PLANT OUTDOORS SOW & PLANT INDOORS

While colder zones may not be able to actively plant All zones can enjoy indoor houseplant gardening by
outdoors during January, milder climates still have planting microgreens on their kitchen counter top
the go-ahead. to enjoy in winter salads.

Zones 7-10 can plant asparagus crowns and Zones 5-6 may start seeds of cauliflower, cabbage,
strawberry transplants, and set out transplants leeks, and onions. Zone 6 can start seeds of
of broccoli, cabbage, spinach, lettuce, dill, parsley, pansies, snapdragons, dusty miller, begonias, and
cilantro, and chervil. Direct sow seeds of arugula, delphiniums.
beets, bok choy, carrots, fennel, radishes, turnips,
and peas. Zones 7-8 can start cauliflower, cabbage, kale,
onions, broccoli, and lettuce seeds.
Zones 9-10 can purchase seed potatoes and pre-
sprout them for spring planting. Zones 9-10 can start seeds for everything Zones
7-8 can, as well as spinach, broccoli, peas, beets, and
carrots.

HARVEST BY ZONE

Zones 4-6 can dig parsnips left in the ground over winter.

Zones 7-10 can harvest loads of greens and veggies including broccoli, arugula, cabbage, Brussels
sprouts, cauliflower, collards, fennel, spinach, Swiss chard, radishes, leeks, kale, green onions, and
mustard.

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 MONTHLY ORGANIC GARDENING GUIDE BY GARDEN ZONE
Book title:
OBSERVATIONS:

Plan:
JANAUARY GARDEN CHECKLIST

Prepare & Maintain:

Plant: Harvest:

SQUARE FOOT PLAN 

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 MONTHLY ORGANIC GARDENING GUIDE BY GARDEN ZONE

Garden: February
A garden is a grand teacher. It teaches patience and careful watchfulness; it teaches industry and thrift; above all
it teaches entire trust. ~ Gertrude Jekyll

N o matter where you might live, February is still winter. In milder climates, things start
to warm up in March while other climates take until April or even May, but in February,
most gardeners are still tapping their fingers. But we know this is not time to be wasted
— good gardens start with good planning, and February gives you lots of time to do that. So let’s
roll up our sleeves and get at it!

Plan – Continue plans for this year’s garden — new plants to try, seeds to sow, and tools to trial.
Speaking garden plans, February is a great month to look at your soil

• What Your Weeds Tell You About Your Garden Soil

• The Importance of Garden Worms
• 7 Reasons to Use Worm Poop in Your Garden

Prepare/Maintain – Remember to monitor the weather and water in your plants thoroughly
before a hard freeze. Ensure your plants have an adequate layer of mulch to protect them. Prune,
feed, and mulch your roses. Prune fruit trees and spray for any noticeable pest or disease issues.
Clean up birdhouses before they’re in demand again.

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 MONTHLY ORGANIC GARDENING GUIDE BY GARDEN ZONE

SOW & PLANT OUTDOORS SOW & PLANT INDOORS

Zones 7-8 can plant lettuce, cabbage, and onions. Zones 5-6 can start seeds of broccoli, cabbage,
Seeds of radish, lettuce, beets, turnips, and beets, cauliflower, kale, lettuce, onions, leeks, and
spinach can be directly sown outdoors. Remember spinach.
to stagger your plantings with new plants every two
weeks to prolong your harvest! Any seeds started Zones 7-8 can start eggplant, peppers, and tomato
indoors can be transplanted outside. Plant potatoes seeds.
in trenches.

Zone 10 can begin planting corn, cucumbers,

melons, squash, beans, peppers, and tomatoes —
just be prepared to cover them in the event of a late
frost.

HARVEST BY ZONE

Colder climates won’t be harvesting this month.

Zones 7-10 can continue to harvest a wide range of veggies including arugula, beets, leeks, parsnips,
chard, carrots, chives, fennel, chervil, kale, lettuce, onions, spinach, and sorrel.

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 MONTHLY ORGANIC GARDENING GUIDE BY GARDEN ZONE
Book title:
OBSERVATIONS:

Plan:
FEBRUARY GARDEN CHECKLIST

Prepare & Maintain:

Plant: Harvest:

GARDEN TIP:

The health of any individual plant or garden as a whole is only as good as the soil
it’s planted in, so for us, it all starts with good soil. “That’s great,” you might say,
“but how do I know if my soil is healthy?” Well, lots of different ways, but one
tried-and-true method is the soil test.

