A Beginner’s Garden Calendar for the Southeast U.S.: What to Do Each Week and Month

Gardening in the Southeast is both a blessing and a challenge. The long growing season, warm climate, and abundant rainfall mean you can enjoy fresh produce almost year-round. But that same climate also brings intense heat, relentless humidity, and persistent pests. For beginners, keeping track of what to plant, when to harvest, and how to protect your garden can feel overwhelming. That’s where a garden calendar comes in handy.

This guide breaks down the gardening year in the Southeast into clear monthly tasks, with easy weekly habits to keep you on track. Whether you’re growing tomatoes in Georgia, herbs in Alabama, or flowers in Florida, this calendar is designed to help you succeed without confusion.

Understanding the Southeast Garden Rhythm

Unlike northern states, where frost limits gardening to a narrow season, the Southeast enjoys nearly year-round gardening opportunities. Still, the region’s unique climate creates its own rhythm:

• Mild winters: January and February are perfect for planning, soil prep, and even planting cool-season crops.

• Early spring heat: Warm-season plants can often go into the ground earlier than in other parts of the country.

• Hot, humid summers: Gardeners must focus on watering, mulching, and pest control to keep crops alive.

• Long fall harvest: Cooler temperatures in late September through November allow a second planting season.

If you follow the natural flow of the seasons, your Southeast garden can provide fresh food and flowers almost continuously.

Month-by-Month Gardening in the Southeast

Here’s your beginner-friendly month-by-month guide for the Southeast U.S. Adjust slightly for your state and USDA zone (most of the region falls in Zones 7–9, while parts of Florida extend to Zone 10–11).

January – Planning and Soil Prep

• Order seeds and supplies.

• Start broccoli, cabbage, and lettuce indoors.

• Test your soil and add compost or lime if needed.

• Plant onions, asparagus crowns, and bare-root fruit trees in milder zones.

February – Early Cool Crops

• Direct sow peas, spinach, and radishes outdoors.

• Start tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants indoors.

• Prune fruit trees and grapevines.

• Weed beds before spring growth takes off.

March – Spring Takes Off

• Plant potatoes, beets, carrots, and kale.

• Transplant broccoli, cabbage, and lettuce outdoors.

• Fertilize fruit trees as new growth appears.

• Install irrigation or soaker hoses before the heat arrives.

April – Warm Season Begins

• Transplant tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers outdoors.

• Direct sow beans, corn, squash, and melons.

• Mulch heavily to conserve moisture.

• Watch for pests like aphids and caterpillars.

May – The Heat Arrives

• Water deeply 2–3 times per week.

• Harvest spring crops like lettuce and peas.

• Plant okra, sweet potatoes, and southern peas (cowpeas).

• Thin fruit on peach and apple trees for bigger harvests.

June – Summer Maintenance

• Stake or cage tomatoes and peppers.

• Harvest beans, cucumbers, squash, and early corn.

• Side-dress crops with compost or organic fertilizer.

• Monitor for squash bugs, hornworms, and fungal diseases.

July – High Summer Challenges

• Harvest tomatoes, peppers, okra, and melons daily.

• Water consistently—heat stress is common.

• Pull spent spring crops and replace with cover crops or heat-loving varieties.

• Start planning fall plantings.

August – Preparing for Fall

• Sow fall crops like collards, kale, spinach, and carrots.

• Plant another round of beans and cucumbers for late harvest.

• Keep up with watering and mulching.

• Preserve extra harvests by freezing or canning.

September – A Second Spring

• Plant broccoli, cabbage, lettuce, and beets.

• Continue harvesting summer crops like okra and peppers.

• Refresh mulch and compost soil.

• Watch for caterpillars and other fall pests.

October – Peak Fall Planting

• Sow garlic and onions for next year.

• Plant cool-weather flowers like pansies and snapdragons.

• Harvest sweet potatoes and pumpkins.

• Protect tender crops from early frosts in northern zones.

November – Wrapping Up

• Continue harvesting kale, collards, and carrots.

• Mulch perennials and winterize beds.

• Clean and oil tools.

• Reflect on successes and challenges from the year.

December – Rest and Reflect

• Enjoy greens, root crops, and stored harvests.

• Plan new raised beds or trellises.

• Order next year’s seeds.

• Take a well-earned break—gardening begins again soon!

Weekly Habits for Southeast Gardeners

In addition to the monthly schedule, here are essential weekly habits to keep your Southeast garden thriving:

1. Water deeply – Shallow watering encourages weak roots. Focus on 1–2 inches per week.

2. Weed early – Weeds thrive in warm, humid climates. Pull them before they seed.

3. Scout for pests – Check the underside of leaves for insects and treat early.

4. Harvest often – Frequent picking encourages plants like cucumbers and beans to keep producing.

5. Mulch generously – Helps with heat stress and moisture retention.

6. Rotate crops – Avoid planting the same vegetables in the same spot each season.

Southeast Garden Calendar at a Glance

Here’s a quick-reference table you can use all year:

Conclusion: Gardening in the Southeast as a Year-Round Adventure

For beginners in the Southeast, gardening isn’t just a springtime hobby—it’s a year-round adventure. With mild winters, early springs, hot summers, and long falls, you can grow something almost every month of the year.

A garden calendar helps you stay ahead of the weather, pests, and seasonal transitions. By breaking tasks into manageable monthly and weekly steps, you’ll avoid overwhelm and enjoy steady progress.

Start small, keep notes, and adapt this schedule to your own yard, balcony, or raised beds. In time, you’ll find your own rhythm with the seasons. And remember: gardening here isn’t just about plants—it’s about patience, resilience, and celebrating the gift of a climate that lets us grow more than most.

So grab your gloves, follow the calendar, and let your Southeast garden surprise you with abundance all year long.