I know it is January, and it may seem a bit early to think about gardening, but I need to get plans in place before life gets more chaotic.

In an effort to simplify my tasks and create a more peaceful routine, I had already made up a file card system… the problem is that I keep misplacing it as it doesn’t have a true home yet. I will attempt to outline the major tasks in this post, so I can access it from anywhere 🙂 You may feel free to use it or copy, if it suits you.

Here are the planning sheets that I created to help me:

I will be using the back of the sheets to keep notes of where I plant things out so that I can update my Gardening app later on. I can also use the back of the animal sheet to sketch ideas for new pens or notes about rotating animals.

Month by Month Tasks

The garden tasks will be listed monthly so I am putting the animal tasks first to save a little time.

Animal Tasks

Every month, I will need to buy animal feed of some sort, as we don’t have a secure storage place for large amounts of feed. I have a checklist on my phone, but I will be writing it out on a sheet to use as a ‘Master List’ in the event that someone else needs to take over this task. I will also start taking one of the older kids with me and letting them place the order for the feed and handle the payments. This will help them develop important skills and may also help make a connection that the feed is not FREE, and we need to make sure that it is not WASTED.

Every month, we also rotate through some of the bigger tasks like cleaning out the different coops, cleaning out different animal pens, and maybe we will add butchering to the rotation this year. I still have a couple of unfinished coops and pens that will be added to this month’s To-Do’s they will get transferred to the following month until they are completed.

Garden Tasks

These tasks will vary depending on your gardening zone, but many times your local cooperative extension office will have guides that you can follow for planting times. It will also vary with what you plant. We are zone 9A.

We have a greenhouse, so we try to start as many plants as possible. There are some times that I don’t get things started when I should, or things may take a little longer to get to the size I need them to be, so I will purchase a few plants. I also need to buy seeds as I have not built up a good seed bank yet, so I like to stop at the local Farm Store that is on my way home from the Feed Store… stacking those tasks really helps a lot!

Having my lists ready will help too, as I can snap a picture of what I need to get before I leave and grab everything at one time. By breaking these up into smaller purchases throughout the year, I can set a small monthly garden budget and save money for bigger items, like fruit trees.

I have a couple of things I want to try this year so I’ll need to be sure to pencil these in somewhere:

• Mushrooms
• Chaos gardening
• Edible flowers

One thing you will want to note on your planner is your last frost date for the Spring, and first frost date for the Fall.

You will notice that some things are mentioned in succession, as we try to plant them multiple times through the season to keep a fresh supply available. If we have too many plants, we can always share them with neighbors or trade them with people in the community for plants that we don’t have.

January

It is still cold here in January, and we often have a day or two of really cold temperatures, so we can’t put out a lot just yet.

Transplant:

• Beets
• Broccoli
• Brussels Sprouts
• Cabbages
• Collards – we treat these as perennials here, and just plant new ones to fill in any gaps
• Fruit trees/bushes that are dormant
• Kale – we treat these as perennials here, and just plant new ones to fill in any gaps
• Lettuces
• Mustards
• Spinach
• Sugar Cane – I just leave some of mine to keep growing through the winter, and it resprouts in the Spring.
• Swiss Chard

These can be transplanted but may need a little extra frost protection:

• Celery
• Potatoes

Direct Seed:

• Bunching Onions/Chives
• Carrots
• Peas
• Radishes
• Turnips

To Start:

• Cucumbers
• Eggplant – I just leave some of mine to keep growing through the winter, and it resprouts in the Spring.
• Ginger/Turmeric- I just leave some of mine to keep growing through the winter, and it resprouts in the Spring.
• Flowers/Herbs
• Melons
• Peppers – I just leave some of mine to keep growing through the winter, and they resprout in the Spring.
• Squash
• Swiss Chard
• Tomatillo
• Tomato
• Spinach
• Sweet Potatoes – I just leave some of mine to keep growing through the winter, and they resprout in the Spring.

To Buy:

• Beans
• Carrots
• Corn
• Cucumbers
• Melons
• Okra
• Onions
• Peanuts
• Peas
• Radishes
• Squash

Other Tasks:

• Repair any beds that need attention.
• Buy new beds, if needed
• Order mulch/top soil, if needed
• Refresh beds with compost and/or soil
• Work on bed layouts/Rotational Planting/Companion Planting
• Winter Solstice Pruning, if it hasn’t been finished
• Harvest as often as possible

---

February

It is still cold here in February, and we often have a day or two of really cold temperatures, so we can’t put out a lot just yet. Our last frost date is usually just around the corner.