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 MONTHLY ORGANIC GARDENING GUIDE BY GARDEN ZONE

Garden: March
A weed is a plant that has mastered every survival skill except for learning how to grow in rows. ~ Doug Larson

G arden die-hards are happy when March rolls around, especially in the more mild
climates. Trees are budding out, birds are chirping, and everywhere around there are
signs of new life. Little wonder that Spring is the favorite season of so many people.
And those of you in colder climates — we haven’t forgotten about you! We realize it’s not your
high garden month, but you can console yourself with the fact that your time is drawing near.

Plan – March can be a month with unpredictable weather — remember to record significant
weather events in your garden journal. Make a list of new plants to include this year for our polli-
nator friends — milkweed for monarchs, dill and fennel for swallowtails, and rosemary, basil, par-
sley, cilantro, and dill blooms for bees.

Prepare/Maintain – Begin monitoring plants for pest and disease issues. Control weeds,
particularly in areas where the weather is warming up. Refresh mulch as necessary, and add soil
amendments and compost if needed.

Spring Lawn Care - Aerate. Aeration

is a process by which small plugs of soil are
removed so that air, water, and nutrients
get where they need to go. Over time and
with lots of traffic, soil becomes hard and
compressed, and thatch builds up. Aeration
addresses this problem.

The best time to aerate is in the

spring as things start heating up
— aerate cool season grasses like
Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue in
early Spring, and warm season grasses
like Bermuda grass and St. Augustine in
late Spring.

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 ORGANIC BUILDS LIFE

SOW & PLANT INDOORS

ZONE 3 If you have flowering shrubs, go ahead and prune them unless they are spring-
flowering. Water any shrubs you have near the foundation of your house if the soil
there is dry. Bring out your stored bulbs (tuberous begonias, calla lilies, dahlias,
cannas) and place them near a light source. Start seeds of cabbage, cauliflower,
marigolds, onions, tomatoes, Brussels sprouts, and asters indoors under grow lights.

ZONES 6-8 Start seeds for beets, cabbage, carrots, kale, lettuce, onions, peppers, spinach,
tomatoes and beans.

ZONES 9-10 Start seeds for Brussels sprouts, okra, watermelons and squash.

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 ORGANIC BUILDS LIFE

SOW & PLANT OUTDOORS

ZONE 6 This is a perfect month to plant roses, trees, and shrubs if you’re
enjoying mild weather. Move cauliflower and broccoli transplants
outdoors to a cold frame.
S et out your
favorite herbs
into the garden, but
wait a bit longer to
plant basil.
ZONES 7-8 Begin planting beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, kale,
spinach, turnips and corn. Heat-loving Swiss chard can also go
in at the middle of the month. Plant daisies, marigolds, petunias,
and snapdragons for early season color. Got any cool season
crops left to plant? Get them into the garden now — if you
F ertilize your lawn
at the end of the
month.
dawdle, the heat will do them in.

ZONES 9-10 Continue to plant all the same plants as Zone 8 with the
addition of beans, cucumbers, okra, sweet potatoes, eggplant,
squash, tomatoes and peppers. If you started seeds of peppers,
tomatoes, and eggplants last month, harden them off by moving
them outside. Be prepared to cover them or put them inside
T ake a look at
your citrus
trees, and carefully
a cold frame, and plant them in the garden when all danger of prune off any frost-
frost has passed. Add compost to the soil around established damaged parts.
trees and shrubs, as well as around new plants.

HARVEST BY ZONE

ZONES 9-10 Continue to harvest broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, onions,

T his is planting
month for you
lucky gardeners!
radish, turnips, lettuce, peas, and spinach as they become ready.

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 MONTHLY ORGANIC GARDENING GUIDE BY GARDEN ZONE
Book title:
OBSERVATIONS:

Plan:
MARCH GARDEN CHECKLIST

Prepare & Maintain:

Plant: Harvest:

COMPANION
PLANTING

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 MONTHLY ORGANIC GARDENING GUIDE BY GARDEN ZONE

Garden: April

S pring is finally here! Even though you might live in an area that’s still a bit chilly, there’s
no doubt that the garden is answering its annual wake-up call. Many gardeners call this
their favorite season of the year — it’s thrilling to see little seedlings emerging, green
leaves pushing their way out, and the first signs of color. This is often a very busy month, so let’s
organize our garden goals to keep on track.

Plan – Even though April is a big action month, successful gardens are always in the planning
stage. As your garden is waking up, so are the insects that inhabit it. Plan to take a daily tour
of your garden to be on the lookout for pesky creatures, and be prepared to take action if
necessary. Pill bugs, slugs, and snails cause lots of problems, so have your traps and baits at the
ready. Continue to update your garden journal with observations, weather notes, and planting
times.

