The Garden

What is in the ground, and when.

Eleven months, seven crops, and one delivery schedule. Everything went in on August 12. Page through the months to see what happens when.

The plan

One planting day, then eleven months of cutting.

All seven went into the beds on August 12, on three different clocks. The basil is cutting three weeks later, the oregano takes six weeks to get going, and four of the seven are still in the ground the following spring. That spread is what keeps the delivery schedule from having a hole in the middle of it.

August 2026

August 2026
Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
						1
2	3	4	5	6	7August 7, 2026 — Digital launch	8August 8, 2026 — Digital launch
9August 9, 2026 — Garden site opens	10August 10, 2026 — Garden site opens	11August 11, 2026 — Garden site opens	12August 12, 2026 — Planting day. Planting schedule: Sweet basil, Kale, Peppermint, Cilantro, Spinach, Dill, Oregano	13August 13, 2026 — Rooting in	14August 14, 2026 — Rooting in	15August 15, 2026 — Rooting in
16August 16, 2026 — Rooting in	17August 17, 2026 — Rooting in	18August 18, 2026 — Rooting in	19August 19, 2026 — Rooting in	20August 20, 2026 — Rooting in	21August 21, 2026 — Rooting in	22August 22, 2026 — Rooting in
23August 23, 2026 — Rooting in	24August 24, 2026 — Rooting in	25August 25, 2026 — Rooting in	26August 26, 2026 — Rooting in	27August 27, 2026 — Rooting in	28August 28, 2026 — Rooting in	29August 29, 2026 — Rooting in
30August 30, 2026 — Rooting in	31August 31, 2026 — Rooting in

Phase day
Planting day
Today's date

Planting schedule

Aug 12Sweet basil, Kale, Peppermint, Cilantro, Spinach, Dill, Oregano

01Aug 7-8

Digital launch

This site, the volunteer intake, and the bag-tag system go live before anything is planted, so the tracking exists from the first harvest rather than being added later.

02Aug 9-11

Garden site opens

Beds go in. We are in discussion with community gardens in Union County and will name the site here once it is settled.

03Aug 12

Planting day

Kale, spinach, sweet basil, peppermint, cilantro, oregano and dill all went in on the same day. The basil, peppermint and oregano as nursery plants; the greens, cilantro and dill from seed.

04Aug 13-31

Rooting in

Nothing to pick. The transplants put roots down and the seed comes up, and the whole job for three weeks is water, in the heat, every day.

September 2026

September 2026
Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
		1September 1, 2026 — First cuts	2September 2, 2026 — First cuts	3September 3, 2026 — First cuts	4September 4, 2026 — First cuts	5September 5, 2026 — First cuts
6September 6, 2026 — First cuts	7September 7, 2026 — First cuts	8September 8, 2026 — First cuts	9September 9, 2026 — First cuts	10September 10, 2026 — First cuts	11September 11, 2026 — The herbs fill in	12September 12, 2026 — The herbs fill in
13September 13, 2026 — The herbs fill in	14September 14, 2026 — The herbs fill in	15September 15, 2026 — The herbs fill in	16September 16, 2026 — The herbs fill in	17September 17, 2026 — The herbs fill in	18September 18, 2026 — The herbs fill in	19September 19, 2026 — The herbs fill in
20September 20, 2026 — The herbs fill in	21September 21, 2026 — First deliveries(today)	22September 22, 2026 — First deliveries	23September 23, 2026 — First deliveries	24September 24, 2026 — First deliveries	25September 25, 2026 — First deliveries	26September 26, 2026 — First deliveries
27September 27, 2026 — First deliveries	28September 28, 2026 — First deliveries	29September 29, 2026 — First deliveries	30September 30, 2026 — First deliveries

Phase day
Planting day
Today's date

05Sep 1-10

First cuts

Basil is ready about three weeks after planting and baby kale a few days behind it. The first thing out of these beds is a handful of herbs, not a full bundle.