Transplant:

• Beets
• Broccoli
• Brussels Sprouts
• Cabbages
• Cauliflower
• Collards – we treat these as perennials here, and just plant new ones to fill in any gaps
• Kale/Chard – we treat these as perennials here, and just plant new ones to fill in any gaps
• Lettuces
• Mustards
• Spinach
• Swiss Chard

These can be transplanted but may need a little extra frost protection:

• Celery
• Potatoes
• Tomatillos
• Tomatoes

Direct Seed:

• Bunching Onions
• Carrots
• Corn
• Melons
• Peas
• Radishes
• Squash
• Turnips

To Start:

• Amaranth
• Flowers/Herbs
• Ginger/Turmeric – I just leave some of mine to keep growing through the winter, and it resprouts in the Spring.
• Luffa
• Papaya
• Passion Fruit
• Roselle
• Seminole Pumpkins
• Sweet Potatoes/Yams – I just leave some of mine to keep growing through the winter, and it resprouts in the Spring.
• Tomatillo
• Tomato

To Buy:

• Beans
• Corn
• Cucumbers
• Melons
• Okra
• Peanuts
• Peas
• Squash

Other Tasks:

• Buy new beds, if needed
• Repair any beds that need attention.
• Refresh beds with compost and/or soil
• Set up bird feeders
• Work on bed layouts/Rotational Planting/Companion Planting
• Harvest as often as possible

---

March

Our last frost date usually happens sometime in late February or early March, which means we can get to planting.

Transplant:

• Eggplant
• Ginger/Turmeric
• Flowers/Herbs
• Peppers
• Swiss Chard
• Tomatillos
• Tomatoes

These can be transplanted but may need a little extra frost protection:

• Sweet Potatoes

Direct Seed:

• Beans
• Carrots
• Corn
• Cucumbers
• Flowers/Herbs
• Melons
• Okra
• Onions
• Peanuts
• Peas – if it isn’t too warm already
• Pigeon Peas
• Squash
• Sweet Potatoes/Yams

To Start:

• Ginger/Turmeric- I just leave some of mine to keep growing through the winter, and it resprouts in the Spring.
• Luffa
• Papaya
• Passion Fruit
• Roselle
• Seminole Pumpkins
• Tomatillo
• Tomato
• Tropical Spinach
• Winter Squash

To Buy:

• Melons
• Okra
• Peanuts
• Peas

Other Tasks:

• Apply Compost Tea/Swamp Water on a consistent basis.
• Set up sprinklers/watering system
• Harvest as often as possible

---

April

It is starting to really warm up around here, and our garden is usually starting to produce pretty well.

Transplant:

• Ginger/Turmeric
• Flowers/Herbs
• Roselle
• Tomatillos
• Tomatoes

These can be transplanted but may need a little extra frost protection:

• Luffa
• Papaya
• Passion Fruit
• Seminole Pumpkins
• Winter Squash

Direct Seed:

• Beans
• Corn
• Cucumbers
• Flowers/Herbs
• Melons
• Okra
• Peanuts
• Pigeon Peas
• Squash
• Sweet Potatoes/Yams

To Start:

• Ginger/Turmeric – I just leave some of mine to keep growing through the winter, and it resprouts in the Spring.
• Luffa
• Papaya
• Passion Fruit
• Roselle
• Seminole Pumpkins
• Tropical Spinach

To Buy:

• Fruit Trees/Bushes

Other Tasks:

• Apply Compost Tea/Swamp Water on a consistent basis.
• Think about shade cloth set up.
• Harvest as often as possible

---

May

May is pretty HOT, and we usually have most of the beds planted out. We just have to maintain them and keep them watered. Our Hurricane season has started, so it is usually safe to plant fruit trees and bushes when the rains are regular.

Transplant:

• Ginger/Turmeric
• Flowers/Herbs
• Luffa
• Pigeon Peas
• Tropical Spinach

These can be transplanted but may need a little extra frost protection:

• Papaya
• Fruit Trees/Bushes

Direct Seed:

• Okra
• Peanuts
• Pigeon Peas

To Start:

• Ginger/Turmeric – I just leave some of mine to keep growing through the winter, and it resprouts in the Spring.
• Luffa
• Peppers
• Roselle
• Seminole Pumpkins
• Tomatillo
• Tomato
• Winter Squash

To Buy:

• Cucumbers
• Peas (Southern)
• Pumpkins

Other Tasks:

• Apply Compost Tea/Swamp Water on a consistent basis.
• Start putting up shade cloth, if possible
• Monitor plants for stress and remove any that are diseased or dying
• Start Chop & Drop in the perennial beds
• Harvest as often as possible
• Rotate chickens through beds for resets, as needed

---

June

June is pretty HOT, and we usually have most of the beds planted out. We just have to maintain them and keep them watered. Our Hurricane season has started, so it is usually safe to plant fruit trees and bushes when the rains are regular.