Prepare/Maintain – If you planted winter cover crops, cut them down and turn them into
the soil two weeks before planting. Turn your compost pile, start a new one, and add compost
around your plants. Fertilize veggies with an organic foliar feed to keep them healthy.

Pests – Be on the lookout for garden pests and diseases. Aphids, beetles, thrips, and cutworms
can do quite a bit of damage seemingly overnight at this time of the year. It’s good to do a garden
inspection every couple of days to identify any possible problems. Remember to look under
leaves, along stems, at the base of the plant, and where new growth is emerging — these are all
favorite hiding places for damaging insects.

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 MONTHLY ORGANIC GARDENING GUIDE BY GARDEN ZONE

SOW & PLANT OUTDOORS HARVEST

Zones 5-6 can transplant tomatoes outside, but Zone 4 can harvest beets, collards, kale, spinach,
be prepared to cover them in the event of a cold and lettuce.
snap. Sow lettuce, carrots, spinach, radishes, beets,
and turnips. Repeat plantings every two weeks to Zones 5-6 can enjoy arugula, spinach, radishes,
ensure a continual harvest. lettuce, carrots, and kohlrabi.

Zones 7-8 can plant cantaloupe, cucumber, Zones 7-10 can harvest squash, beets, broccoli,
eggplant, okra, peppers, squash and tomatoes if you carrots, eggplant, greens, onions, peas, radishes,
haven’t already. and turnips as they become ready.

Zones 9-10 can plant everything in Zones 7-8

as well as directly sowing pumpkins and sweet
potatoes.

SOW & PLANT INDOORS

Because spring is here, much of our indoor seeding is complete.

However, if you live in chilly Zone 4 & 5 you can start seeds for tomatoes, broccoli, beets, Brussels
sprouts, sweet potatoes, peppers, peas, and carrots.

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 MONTHLY ORGANIC GARDENING GUIDE BY GARDEN ZONE
Book title:
OBSERVATIONS:

Plan:
APRIL GARDEN CHECKLIST

Prepare & Maintain:

Plant: Harvest:

PEST PATROL

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 MONTHLY ORGANIC GARDENING GUIDE BY GARDEN ZONE

Garden: May
I am a Gardener. What’s Your Super Power?

I t’s safe to say that even for the northernmost planting zones, spring is here! May is a busy
month in the garden, and it’s also a thrilling one. Morning strolls through the garden reveal
new seedlings popping up, flowers unfolding, and some veggies ripening. While it’s tempting
to plant everything at the first sign of a warm day, May has a tendency to bring unexpected
weather that can damage your garden. Late cold snaps, heavy rains, and strong winds are all still
possible, so be prepared to protect your garden from inclement weather.

Plan – If you kept up with your late winter/early spring chores and planning, May should be a
little easier. Still, it’s worth noting in your garden journal any successes you’ve experienced with
your plantings. Is there something that you might have planted sooner (or later) than you did?
What pests are you observing in the garden so far? How much rain are you getting?

Prepare/Maintain – Keep up with your weeding

chores — May can be a doozy! Reapply mulch if you
see any bare spots on the soil surface. Be sure your
irrigation system continues to operate efficiently as
the growing season heats up. If you live in an area
with watering restrictions or guidelines, make sure
your watering schedule honors that. Feed fruit
trees, and thin fruit to every 6” while the fruit is
still small.

Pollinators – Make sure you plant for the

monarchs. While they drink nectar from
a variety of flowers, Monarch butterflies
only eat milkweed, so it’s vital to plant a wide
range of native nectar plants as well as native
milkweed (Asclepias spp.).

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 MONTHLY ORGANIC GARDENING GUIDE BY GARDEN ZONE

SOW & PLANT OUTDOORS

Zones 3-4 can plant transplants of beans, tomatoes, peas, kale, melons, potatoes, and pumpkin.
They can directly sow seeds of kale and lettuce. When soil temperatures reach 60 degrees, Zone 4
gardeners can begin planting peppers and eggplant transplants.

Zones 5-6 can direct sow seeds of squash, lettuce, melons, cucumber, corn, and tomatoes.

Zones 7-8 can transplant beans, Brussels sprouts, corn, cabbage, peppers, cucumber, and squash.

Zones 9-10 can transplant Brussels sprouts, melons, okra, and squash if you haven’t already.

