One of the most exciting parts of gardening is knowing what to plant, and when. In Zone 7a — where winters are moderate and the last frost typically hits around mid-April — gardeners have the unique advantage of a long, productive growing season.
Whether you’re a first-time grower or a seasoned homesteader, this month-by-month planting guide from The Farm Life Inc. will help you stay organized, grow with the seasons, and get the most out of your garden.
📅 Month-by-Month Planting Guide
🌱 January
- Plan your garden layout
- Order seeds for the upcoming season
- Start onion and leek seeds indoors
🌱 February
- Begin broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower indoors
- Start early greens like lettuce and spinach indoors
🌱 March
- Start tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants indoors
- Direct sow cool crops like peas, carrots, and beets
- Transplant hardy greens outdoors under row covers
🌱 April
- Direct sow leafy greens: lettuce, spinach, kale
- Plant potatoes
- Start cucumbers and squash indoors
🌱 May
- Transplant warm-season crops (tomatoes, peppers, eggplant)
- Direct sow corn, beans, cucumbers, and squash
🌱 June
- Succession plant quick crops: carrots, beets, lettuce
- Direct sow pumpkins and melons
🌱 July
- Start fall crops indoors: broccoli, cabbage
- Direct sow beans, carrots, and kale for fall harvests
🌱 August
- Direct sow spinach, turnips, radishes
- Begin overwintering crops like hardy greens
🌱 September
- Plant garlic for next summer’s harvest
- Harvest summer crops and begin clearing beds
- Mulch around fall plantings
🌱 October
- Harvest fall crops
- Sow cover crops (like clover or winter rye)
- Mulch and prep beds for winter rest
🌱 November
- Finish harvesting remaining produce
- Clean and store tools
- Compost spent plants and debris
🌱 December
- Reflect on your gardening season
- Begin planning next year’s garden
- Sharpen and oil your tools for storage
🧡 Why Follow a Planting Calendar?
A garden calendar is more than a schedule — it’s a guide to working with nature instead of against it. By planting at the right time, you:
- Maximize your harvest
- Prevent pests and disease
- Keep your soil healthy
- Reduce food waste
- Stay engaged in the rhythm of the seasons
🌼 Start Planning With Us!
Whether you’re growing in raised beds, containers, or open rows, following a Zone 7a planting calendar can help you grow more, waste less, and enjoy every step of the journey.
*According to the 2023 USDA Hardiness Zone Map Holbrook, Arizona is in Zones 7a (0°F to 5°F).*
Founder/CEO –At Harvesting Change & The Farm Life, our mission is to sow real seeds of change by nurturing a hands-on, inclusive learning environment rooted in sustainable farming, community connection, and traditional wisdom rooted in equity, sustainability, and social justice. We cultivate more than just gardens—we grow knowledge, resilience, and relationships that nourish people of all races, genders, and ages and the land alike.