We can start plants for the cooler weather coming though, just make sure to keep them well-watered.

Transplant:

• Ginger/Turmeric
• Flowers/Herbs
• Tropical Spinach

These can be transplanted but may need a little extra frost protection:

• Fruit trees/bushes
• Luffa
• Papaya
• Passion Fruit
• Pigeon Peas
• Sweet potatoes/yams

Direct Seed:

• Okra
• Southern Peas

To Start:

• Beets
• Brussels
• Broccoli
• Cabbages
• Cauliflower
• Celery
• Eggplants
• Kale
• Mustards
• Peppers
• Tomatillo
• Tomato

To Buy:

• Beans
• Bunching Onions
• Carrots
• Cucumbers
• Peas
• Squash
• Turnips

Other Tasks:

• Rotate chickens through beds for resets, as needed
• Apply Compost Tea/Swamp Water on a consistent basis.
• Monitor plants for stress and remove any that are diseased or dying
• Continue Chop & Drop in the perennial beds
• Harvest as often as possible
• Summer Solstice pruning on plants that have finished fruiting

---

July

July is almost unbearably HOT, and we usually see a lot of plants giving up. We start rotating more animals through the beds to get ready for a Fall reset. Our Hurricane season is still going, but it is usually not a good idea to plant out anything big right now.

Transplant:

• Ginger/Turmeric
• Flowers/Herbs
• Peppers
• Rosells
• Tomatillos
• Tomatoes
• Tropical Spinach

These can be transplanted but may need a little extra frost protection:

• Squash
• Pumpkins

Direct Seed:

• Cucumbers
• Southern Peas
• Pumpkins

To Start:

• Beets
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower
• Celery
• Collards
• Kale
• Lettuces
• Luffa
• Mustard
• Strawberry
• Swiss Chard
• Tomato

To Buy:

• Beans
• Carrots
• Garlic/Onion sets/seeds
• Radish
• Squash
• Turnips

Other Tasks:

• Apply Compost Tea/Swamp Water on a consistent basis.
• Monitor plants for stress and remove any that are diseased or dying
• Continue Chop & Drop in the perennial beds
• Harvest as often as possible
• Rotate chickens through beds for resets, as needed

---

August

August is still pretty HOT, but we see a few plants starting to come back out. We keep rotating more animals through the beds to get ready for a Fall reset. Our Hurricane season is still going, so we just keep an eye out for fallen branches and such.

Transplant:

• Beets
• Broccoli
• Cauliflowers
• Cabbages
• Collards
• Eggplants
• Flowers/Herbs
• Kale
• Lettuces
• Peppers
• Tomatillos
• Tomatoes
• Tropical Spinach

These can be transplanted but may need a little extra frost protection:

• Celery
• Mustard

Direct Seed:

• Beans
• Bunching onions
• Carrots
• Cucumbers
• Squash
• Turnips/Rutabagas

To Start:

• Beets
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower
• Collards
• Kale
• Lettuces
• Mustard
• Spinach
• Strawberry
• Swiss Chard
• Tomato

To Buy:

• Carrots
• Garlic/Onion sets/seeds
• Radish
• Turnips

Other Tasks:

• Apply Compost Tea/Swamp Water on a consistent basis.
• Monitor plants for stress and remove any that are diseased or dying
• Continue Chop & Drop in the perennial beds
• Harvest as often as possible
• Rotate chickens through beds for resets, as needed
• Start doing bed resets, and replanting
• Order mulch/top soil, if needed

---

September

September still has some HOT days, but we see some cooler temps. We will finish our bed resets and try to get them replanted. Our Hurricane season is still going, so we just keep an eye out for fallen branches and such.