SOW & PLANT INDOORS HARVEST

Zones 3-4 may start seeds of Brussels sprouts, Zones 6-7 can harvest peas, beets, carrots,
kale, lettuce, pears, peppers, and spinach broccoli, cauliflower, kale, spinach, and lettuce.
under grow lights.
Zone 8 can harvest beets, carrots, broccoli,
Zones 5-7 can start seeds of beans, corn, cauliflower, kale, lettuce, peas, and spinach.
pumpkin, cucmber, onion, and squash.
Zones 9-10 can harvest beans, garlic, cabbage,
All other zones continue with outdoor planting carrots, cauliflower, corn, cucumber, onions,
and sowing. potatoes, radish, squash, peppers, and
tomatoes.

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 MONTHLY ORGANIC GARDENING GUIDE BY GARDEN ZONE
Book title:
OBSERVATIONS:

Plan:
MAY GARDEN CHECKLIST

Prepare & Maintain:

Plant: Harvest:

FALL GARDEN PLAN 

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 MONTHLY ORGANIC GARDENING GUIDE BY GARDEN ZONE

Garden: June
I like gardening - it’s a place where I find myself when I need to lose myself. ~Alice Sebold

J une 21 is the official first day of summer, but for many gardeners, it’s full-on heat already!
By now, you’ve likely planted much of your warm season garden, but planting and garden
chores continue this month in spite of the heat or humidity. Follow this checklist to stay
current with your June garden chores, always remembering to consult your local garden experts
on the best times to plant.

Plan – Remember last year when you had so many zucchini, tomatoes, and figs that you didn’t
know what to do with them? Make a plan now for creative ways to use your surplus harvest so it
doesn’t go to waste.

• How to Safely Preserve Your Organic Harvest

• Fun Foods to Ferment

Have a watering plan in place to ensure your garden gets adequate irrigation when rainfall levels
are low and temps are high.

Prepare/Maintain – From planting, watering, weeding, and even harvesting, June keeps a
gardener busy. It’s good to set goals for your garden.

Provide support structures or cages for peas, cucumbers, beans, or tomatoes. Be on the
lookout for garden pests like stinkbugs, grasshoppers, snails/slugs, and caterpillars — they can
do enormous damage overnight. Make sure all planted beds (both edible and ornamental) are
adequately mulched to suppress weeds and preserve soil moisture.

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 MONTHLY ORGANIC GARDENING GUIDE BY GARDEN ZONE

SOW & PLANT OUTDOORS

Zone 4: Harden off tomato, pepper, and eggplant transplants and get them out into the garden. Go
ahead and directly sow seeds of squash, sweet potatoes, rutabagas, okra, cucumbers, beets, corn,
leaf lettuce, and lima beans into the garden as well. Plant container roses, shrubs, trees, as well as
warm-season annuals and heat-loving herbs.

Zones 5-6: Direct sow seeds of bush beans, pole beans, cucumbers, squash, and melons. You can also
direct sow kale, salad greens (only heat-tolerant varieties), carrots, beets, and radishes. Get tomato-
es, eggplant, and peppers in the ground, too, as well as warm season annuals.

Zones 7-8: Continue succession planting pole beans, bush beans, winter squash, okra, black-eyed
peas, and Malabar spinach. Most herbs can still be planted, as well as warm season annuals. If you’re
planting perennials, be sure to give them plenty of regular water to get established, and avoid plan-
ting during heat waves when your plants can get stressed.

Pests – From planting, watering, weeding, and even harvesting, June keeps a gardener
busy. The only problem is, the bugs and pests are also busy — they love a thriving garden as
much as you do! Luckily there are natural ways to get rid of destructive pests and insects.
As always, cultivating strong and healthy plants goes a long way to deterring unwanted and
damaging garden pests — start with healthy soil and ensure adequate sunlight and water.
Next purchasing and attracting the good bugs for organic pest control will also help you
win the bug battle.

SOW & PLANT INDOORS HARVEST

Zones 7-10: Get ready for fall gardening by Zones 4-6: Harvest beets, turnips, kale,
starting seeds of tomatoes, peppers, and lettuce, cauliflower, broccoli, and asparagus.
eggplant.
Zones 7-10: Harvest beets, squash, Malabar
spinach, corn, beans, cucumbers, tomatoes,
peppers, potatoes, and eggplant.

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 MONTHLY ORGANIC GARDENING GUIDE BY GARDEN ZONE
Book title:
OBSERVATIONS:

Plan:
JUNE GARDEN CHECKLIST

Prepare & Maintain:

Plant: Harvest:

DON'T FORGET: 

Make notes about fruits and veggies that are super tasty, as well as the
annuals that are thriving or bugs that are munching. You only think
you’ll remember, and we don’t want you kicking yourself later.

