Planting Timeline
Your seasonal garden schedule
Your Planting Calendar
Late April
(Now)
(Now)
- Start tomatoes indoors
- Direct sow carrots, lettuce, spinach, arugula
- Start cucumbers/squash in biodegradable pots
Mid-May
- Transplant tomatoes, cucumbers, squash outdoors
- Succession sow more lettuce/spinach
- Harden off seedlings first (7-10 days)
May-June
- Harvest early greens (30-45 days)
- Squash spreads into empty space
- Install trellises for climbing plants
July-August
- Harvest tomatoes, cucumbers, squash
- Save seeds from best fruits
- Succession plant fall crops
Growth Stages
Germination
Week 1-2
- Seeds sprout in 3-10 days
- First leaves appear
- Keep soil moist
True Leaves
Week 3
- True leaves form
- Begin weak fertilizer
- Stronger stems
Transplant
Week 4
- 2-3 true leaves
- Move outdoors
- Harden off first
Growth
Week 5-6
- Rapid vine growth
- Increase watering
- Add support
Harvest
Week 9-10
- First harvest
- Pick regularly
- Enjoy!
Save Tomato Seeds
Fermentation Method
1
Choose Fruit
Pick fully ripe, healthy tomato from vigorous plant. Only heirlooms.
2
Extract
Cut tomato, squeeze seeds + pulp into jar. Label immediately.
3
Ferment
Add splash of water. Cover loosely. Keep warm 3-5 days. Stir daily.
4
Rinse
Viable seeds sink. Pour into strainer. Rinse thoroughly.
5
Dry
Spread on paper towel. Dry 1-2 weeks. Seeds should snap, not bend.
6
Store
Paper envelope, label with variety + date. Store cool, dark, dry.