Welcome to our Month by Month Planting Guide!
We developed this list from the expertise of Dan Gill and added to it from our own experience and that of our staff. The main list reflects annual fruits and veggies that can be direct seeded. Indoor starts, plants that are better to transplant, herbs and companion flowers are listed separately. This information applies to Southeast Louisiana, Zone 9B.
JANUARY
Beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, Chinese cabbage, collards, garden peas, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, mustard, onions, potatoes, radishes, rutabagas, shallots, spinach, Swiss chard, and turnips
Indoor Starts: eggplants, peppers and tomatoes
Companion flowers: calendula (start indoors), bachelor button (start indoors), nasturtium (start indoors), nicotiana (start indoors late in the month)
FEBRUARY
Arugula, beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, collards, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, mustard, potatoes, radishes, shallots, spinach, snow peas, Swiss chard, and turnips
Indoor Starts: eggplants, peppers and tomatoes
Mid to late in the month: Asian greens (bok choy, etc), corn, snap beans
Herbs: cilantro, basil (start indoors late in the month), dill (start indoors & transplant when weather warms up down), sage (start indoors), summer savory (start indoors), thyme (start indoors), chamomile (start indoors)
Companion flowers: sunflower, calendula (start indoors), bachelor button (start indoors), nasturtium (start indoors)
MARCH
Cantaloupes, collards, corn, cucumbers, cucuzzi, leeks, lima beans, mirliton, mustard, pumpkin, radish, snap beans, squash, summer squash, swiss chard, watermelons, and winter squash
Transplant eggplant, pepper, and tomato starts outdoors. Protect tender vegetables in the event of a late freeze.
Late in the month: ginger, turmeric
Herbs: chamomile (start indoors), cilantro, dill, sage (start indoors), summer savory (start indoors), thyme (start indoors)
Companion flowers: cosmos, sunflower, zinnia
APRIL
cantaloupes, collards, corn, cucumber, cucuzzi, cushaw, eggplants, honeydew, hot peppers, lima beans, luffa gourds, mirliton (sprouted fruit), okra, peanuts, pumpkins, Southern peas, spinach, sweet potato, Swiss chard, watermelon, and yard-long beans
Continue to plant transplants of peppers, tomatoes, and seeds of cucumbers, snap beans, and squash outdoors.
Herbs: basil, ginger and turmeric
Companion flowers: cosmos, sunflower, zinnia
MAY
Amaranth, cantaloupe, collards, cucuzzi, cushaw, edible soybeans, eggplant, hot peppers, lima beans, luffa gourd, Malabar spinach, mirliton, okra, peanuts, pumpkin, Southern peas, squash, sweet potato, watermelon, and yard-long beans
Herbs: basil, ginger, and turmeric
Companion flowers: cosmos, sunflower, zinnia
JUNE
Cantaloupe, collards, cucuzzi, edible soybeans, eggplant, hot pepper, luffa, Malabar spinach, mirliton, New Zealand spinach, okra, peanut, pumpkin, Southern peas, squash, sweet potato (use "slips" or rooted cuttings), and watermelon
Herbs: basil, bergamot, burnet, garlic chives, hyssop, lemon balm, lemon verbena, mints, Mexican oregano, Mexican tarragon, mountain mint, oregano, perilla, rosemary, rue, sesame, and yarrow
Companion flowers: cosmos, sunflower, zinnia
JULY
Cantaloupes, collards, cucumbers, luffa, okra, pumpkins, shallots, Southern peas, squashes and watermelon
Indoor Starts: broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, Chinese cabbage, peppers and tomatoes
Companion flowers: cosmos, sunflower, zinnia, marigolds (start indoors)
AUGUST
Broccoli, brussels sprouts, bunching onions, cabbage, cauliflower, Chinese cabbage, collards, cucumbers, lima beans, mustard, shallots, snap beans, Southern peas, squash, Swiss chard, and turnips
Plant transplants of bell peppers, eggplants, and tomatoes by mid-August.
Late in the month: Beets, broccoli, swiss chard
Companion flowers: calendula (start indoors late in the month), cosmos, nicotiana (start indoors late in the month), sunflower, zinnia, marigolds (start indoors)
SEPTEMBER
Arugula, Asian greens (bok choy, tat soi, etc.), beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, bunching onions, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, Chinese cabbage, collards, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, mustard, radish, rutabaga, snow peas, Swiss chard, sets (small bulbs) of shallots, turnips, and small whole Irish potatoes can be planted 4 inches deep spaced 12 inches apart in well-prepared beds.
Plant transplants of peppers, tomatoes, and seeds of bush lima beans, bush snap peas, cucumber, and squash in early September.
Herbs: dill (start indoors & transplant when weather cools down), sage (start indoors), summer savory (start indoors), thyme (start indoors), chamomile (start indoors)
Companion flowers: sunflower, nasturtium (start indoors-- must protect from a freeze in winter), borage
OCTOBER
Arugula, Asian greens (bok choy, tat soi, etc), beets, broccoli (transplants), Brussels sprouts (transplants), cabbage, carrots, cauliflower (transplants), celery, Chinese cabbage, collards, edible podded peas, endive, green peas, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, mustard, onions (seed or sets), radish, rutabaga, shallots (sets), spinach, snow peas, Swiss chard, and turnips
Herbs: garlic, parsley, dill, summer savory, thyme, chamomile, borage, chervil, chives, fennel, feverfew, French tarragon, garlic chives, lavender, lemon balm, marjoram, Mexican tarragon, mints, oregano, rosemary, sage, sorrel
Companion flowers: bachelor button (start indoors)
NOVEMBER
Beets, cabbage, carrot, celery, collard, kale, kohlrabi, leek, lettuce, mustard, onion, rutabaga, shallot, spinach, Swiss chard, turnips
Herbs: borage, celery, chamomile, cilantro, chervil, chives, dill, fennel, feverfew, French tarragon, garlic chives, lavender, lemon balm, marjoram, Mexican tarragon, mints, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, sorrel, and thyme
Companion flowers: bachelor button (start indoors), calendula (start indoors)
DECEMBER
Beets, cabbage, carrots, celery, Chinese cabbage, collards, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, mustard, onions, radish, rutabaga, shallots, spinach, Swiss chard and turnips