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 MONTHLY ORGANIC GARDENING GUIDE BY GARDEN ZONE

Garden: July

W hile June temps can still be on the cooler side in some of the milder climates,
July is the great equalizer. No matter where you live, July’s strong sun and high
temperatures make gardening a bit of a challenge for both the garden and the
gardener alike. But no worries — we’ve got a July garden checklist to keep you cool and on track!

Plan – Remember the garden journal we talked about? Now’s the time to use it — record what
you planted and where, how things are growing, and any unusual pests, diseases, or weather is-
sues that you notice. Take photos to keep the details fresh, and jot down notes for the fall gar-
den.

Prepare/Maintain – Continue to stay on top of weeds so they don’t take over your veggies or
flowers. Water deeply but less frequently to avoid stressing your plants, and water earlier in the
morning to give everything a better chance to withstand the afternoon heat.

• Summer Lawn Watering Tips

• Shading Plants From Summer Heat

Get your container plantings and annual flowers on a regular fertilizing schedule using organic
materials. Remove and dispose of any dead or diseased plants, mulch or use cover crops to
protect soil surfaces, and collect seeds from plants that are doing well. You’ll be happy next year
that you did!

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 MONTHLY ORGANIC GARDENING GUIDE BY GARDEN ZONE

SOW & PLANT OUTDOORS SOW & PLANT INDOORS

Most zones can plant almost anything right now, While most of our garden activity focuses
from veggies and fruits to perennials and annuals. outdoors, there are still indoor garden chores to do,
If you live in areas of high heat, avoid planting trees particularly if you are planning ahead for your fall
and large shrubs during this time, however — the garden.
soaring temps will stress them too much while they
are getting established. Zones 4-6 may pre-sprout peas (snow and sugar
snap) and start seeds for broccoli, carrots, spinach,
Zone 4 can set out transplants of broccoli, lettuce, kale, and beets.
cauliflower, and cabbage as well as a second crop of
green beans and summer squash. Seeds of kale and Zone 7 can start seeds for cabbage.
Asian greens can be sown for fall harvest.
Zones 9-10: can start seeds for peppers, Brussels
Zones 5-6 can plant cilantro, bush beans, and sprouts, cabbage, and tomatoes for the fall season.
summer squash, as well as carrots, kale, beets, and
chard for fall harvest.

Zones 7-8 can start more tomatoes, peppers,

and eggplant for late summer harvest, and beans,
squash, turnips, beets, carrots, and lettuce for the
fall.

HARVEST BY ZONE
Zones 4-5: Continue to harvest lettuce, spinach, beets, and carrots when they are ready.

Zones 6-7: Harvest lettuce, onions, cabbage, and tomatoes at the end of the month.

Zones 8-10: Harvest squash, cucumbers, melons, and tomatoes at the end of the month.

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 MONTHLY ORGANIC GARDENING GUIDE BY GARDEN ZONE
Book title:
OBSERVATIONS:

Plan:
JULY GARDEN CHECKLIST

Prepare & Maintain:

Plant: Harvest:

PLANT PROTECTION: HEAT, WATER, DISEASE

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 MONTHLY ORGANIC GARDENING GUIDE BY GARDEN ZONE

Garden: August
The love of gardening is a seed once sown that never dies ~ Gertrude Jekyll

C ome August, many gardens and gardeners are just bone weary. The summer heat has
taken its toll, and in some of the warmer climates, August is the hottest month of the
year. To combat the late summer blues, stay strong and start planning for your fall garden
— just the thought of cooler weather is often enough to help me hang in there.

Plan – continue updating your garden journal, making notes about heat, temperatures, humi-
dity, and rainfall. Have shadecloth on hand to give your summer veggies a bit of a break from the
strong sun — my peppers, in particular, appreciate this gesture. Begin planning for your fall garden
— what to plant, and where and when to plant it. Order your garlic for fall planting.

Prepare/Maintain – Remove flowers on pumpkin vines and tomato plants to direct the plant’s
energy into growing the existing fruit.

Prune tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant to encourage new growth. Your peppers, tomatoes,
squash, and eggplant may even appreciate a bit of fertilizer to catch their second wind. Cut basil
back to keep it from going to seed.

Remove dead or dying plants — it’s not

worth the extra effort to keep them alive
this late in the summer. Cooler climates
should watch the forecast for early frosts
— be prepared to protect plants from
damage.

Warmer climates can continue planting

and harvesting. All climates can save seeds
from the best and healthiest plants in the
garden.

