Month by Month Vegetable Garden Planting Guide

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It’s hard to keep track of what to plant when in the garden, so check out this zone 7 Month by Month Vegetable Garden Planting Guide to see what you can grow in the garden when. If you are in a higher zone, you can use it two weeks ahead of the dates listed, and if you are in a lower zone, two weeks behind. If you are a beginning gardener, check this out.

My Little Sprouts and I try our hardest to grow as much of our own food as possible. We like a wide variety of food, so we plant a wide variety of food. It’s hard to keep track of what to plant each month, so here is a guide to what you can grow when.

There are some crops that are easier to grow and are more nutrient-dense and calorie-dense which will save you the most money on your food budget as money gets tighter and tighter. Check out the essential crops to grow for a survival garden here.

Gardening in Oklahoma’s Zone 7 offers a long growing season and a wide variety of planting opportunities. With the right garden plan, home gardeners can enjoy fresh vegetables from late winter through late fall. Understanding planting dates, average frost dates, and Oklahoma’s USDA Zone 7 climate is a critical component of successful vegetable gardening.

The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map is a good starting point for determining when to sow seeds or transplant young plants. Zone 7 typically experiences a last spring frost around mid-April and the first fall frost in late October. However, planting calendars should always consider local weather conditions and microclimates, which can vary even by zip code.

Oklahoma garden planning guide

We live in Oklahoma in Zone 7a, so you may have to check the USDA planting zones and see where your planting zone may differ. Click to check it out. In most cases, you can use the same list for your garden planning, but adjust it a few weeks one way or the other to find your optimal planting times. Check out all the Oklahoma growing zones here.

If you are north, you will need to do things a few weeks later, and if you are south, you will need to do things a few weeks earlier. It’s a fairly simple adjustment to your garden planning. 

If you want to read the full story of how we got started growing our own food at Little Sprouts and get all the basics to start yourself, check this out. The Journey of the Little Sprouts: A Guide for Growing a Better Tomorrow.

This month by month vegetable planting guide will help you keep track of each type of plant and each growing season in your Oklahoma garden. There’s a free printable link at the very end of the post.

We like to practice succession planting, or planting things every few weeks to spread out our harvest and have a continuous supply throughout the growing season. Our average last frost date is April 15, so if you find yours, you can adjust your planting times according to how many weeks away from ours it is.

This is average, so remember, anything can happen. We had a freeze in the middle of May one gardening year. You never know!

Monthly planting calendar

Planting indoors our directly in the ground

Corn and cucurbits, which include cucumbers, melons, and squashes prefer not to have their roots disturbed and don’t transplant well. Direct seed them in the ground when possible.

Cruciferous and nightshades don’t germinate in the ground as well. Start them in a controlled environment. They are finicky germinators. They like constant temperatures when they sprout.

And don’t forget about plant spacing in the vegetable garden. Plants need enough space to grow. Here are some plants that need to be started indoors:

• cabbages
• broccoli
• Brussels sprouts
• tomatoes
• peppers

Seeds that do well when direct seeded include:

• carrots
• lettuce
• peas
• radishes
• Okra

And don’t forget about herbs! They are great for growing as well. You can grow:

• lavender
• sage
• marjoram

Month by month planting guide

✔Here’s a link to a great vegetable garden planner you can print right out and use at home! So cute!

There are some plants that are replanted to grow a new crop, such as garlic and potatoes. You just take a head of homegrown garlic or garlic intended for planting and not eating, and break off each clove and plant it in the ground. A new head will grow from that clove.

Potatoes are cut into individual chunks and cured for two weeks and then planted in the ground. Sweet potatoes are sprouted in water and the “slips” or green parts that grow are planted directly into the ground. Onions do better when you plant a set or tiny onion plant than when you try to grow them from seed. That is our experience anyway, anything is possible.

Here in the deep summer, it’s too hot to plant anything. These months are filled with harvesting and struggling to keep your plants alive and keep them from drying out too fast. You may be able to plant some things during this time, but not usually. Let your instincts guide you in the garden.

Check out this printable garden journal for kids from Mama on the Homestead. So cute!

Zone 7 planting schedule

This is the zone 7 planting schedule we use at Little Sprouts. For a free printable copy, scroll to the end and click on the link. 

Although it’s cold and not ideal for outdoor planting, January is the perfect time to plan your garden. Order seeds, clean and repair garden tools, and start preparing beds by adding compost or mulch.

