Upper Midwest home garden care schedule

What to do and when to do it

Starting in early spring

• Direct seed spring cover crops (peas, oats, clover): As soon as the ground thaws 
• Cut back perennials: March and April
• Start summer vegetable seeds indoors: Mid-March through early May
• Direct seed or transplant cool-season vegetables: April (brassicas, spinach, cold-tolerant lettuces)
• Divide perennials: 2nd week of April through 3rd week of June (best time), and end of June through the end of August
• Water: 3rd week of April through the end of November

Late spring

• Direct seed moderately cold-tolerant crops: Last week of April (like carrots, beets, and potatoes)
• Mulch beds: May through the end of June (best time), and October to the end of November
• Weed control: May through September
• Transplant or direct seed heat-loving vegetables: Mid to late May, or the first week of June (sweet corn, beans, tomatoes, and peppers)
• Plant summer bulbs: Last week of May through the 2nd week of June
• Direct seed summer vegetables: Last week of May through the end of June
• Plant annuals: Last week of May through the end of June (best time), and July through the end of August
• Fertilize: Last week of May through August
• Plant perennials: Last week of May through August

Summer

• Deadhead: June through September
• Direct seed fall vegetables: Mid-July (carrots, beets, broccoli) through mid-August (spinach, lettuce)
• Divide bearded iris: Late July through early August
• Divide peonies: Late August through September

Fall

• Direct seed fall cover crops that will die over the winter: September (peas, oats)
• Direct seed fall cover crops: September through October (ryegrass, rye, rapeseed, oats, winter wheat, winter rye)
• Plant spring bulbs: 2nd week of September through mid-November
• Direct seed overwintering cover crops: October (winter wheat, winter rye, hairy vetch)
• Clean up the vegetable garden: October through November
• Cut back perennials: November