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 MONTHLY ORGANIC GARDENING GUIDE BY GARDEN ZONE

SOW & PLANT INDOORS HARVEST

Zone 6 can start carrots, kale, lettuce, and Zones 4-5 can harvest lettuce, spinach,
peas. squash, carrots, cucumbers, and beans.

Zones 6-7 can harvest Brussels sprouts,

SOW & PLANT OUTDOORS celery, tomatoes, squash, potatoes,
Zone 4 can plant any remaining beets, cucumbers, corn, and beans.
broccoli and carrots as well as fast-growing
cool weather lettuces and spinach in cold Zones 8-10 can harvest celery, sweet
frames. potatoes, potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants,
peppers, corn, and beans.
Zones 5-6 can plant any remaining beans,
beets, broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts,
carrots, and spinach.
LAWNS & LANDSCAPES
Zones 7-8 can sow seeds of corn, cucumbers,
squash, and dill in the garden. Set out Zones 9-11 remove dead, damaged, or
transplants of tomatoes, peppers, basil, and diseased wood on trees as soon as you
eggplant for fall harvest. Transplant any observe it, but save major pruning for the
indoor seedlings of broccoli, cauliflower, dormant season. Raise the height of your
collards, chard, and cabbage into the garden, mower blade to 1” – 1 ½” to help your lawn
but be prepared to cover them with shade thrive in the late summer heat.
cloth if temps get above 90 degrees.

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 MONTHLY ORGANIC GARDENING GUIDE BY GARDEN ZONE
Book title:
OBSERVATIONS:

Plan:
AUGUST GARDEN CHECKLIST

Prepare & Maintain:

Plant: Harvest:

FALL GARDEN PLAN 

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 MONTHLY ORGANIC GARDENING GUIDE BY GARDEN ZONE

Garden: September
There are no gardening mistakes, only experiments. ~Janet Kilburn Phillips

A h, September! The kids are back to school, the mornings are getting crisper, and there’s
a sense of fall in the air. For those living in warmer climates, that sense of fall might
just be in your head, but we’ll take what we can get, right? There’s something about the
promise of this change of season that is both relaxing and exciting — but let’s not get ahead of
ourselves, because there’s still plenty to do if you follow our September Garden Checklist!

Plan – With summer’s end in sight, be sure to complete all your notes about your summer gar-
den in your journal. What new plant surprised you? What would you plant more of next year?
Any do-overs on your list? How was the weather, and how did it impact your garden?

Prepare/Maintain – No matter your zone, September is a prep month for almost every
gardener.

Harvest your vegetable garden before danger of frost or freeze, or to make room for your fall
plantings. Put spent leaves and plants (veggies, perennial clippings, annual flowers) into your
compost pile. Gather herbs for drying or freezing, and collect valuable seeds for next year. Use
winter rye as a cover crop in colder climates.

Warmer Zones 7-10 will need to continue shading your soil until the temperatures start to drop
in earnest.

Fall Lawn Care Tip – Sow grass seed. Got thin

spots in your lawn? Now’s the time to fill ‘em in.
Scratch the soil with a hard rake, scatter your grass
seed, and cover with a light layer of compost or high-
quality garden soil. Water frequently until grass seed
germinates.

• Fertilizing Your Fall Lawn In 6 Steps

• Prepare Your Winter Lawn In 5 Steps

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 MONTHLY ORGANIC GARDENING GUIDE BY GARDEN ZONE

SOW & PLANT OUTDOORS SOW & PLANT INDOORS

Zones 4-6 can plant garlic and shallots, as well as Zones 7-10 can still plant outdoors, but it’s also fun
spinach either under row covers or in cold frames. to get a head start on anything you’d like to plant
for the cooler months. Start seeds of cool season
Zones 7-10 can plant greens, beets, turnips, annuals, greens, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, beets,
radishes, lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, and bok and radishes.
choy.

Zone 10 still has time for a last round of squash,

cucumbers, and okra, final plantings of tomatoes
and peppers, and cool season greens.

HARVEST BY ZONE

Zone 4 can harvest turnips, parsnips, apples, carrots, greens, beets, pears, and persimmons.

Zones 5-10 can harvest pretty much everything from basil, beans, beets, cucumbers, and eggplant to
greens, peppers, squash, tomatoes, and sweet potatoes.