Indoor Planting:

• Start onions and leeks from seed indoors
• Begin celery and herbs like parsley and oregano

Garden Tasks:

• Test soil pH and nutrient levels
• Sketch your garden layout and crop rotation plan

February:

• Cabbage-Plant
• Carrots-Seed
• Cauliflower-Plant
• Fava Beans-Seed
• Swiss Chard-Seed
• Kohlrabi-Seed
• Lettuce-Seed or Plant
• Onion-Sets or Plant
• Peas-Seed
• Potato-Tuber pieces
• Spinach-Seed
• Kale-Seed

Garden Tasks:

• Build raised beds
• Direct sow cover crops in unused areas

March:                     

• Cabbage-Plant
• Carrots-Seed
• Cauliflower-Plant
• Swiss Chard-Seed
• Kohlrabi-Seed
• Lettuce-Seed or Plant
• Onion-Set or Plant
• Peas-Seed
• Potato-Tuber Pieces
• Radish-Seed
• Spinach-Seed
• Broccoli-Plant
• Kale-Seed
• Herbs-Plants

Garden Tasks:

• Mulch to suppress weeds and protect soil moisture
• Keep row covers handy for surprise cold snaps

April:                       

• Radish-Seed
• Green Beans-Seed
• Pinto Beans-Seed
• Cucumber-Seed or Plant
• Pumpkin-Seed
• Summer Squash-Seed or Plant
• Corn-Seed
• Honeydew Melon-Seed
• Cantaloupe-Seed
• Herbs-Plants
• Flowers-Seed or Plants

Garden Tasks:

• Harden off transplants before planting
• Water regularly as temperatures begin to rise

May:                       

• Melons-Seed
• Cucumber-Seed or Plant
• Green Beans-Seed
• Pinto Beans-Seed
• Okra-Seed
• Pepper-Plant
• Tomato-Plant
• Pumpkin-Seed
• Summer Squash-Seed
• Winter Squash-Seed
• Sweet Potato-Plant (Slips)
• Tomatillos-Plant

Succession Planting:

• More lettuce, carrots, radishes for extended harvests

Garden Tasks:

• Stake tomatoes and trellis cucumbers or beans
• Apply mulch to conserve water and reduce weeds

Vegetable planting guide zone 7

June:                      

• Cucumber-Seed
• Green Beans-Seed
• Pinto Beans-Seed
• Okra-Seed
• Pepper-Plant
• Tomato-Plant
• Summer Squash-Seed
• Winter Squash-Seed
• Sweet Potato-Plant (slips)
• Tomatillo-Plant

Garden Tasks:

• Watch for aphids, squash bugs, and hornworms
• Start preparing a spot for fall crops by mid-to-late June

September:            

• Cabbage-Plant
• Carrots-Seed
• Cauliflower-Plant
• Swiss Chard-Seed
• Kohlrabi-Seed
• Lettuce-Seed or Plant
• Onion-Set or Plant
• Peas-Seed
• Potato-Tuber Pieces
• Radish-Seed
• Spinach-Seed
• Broccoli-Plant
• Kale-Seed

Garden Tasks:

• Remove dead summer plants
• Add compost to improve fall garden beds

October:                 

• Cabbage-Plant
• Carrots-Seed
• Cauliflower-Plant
• Swiss Chard-Seed
• Kohlrabi-Seed
• Lettuce-Seed or Plant
• Onion-Set or Plant
• Peas-Seed
• Potato-Tuber Pieces
• Radish-Seed
• Spinach-Seed
• Broccoli-Plant
• Kale-Seed
• Garlic-Clove

Garden Tasks:

• Harvest mature fall crops
• Begin putting beds to rest for winter

Gardening month by month

What to do in the garden in

• January and February
• March
• April
• May
• June
• July
• August
• September
• October
• November
• December

Vegetable Gardening in the Winter in Oklahoma

Oklahoma planting chart

Oklahoma’s climate gives gardeners a chance to grow vegetables in both spring/early summer and again in late summer/fall. Many cool-season crops do best in early spring and again in fall. Heat-loving crops like okra, melons, and sweet potatoes thrive in the hot summer months.

Zone 7 includes a wide range of last and first frost dates. In eastern Oklahoma, the last frost is often in mid-April and the first in late October. But sudden cold snaps or heat waves can happen. Keep row covers, shade cloth, and mulch on hand for weather extremes.

Oklahoma summers can be dry and scorching. Most vegetables need 1–1.5 inches of water per week. Water deeply and less frequently to encourage strong root systems, and mulch to retain moisture.

Grow vegetables your family enjoys. Focus on staple crops like tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and leafy greens. Mix in fun items like heirloom varieties or unusual crops to keep things exciting.

Extend the Season

Use row covers, cold frames, or low tunnels to keep cool-season crops alive longer into the fall and get an early start in spring. This can stretch your harvest window by several weeks.

What are you planning to plant in the garden? I hope this vegetable garden planting guide helps you work it out. If you want to check out how to plan your garden, click here. Happy planting!

Free printable month by month garden planting guide

Month by month garden planting guide free printable

• Always refer to the USDA plant hardiness zones and planting calendars based on your zip code.
• Use seed packet information for details on sowing seeds, soil temperature, and maturity.
• Consider your family size when planning—plant only what you can reasonably eat or preserve.
• Use row covers or cold frames to extend growing seasons.
• Compost, mulch, and water consistently for soil health.
• Start transplants indoors in peat pots or trays to give your plants a head start.

With the right timing, resources, and care, home gardeners in Zone 7 can enjoy a productive and rewarding gardening year, from late February all the way to late fall. Whether you’re growing your own vegetables to reduce grocery bills or just enjoy the hobby, Oklahoma is a fantastic place to grow a wide range of crops nearly year-round.