Guides
When to plant, sow and transplant, one crop at a time. Each guide links to its official sources.
When to plant, by crop
When to Plant Carrots in Zones 5-6 (2026)
When to sow carrot seed in USDA zones 5-6, how to space repeat plantings, and why carrots are never started indoors, with a named extension source.
When to Plant Cucumbers in Zones 5-6 (2026)
When to start cucumber seeds indoors or direct-sow outside in USDA zones 5-6, based on soil warmth rather than a fixed calendar date, with a named source.
When to Plant Garlic in Zones 5-6 (2026)
When to plant garlic cloves after the first fall frost in USDA zones 5-6, and when to expect a late-June to late-July harvest, with a source.
When to Plant Garlic in Zones 7-8 (2026)
Garlic goes in during October in the South, mulched in late fall and harvested in early summer. Spacing, mulch depth and types to avoid, with a source.
When to Plant Garlic in Zones 9-10 (2026)
In Florida, garlic goes in from late fall through early winter. Softneck types like Artichoke and Creole suit mild winters. See how it differs from cold states.
When to Plant Peppers in Zones 5-6 (2026)
When to start pepper seeds indoors and when to transplant outside in USDA zones 5-6, based on your own last frost date, with a source.
When to Plant Potatoes in Zones 5-6 (2026)
When to plant seed potatoes in USDA zones 5-6, what soil-warmth signs to look for, and when to expect new potatoes, with a source.
When to Plant Pumpkin Seeds in Zones 5-6 (2026)
When to direct-sow or start pumpkin seeds indoors in USDA zones 5-6, and the soil temperature that decides it, with a named extension source.
When to Plant Strawberries in Zones 7-8 (2026)
Spring or fall? When to set out strawberry plants in USDA zones 7-8, how the two planting systems differ, and the bed spacing to use, with a named source.
When to Plant Strawberries in Zones 9-10 (2026)
In Florida strawberries go in during fall, not spring, and the window moves with your region. Dates for North, Central and South Florida, with a named source.
When to Plant Tomatoes in Zones 5-6 (2026)
When to start tomato seeds indoors and when to transplant outside in USDA zones 5-6, based on your own last frost date, with a source.
Seasonal garden tasks
When to Plant Grass Seed in Zones 5-6 (2026)
When to seed a lawn in USDA zones 5-6, why timing matters more for seed than sod, with a source.
When to Seed a Lawn in Zones 7-8 (2026)
Zones 7-8 grow both warm-season and cool-season lawns, and each has its own seeding window. Dates, soil-test timing and the seeding method, with a named source.
When to Seed a Lawn in Zones 9-10 (2026)
Warm-season lawns in Florida are best seeded between April and July. How seed, plugs and sod compare, and which grasses are worth growing from seed.