A wide variety of vegetables can be grown year-round in the Orange County climate. Here is a guide to help plan a perpetual garden:
JANUARY
Seed, transplant and/or harvest
Artichokes, asparagus, beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, carrots, endive, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, mustard greens, onions, onion and garlic sets, radishes, parsnips, salsify, turnips, parsley, spinach, Swiss chard, rhubarb, horseradish.
FEBRUARY
Seed
Beets, bell peppers, carrots, celery, corn, cucumbers, early peas, eggplant, endive, green beans, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, melons, mustard, onions, parsley, parsnips, potatoes, radishes, salsify, spinach, squash, Swiss chard, tomatoes, turnips.
Transplant and/or harvest
Artichokes, asparagus, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, endive, horseradish, lettuce, mustard greens, parsley, spinach, Swiss chard, onions, rhubarb.
MARCH
Beets, bell peppers, carrots, collards, corn, eggplant, endive, herbs, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, mustard greens, onions, parsley, parsnips, potatoes, peanuts, peas, radishes, rhubarb, Swiss chard, salsify, spinach, sunflowers, tomatoes (“Early Girl” variety), turnips.
Transplant and/or harvest
Artichokes, asparagus, beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, collards, endive, horseradish, Jerusalem artichokes, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, rhubarb, Swiss chard, turnips, spinach.
APRIL
Seed and/or transplant
Beans, beets, bell peppers, cantaloupe, carrots, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, endive, jicama, lettuce, lima beans, melons, New Zealand spinach, okra, onions, parsley, parsnips, peanuts, potatoes, pumpkins, radishes, salsify, squash, sunflowers, Swiss chard, tomatoes, turnips, watermelon.
Harvest
Beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, radishes, Swiss chard, turnips.
MAY
Seed and/or transplant
Beans, beets, bell peppers, carrots, cantaloupe, collards, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, endive, herbs, kale, leeks, lettuce, lima beans, mustard greens, okra, onions, parsley, parsnips, peanuts, potatoes, pumpkins, radishes, salsify, squash, tomatoes, melons, sunflowers, Swiss chard, turnips, watermelon.
Harvest
Beets, cabbage, carrots, endive, garlic, herbs, kale, leeks, lettuce, mustard, parsley, peas, shallots, Swiss chard.
JUNE
Seed and/or transplant
Beets, bell peppers, carrots, chayote, collards, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, endive, herbs, lettuce, lima beans, melons, New Zealand spinach, onions, radishes, salsify, snap beans, sunflowers, squash, Swiss chard, tomatoes, turnips, watermelons.
Harvest
Carrots, collards, cucumbers, eggplant, endive, herbs, lettuce, onions, peppers, potatoes, radishes, Swiss chard, squash, tomatoes, turnips.
JULY
Seed
Beets, carrots, celery, collards, endive, lettuce, New Zealand spinach, onions, peppers, potatoes, radishes, sunflowers, Swiss chard, tomatoes, turnips.
Transplant and/or harvest
Beans (fast maturing type), beets, bell peppers, carrots, collards, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, herbs, lettuce, melons, onions, parsnips, peppers, potatoes, radishes, salsify, sunflower seeds, squash, Swiss chard, tomatoes, turnips,
AUGUST
Seed
Beets, cabbage, carrots, endive, leeks, lettuce, mustard, onions, parsley, potatoes, radishes, rutabaga, snow peas, Swiss chard, turnips.
Transplant and/or harvest
SEPTEMBER
Seed
Beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, collards, endive, garlic (sets), kohlrabi, kale, leeks, lettuce, mustard greens, onions, parsnips, peas, potatoes, radishes, rutabaga, salsify, spinach, Swiss chard, turnips.
Transplant
Bell peppers, celery, herbs, lettuce, Swiss chard, tomatoes with short growth cycle.
Harvest
Beans, bell peppers, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, melons, peanuts, potatoes, pumpkins, squash, tomatoes, watermelon.
OCTOBER
Seed and/or transplant
Artichokes, asparagus, beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, collards, comfrey, endive, garlic, horseradish, kohlrabi, kale, leeks, lettuce, mustard greens, onions, parsley, parsnips, peas, radishes, rhubarb, rutabaga, salsify, shallots, spinach, Swiss chard, turnips.
Harvest
Bell peppers, carrots, eggplant, endive, leeks, parsley, peanuts, radishes, Swiss chard, turnips, tomatoes.
NOVEMBER
Seed and/or transplant
Artichokes, asparagus, beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, carrots, celery, endive, garlic (sets), horseradish, Jerusalem artichokes (tubers), kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, mustard greens, onions, parsley, parsnips, peas, radishes, spinach, scallions, Swiss chard, rutabaga, rhubarb, turnips.
Harvest
Beets, bell peppers, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, eggplant, endive, lettuce, mustard greens, parsley, potatoes, radishes, spinach, Swiss chard, tomatoes, turnips.
DECEMBER
Seed, transplant and/or harvest
Artichokes, asparagus, beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, endive, garlic sets, horseradish, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, mustard greens, onions, parsley, parsnips, peas, potatoes, radishes, rhubarb, rutabaga, salsify, spinach, Swiss chard, turnips.