That’s right. I’m putting a tomato stake in the ground and declaring that no matter where you live, you can garden all year long. Mind you, that doesn’t mean you should expect to harvest sun-ripened eggplants in January or Brussels sprouts in July (unless you live in specific planting zones). It does mean that there are garden and garden-related activities we can engage in at any time of the year, regardless of how hot or cold it is. 

Some of those activities are obvious. Many of us should expect to clean up the outdoor garden and amend the soil sometime in late fall or early winter. Most of us can start seeds indoors somewhere around February or March. And mid-to late-spring is the perfect time to plant peas in most plant hardiness zones. 

There’s a whole slew of less obvious gardening activities, as well. For example, November is ideal for testing your soil, and December is ripe for planning next season’s garden. 

This is the reason we’ve put together “Gardening in Every Season.” No matter how cold and snowy or hot and humid it is outside, there are things you can do that will give you a garden that’s more productive and less stressful than ever. 

Featuring more than 15 insightful articles, “Gardening in Every Season” is a jam-packed special issue of Food Gardening Magazine. Here is a sampling of some of the different sections, divided by season. 

Winter will help you focus on planning your garden and starting seeds.

• “How to Keep Gardening in December”: Why wait until spring to exercise your gardening muscles? Amanda is sharing five gardening activities you can do right now in the comfort of your home, no matter how cold or warm it is outdoors. Watch the video and read the article for all the details. 
• “How to Start Seeds Indoors”: In this article, our Senior Editor Amanda MacArthur reviews the differences between buying a grow kit and do-it-yourself (DIY) methods for starting seeds indoors earlier in the season. Find out if the expense of heating mats, grow lights, and grow trays are worth it—or if keeping it simple and non-fancy is good enough for getting your seeds started. Is DIY too much hassle? And is a kit just too expensive? Which method will work best for you? Get the answers now.
• “6 Essential Gardening Tools for Beginners to Buy in February”: When it’s time to start planning your garden, and you need a short list of essential gardening tools to purchase before the spring rush, these six tools will equip you to hit the ground running. Check out this article so that you can know about the essential tools for your garden—for beginners and skilled gardeners alike!

Spring is the time we can start getting those early season seeds going.

• “5 Things to Plant in April”: Read about five fruits and vegetables that thrive in cooler temperatures and need to establish themselves well before summer to produce hardy harvests later—ideal for planting in April! Get specific advice from Amanda about planting these crops.
• “10 Herb & Vegetable Seeds to Plant in May”: With the threat of frost gone by May, this is the time to sow seeds directly in the ground. Get specific advice from Amanda about ten herb and vegetable seeds to plant outdoors—they prefer to be sown directly in the ground. And you’d have a hard time starting these plants indoors, primarily due to fragile roots. Read about these ten herb and vegetable seeds now!

Summer may be harvest time for a lot of vegetables, but there’s still plenty of time to get some of your favorites in the ground.

• “How to Design the Best Garden Layout for Vegetables in Your Yard”: I’m not gonna lie; I’m entirely jealous of Amanda’s garden. If there’s anyone to take garden design tips from, it’s her. There’s some good advice here, whether you have a big backyard garden or just a small plot with a handful of plants. Watch the video to get some gardening inspiration!
• “10 Fruits and Vegetables to Plant in June”: June is not too late to get your garden started. You can still get these 10 seeds or seedlings into the ground! In fact, this is the time to plant all the classic summer veggies, and there are even a few later season favorites (like corn!) that should go in the ground this month. Watch the video, read the article, then get out to the garden. Can’t you just taste those delicious vegetables?

Fall may be the time to clean and close the garden, but that doesn’t mean the gardening is done.

• “November Gardening Tasks and Chores”: While you may still have a few hardy veggies growing, November is the time to clean up and get your garden prepped for next season. A little bit of focus and time at the end of your growing season gets you primed and ready to go for the spring.
• “How to Harvest Fresh Herbs in the Fall to Use All Winter”: When cooler weather heads your way, Amanda shows you how to switch gears to herb-harvesting mode, with some creative ways to keep home-grown herbs handy for your use throughout the winter. Get all the details, including garden clean-up tips and three crafty ways to preserve your herbs for winter use!

In addition, you’ll get helpful pointers on advanced-level gardening topics like succession planting, planning a food garden based on your favorite recipes, and extending your growing season with cold frames.

We’re excited to share this special edition with you and hope that you’ll join us in celebrating the joys of gardening every month of the year.  

Happy gardening—and happy eating!

Kim Mateus
Editor & Publisher

P.S. Please enjoy this issue of Food Gardening Magazine, and let me know what you think about it by commenting below with your feedback! Your input is valuable to us and can help us make improvements.