Transplant:

• Beets
• Broccoli
• Brussel Sprouts
• Cauliflowers
• Cabbages
• Collards
• Flowers/Herbs
• Kale
• Lettuces
• Strawberries

These can be transplanted but may need a little extra frost protection:

• Celery
• Mustard
• Spinach

Direct Seed:

• Beans
• Carrots
• Garlic/Onions
• Radishes
• Squash
• Turnips/Rutabagas

To Start:

• Beets
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower
• Collards
• Kale
• Mustard
• Spinach
• Strawberry
• Swiss Chard

To Buy:

• Carrots
• Cover Crops
• Garlic/Onion sets/seeds
• Radish
• Turnips/Rutabagas
• Winter Peas
• Fruit trees and bushes

Other Tasks:

• Finish doing bed resets, and replanting
• Apply Compost Tea/Swamp Water on a consistent basis.
• Continue Chop & Drop in the perennial beds
• Harvest as often as possible

---

October

October is cooling down, but we still have a lot of plants producing. We do need to start preparing plants for overwintering and getting things moved to the greenhouse for the winter. Our Hurricane season is still going, so we just keep an eye out for fallen branches and such.

Transplant:

• Beets
• Broccoli
• Brussel Sprouts
• Cauliflowers
• Cabbages
• Collards
• Flowers/Herbs
• Kale
• Lettuces
• Strawberries

These can be transplanted but may need a little extra frost protection:

• Celery
• Mustard
• Spinach

Direct Seed:

• Carrots
• Cover Crops
• Garlic/Onions
• Radishes
• Turnips/Rutabagas
• Winter Peas
• Fruit Trees and Bushes

To Start:

• Artichokes
• Beets
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower
• Collards
• Kale
• Mustard
• Spinach
• Strawberry
• Sugar Cane
• Swiss Chard

To Buy:

• Carrots
• Garlic/Onion sets/seeds
• Radish
• Turnips/Rutabagas
• Fruit trees and bushes

Other Tasks:

• Harvest as often as possible, as needed
• Apply Compost Tea/Swamp Water on a consistent basis.
• Continue Chop & Drop in the perennial beds
• Move cold-sensitive plants to the greenhouse

---

November

November is cooler, and the Hurricane season will soon be over. Most of the heat-sensitive plants will be on their way out now, but we should be starting to harvest some of the cooler-weather crops just in time for Thanksgiving.

Transplant:

• Beets
• Broccoli
• Brussel Sprouts
• Cauliflowers
• Cabbages
• Collards
• Flowers/Herbs
• Kale
• Sugar Cane
• Swiss Chard

These can be transplanted but may need a little extra frost protection:

• Celery
• Mustard
• Spinach

Direct Seed:

• Carrots
• Cover Crops
• Garlic/Onions
• Winter Peas
• Radishes
• Turnips/Rutabagas

To Start:

• Beets
• Broccoli
• Brussels
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower
• Celery
• Collards
• Kale
• Lettuces
• Mustard
• Peppers
• Spinach
• Sugar Cane
• Swiss Chard
• Tomatoes

To Buy:

• Carrots
• Garlic/Onion sets/seeds
• Peas
• Radish
• Seed Potatoes
• Turnips/Rutabagas
• Fruit trees and bushes

Other Tasks:

• Harvest as often as possible
• Finish planting cover crops
• Adjust sprinklers, as needed
• Final Chop & Drop in the perennial beds

---

December

December is quite a bit cooler, but some plants don’t seem to mind. This month doesn’t see a lot of gardening tasks, but I do keep checking on the garden and the greenhouse to make sure things keep producing for us.

Transplant:

• Beets
• Broccoli
• Brussel Sprouts
• Cauliflowers
• Cabbages
• Collards
• Flowers/Herbs
• Kale
• Sugar Cane
• Swiss Chard

These can be transplanted but may need a little extra frost protection:

• Celery
• Mustard
• Spinach

Direct Seed:

• Carrots
• Radishes
• Turnips/Rutabagas

To Start:

• Beets
• Broccoli
• Brussels
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower
• Celery
• Collards
• Eggplants
• Kale
• Lettuces
• Mustard
• Peppers
• Spinach
• Sugar Cane
• Swiss Chard
• Tomatillos
• Tomatoes

To Buy:

• Carrots
• Corn
• Cucumbers
• Garlic/Onion sets/seeds
• Melons
• Peas
• Radish
• Seed Potatoes
• Squash
• Turnips/Rutabagas
• Fruit trees and bushes

Other Tasks:

• Harvest as often as possible
• Maintain plants

---

I will update this, for my own records, as I see the need. This list covers most of the basics and will help to keep me on track. I hope this might help someone else to set up a system that works for them as well.

God Bless!