Having a garden is one of my favorite things each summer! Even after several years of having my own garden, I am still learning. That is why I am sharing this comprehensive list of what to plant in your garden so you can be prepared and get a great harvest all summer long!
I really was unsure about a lot of things, but let me tell you, there is nothing that can teach you faster than just doing it and learning from mistakes or good things. I am far from perfect at gardening, but I wanted to share with you what I have learned and if you know something I don’t, please feel free to share it with us so everyone can benefit.
“What to plant in my area?”
The biggest questions are ‘What do you want to plant?’ and “What CAN I Plant for my area?” If you haven’t already, you need to figure out where to put your garden! We give a lot of great tips and advice HERE so be sure to read that as well.
You need to first figure out what zone you are in. This will determine what you can plant and when. You can look at the map below and see your zone. If you want to try and really dial it down, you can go to the USDA site and click on your state for more details.
Now that you have figured out what zone you are in, you will use that to determine what you can plant. I have made a list of what grows well in central Utah to give you an idea of what to look for.
If you are looking for something more specific, you can do a quick search to find it. (this is a great resource). Once you have your list of what you want to plant, you will need to figure out when you can plant it all.
What to plant in Zone 6 (Central UTAH)
What to plant outdoors in March/April:
These will be planted directly into the ground as soon as it can be worked. Usually beginning to mid April.
- Beets
- Carrots
- Chard
- Lettuce
- Peas (English and Sugar Snap only)
- Spinach
- Radishes
- Potatoes
What to plant indoors in March/April:
These seeds will be planted in starters in your house. That way they will be ready to plant in Mid-May when the weather has warmed up enough. You will want to start these as early as mid-March.
- Broccoli
- Brussel Sprouts
- Cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Collards
- Eggplants
- Kale
- Lettuce
- Mustard
- Onions
- Peppers
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
If you feel like there might be a chance of frost, you will want to cover each plant with plastic milk jugs (with the bottoms cut off) or a light tarp or blanket to keep the frost off the plants. Once the danger of frost is over, you don’t have to worry about this (about mid-May).
What to plant in Late April/Early May:
Fruit is a great addition to every garden. These can be planted on fence lines or where they can have some space. These will come back year after year with the proper care, so plan carefully.
- Strawberries
- Raspberries
- Blackberries
- Grapes
What to plant in Mid-May:
When ALL danger of frost is gone, you will want to get the rest of your garden planted. Make sure you pick a sunny spot and keep follow the directions for watering and harvesting. Also don’t forget to
- Beans
- Brussel Sprouts
- Cabbage
- Corn
- Cucumbers
- Squash
- Tomatoes
- Peppers
- Potatoes
- Peas (Southern)
- Sweet Potatoes
- Watermelon
What to plant in June/July: (you can replant these items)
- Beets
- Broccoli
- Carrots
- Kale
- Lettuce
- Peas
- Spinach
- Corn
- Cucumbers
- Potatoes
- Radishes
The reason for waiting until mid-May for some of the items is so that you don’t have to deal with frost killing your plants. You may want to wait even later depending on your weather and where you live. That is why the zone map is so important!
Make your own garden planting calendar
Now that you have an idea of what a garden planting calendar looks like, I encourage you to sit down and use a notebook that you will use just for
Remember this is just an example of what a garden planting calendar looks like. It is hard to remember that you can replant mid-summer so you have a great crop in the fall.
To find out more about what you can plant in your area, visit garden.org for a customized plan.
What a great guide! Thank you. Although I’m going to be honest. I have never been able to plant strawberries in my zone. They say start early May, but they never seem close to being ready by fall. However, that may have nothing to do with my zone and more to do with my gardening skills.