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 MONTHLY ORGANIC GARDENING GUIDE BY GARDEN ZONE
Book title:
OBSERVATIONS:

Plan:
SEPTEMBER GARDEN CHECKLIST

Prepare & Maintain:

Plant: Harvest:

GARDEN CLEAN UP: 

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 MONTHLY ORGANIC GARDENING GUIDE BY GARDEN ZONE

Garden: October
The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. ~ Alfred Austin

I t’s October, and I don’t care where you live, it’s fall. In my area of the country we might still
be experiencing 80+ degrees, but hey, the mornings are cooler, right? And those cooler
mornings make gardening even more enjoyable — which is perfect timing, as October is a
huge garden month. So grab your Pumpkin Spice latte and go get some gardening done!

Plan – Now’s the time to take a final inventory of this year’s garden. Did you plant too much of
something? Was a new variety a winner for you? What bombed? Why did it bomb? What veggie
did your family absolutely love? Make notes in your garden journal and refer to them next year.

Prepare/Maintain – Collect leaves

for composting and mulching — ask your
neighbors for theirs! Take a garden inventory
and notice where your soil is bare; you’ll
want to cover that up with mulch to avoid
winter weeds from germinating. If you sowed
seeds of carrots, beets, greens, or lettuce
last month, go ahead and thin them out
now. Gardeners in cooler climates can mulch
strawberries and asparagus.

Pests – While we tend to think of

springtime as the busiest season for
pesky bug activity, the fall brings its own
set of garden-damaging creatures. That’s
because many insects are seeking new
homes for the colder months, so they are
actively moving around your garden in the
few months leading up to them. The lawn
damage you see in the spring from grubs
actually happened in the fall of the previous
year, so let’s crack down on these infamous
pests now.

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 MONTHLY ORGANIC GARDENING GUIDE BY GARDEN ZONE

SOW & PLANT OUTDOORS HARVEST

Zones 4-6 can plant garlic and shallots, as well Zones 4-7 can harvest and enjoy spinach,
as spinach and parsnips in a cold frame. lettuce, parsnips, kale, Brussels sprouts,
cabbage, and carrots. These gardeners can
Zones 7-10 can plant garlic, leeks, onions, and also begin digging sweet potatoes (time it as
shallots. They can also sow seeds of beets, the leaves start to fall) and harvest winter
carrots, mustard, turnips, spinach, lettuce, squash.
Chinese cabbage, radishes, and bok choy. Set
out strawberry plants. Plant trees and shrubs. Zones 7-10 can continue to harvest squash,
late season tomatoes, peppers, radishes,
broccoli, beans, bok choy, eggplant, kale, and
lettuce.

SOW & PLANT INDOORS

Zones 7-10 can sow cool weather veggie seeds for transplanting.

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 MONTHLY ORGANIC GARDENING GUIDE BY GARDEN ZONE
Book title:
OBSERVATIONS:

Plan:
OCTOBER GARDEN CHECKLIST

Prepare & Maintain:

Plant: Harvest:

GARDEN CHORES: 

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 MONTHLY ORGANIC GARDENING GUIDE BY GARDEN ZONE

Garden: November
If you’ve never experienced the joy of accomplishing more than you can imagine, plant a garden.
~ Robert Brault

F or some parts of the country, November signals the end of the garden season while in
other parts, gardening is ongoing. Wherever you live, there are some garden tasks that
will help your garden remain strong and healthy. Consult this November garden checklist
to keep your garden looking its best — and remember, it’s always good to consult with your local
county extension office or a local trusted garden center for more specific recommendations for
your area.

Plan – Start planning next year’s garden — It’s always a good idea to have a stack of garden bo-
oks and magazines on hand to inspire you. And don’t forget about indoor gardening, as the win-
ter months are an ideal time to focus on creating amazing tablescapes, hanging gardens, and wall
planters.

Prepare/Maintain – Water thoroughly before a freeze to insulate your plants, have row covers
at the ready to protect tender plants, and mulch all exposed soil. Clean, sharpen, and store
your garden tools for the winter if you live in a colder climate. Clean up all plant debris to avoid
existing pest and disease issues from overwintering in your garden. Turn your compost pile if you
have a “hot” pile. If you planted seeds last month (carrots, beets, lettuce, greens), go ahead and
thin them now. If you’ve stored onions, potatoes, and garlic, check them for spoilage.

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 MONTHLY ORGANIC GARDENING GUIDE BY GARDEN ZONE

SOW & PLANT OUTDOORS SOW & PLANT INDOORS

Cooler climates like Zones 5-6 can plant Colder climates like Zones 4-6 can plant
garlic and shallots. parsley and lettuce in pots for an indoor
winter garden (place them by a bright window
Warmer climates like Zones 9-10 can plant for best results).
out kale, peas, spinach, broccoli, cauliflower,
onions, and any remaining lettuce.

HARVEST

Zones 6-7 can harvest spinach, parsnips, kale, lettuce, broccoli, and carrots.

Zones 8-9 can harvest sweet potatoes, pumpkins, cauliflower, radishes, arugula, bok choy, broccoli,
collards, kale, lettuces, and beets.

Zone 10 can harvest beans, carrots, kale, cucumbers, lettuce, and peas.

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 MONTHLY ORGANIC GARDENING GUIDE BY GARDEN ZONE
Book title:
OBSERVATIONS:

Plan:
NOVEMBER GARDEN CHECKLIST

Prepare & Maintain:

Plant: Harvest:

SEED NOTES: 

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 MONTHLY ORGANIC GARDENING GUIDE BY GARDEN ZONE

Garden: December
My garden is my most beautiful masterpiece. – Claude Monet

M uch of our attention this month is on the holidays, not necessarily out in the garden.
The days are shorter, and our time seems to be even shorter yet. While we enjoy the
holidays and everything it brings, we can still keep our gardening muscles flexed. After
all, we’re gardeners — a little cold weather and blustery winds won’t keep us down, right?

Here’s your December garden checklist to stay the course, but remember, your local extension
office or trusted garden center will likely have more specific information for your particular area
of the country.

Plan – Remember the garden journal you started last month? Now’s the time to start writing in
it! Record first freezes or any significant weather event, create your goals for the coming garden
year, and order seeds for sowing. If you live in an area of periodic drought you can also record
monthly rainfall levels.

Prepare/Maintain – Continue to monitor your stored onions, tomatoes, garlic, and peppers
for spoilage. Plant cover crops after the final harvest or plantings, collect leaves for your compost
pile, and keep your frost blankets at the ready to protect tender plants. Gardeners in mild
climates can begin creating new beds for spring planting.

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 MONTHLY ORGANIC GARDENING GUIDE BY GARDEN ZONE

SOW & PLANT OUTDOORS SOW & PLANT INDOORS

Sadly, colder climates won’t be able to plant All Zones: Unfortunately, you’ll want to wait
outdoors. until January/February to start your seeds for
your Spring vegetable garden next year. The
Zones 9-10 if the weather permits, go ahead good news is you can always use a grow light
and plant cold-hardy vegetables such as or sunny windowsill to plant an herb garden
broccoli, celery, kale, eggplant, basil, leaks, with herbs such as oregano, chives, mint,
and onions. rosemary, or thyme. You could also consider
planting indoor microgreens such as spicy
mustard, sunflower, or pea.

HARVEST
Zones 6-8 can harvest any remaining vegetables in the garden.

Zones 8-10 can harvest the same, specifically beets, bok choy, broccoli, lettuce, spinach, carrots,
cauliflower, kale, pea, and cabbage.

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 MONTHLY ORGANIC GARDENING GUIDE BY GARDEN ZONE
Book title:
OBSERVATIONS:

Plan:
DECEMBER GARDEN CHECKLIST

Prepare & Maintain:

Plant: Harvest:

GARDEN PLANNING 

Sometimes new garden features and ideas need a little time to think through
and plan out — not something easily accomplished when you’re in the thick of
garden season. So sit back, and arm yourself with paper and pencil, garden
books and magazines; we’re getting it done.

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 MONTHLY ORGANIC GARDENING GUIDE BY GARDEN ZONE

Kellogg Garden Organics

K ellogg Garden Products, family-owned and operated since its establishment in 1925 by our
founder, H. Clay Kellogg, now spans four generations. The company continues its success as
a steadfast business, guided by Mr. Kellogg’s original core values: innovation, loyalty, experience,
commitment, and generosity.

These values have led our company to seek the highest level of organic rigor in all its branded
products.

In 2012, Kellogg Garden Products committed

to strictly follow the USDA’s National Organic
Program (NOP) guidelines for manufacturing
all Kellogg Garden Organics and G&B Organics
branded soils and fertilizers.

At Kellogg Garden Products,

Organic is more than a word on a
Every ingredient and every process used to label. Building Life – In the Soil, In
produce our branded products has been verified Waterways, and In Communities
100% compliant as organic, all the way back to the – is what it means to us.
source, meeting all federal guidelines.

All our branded products are approved by the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s
stringent Organic Input Materials (OIM) program, as well as the Organic Materials Review
Institute (OMRI) — the leading independent review agency accredited by the USDA NOP.

Kellogg is still the first and only manufacturer to have all our branded organic soils and fertilizers
OIM approved and OMRI Listed, making Kellogg the first to offer Proven Organic soils and
fertilizers that build life in the soil. Since 1925, we continue to strive to be the leading organic

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