06Sep 11-20

The herbs fill in

Peppermint and cilantro are big enough to cut from. Pinching the basil tips keeps it bushing out instead of running to flower.

07Sep 21-30

First deliveries

Spinach and dill reach cutting size, which is the point where a bundle holds enough to be worth the drive. The first bundles go to our partner clinic.

October 2026

October 2026
Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
				1October 1, 2026 — Everything producing at once	2October 2, 2026 — Everything producing at once	3October 3, 2026 — Everything producing at once
4October 4, 2026 — Everything producing at once	5October 5, 2026 — Everything producing at once	6October 6, 2026 — Everything producing at once	7October 7, 2026 — Everything producing at once	8October 8, 2026 — Everything producing at once	9October 9, 2026 — Everything producing at once	10October 10, 2026 — Everything producing at once
11October 11, 2026 — Everything producing at once	12October 12, 2026 — Everything producing at once	13October 13, 2026 — Everything producing at once	14October 14, 2026 — Everything producing at once	15October 15, 2026 — Everything producing at once	16October 16, 2026 — Everything producing at once	17October 17, 2026 — Everything producing at once
18October 18, 2026 — Everything producing at once	19October 19, 2026 — The last of the basil	20October 20, 2026 — The last of the basil	21October 21, 2026 — The last of the basil	22October 22, 2026 — The last of the basil	23October 23, 2026 — The last of the basil	24October 24, 2026 — The last of the basil
25October 25, 2026 — The last of the basil	26October 26, 2026 — The last of the basil	27October 27, 2026 — The last of the basil	28October 28, 2026 — The last of the basil	29October 29, 2026 — The last of the basil	30October 30, 2026 — The last of the basil	31October 31, 2026 — The last of the basil

Phase day
Planting day
Today's date

08Oct 1-18

Everything producing at once

All seven are cutting, the oregano included. Peak month for variety, and the first stretch where a bundle a week is routine rather than an experiment.

09Oct 19-31

The last of the basil

Basil stops once the nights turn cold and blackens at the first frost, so it is cut hard while it is still good. Everything else keeps going.

November 2026

November 2026
Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
1November 1, 2026 — First frost	2November 2, 2026 — First frost	3November 3, 2026 — First frost	4November 4, 2026 — First frost	5November 5, 2026 — First frost	6November 6, 2026 — First frost	7November 7, 2026 — First frost
8November 8, 2026 — First frost	9November 9, 2026 — First frost	10November 10, 2026 — First frost	11November 11, 2026 — First frost	12November 12, 2026 — First frost	13November 13, 2026 — First frost	14November 14, 2026 — First frost
15November 15, 2026 — First frost	16November 16, 2026 — Row cover goes on	17November 17, 2026 — Row cover goes on	18November 18, 2026 — Row cover goes on	19November 19, 2026 — Row cover goes on	20November 20, 2026 — Row cover goes on	21November 21, 2026 — Row cover goes on
22November 22, 2026 — Row cover goes on	23November 23, 2026 — Row cover goes on	24November 24, 2026 — Row cover goes on	25November 25, 2026 — Row cover goes on	26November 26, 2026 — Row cover goes on	27November 27, 2026 — Row cover goes on	28November 28, 2026 — Row cover goes on
29November 29, 2026 — Row cover goes on	30November 30, 2026 — Row cover goes on

Phase day
Planting day
Today's date

10Nov 1-15

First frost

The basil is finished. Kale, spinach, cilantro and dill take a light frost without flinching, and kale tastes sweeter after one.

11Nov 16-30

Row cover goes on

Frost cloth over the greens so they keep producing through the cold. The peppermint and oregano die back to the roots, which is what they are supposed to do — they come back in March.

December 2026

December 2026
Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
		1December 1, 2026 — Slow winter cutting	2December 2, 2026 — Slow winter cutting	3December 3, 2026 — Slow winter cutting	4December 4, 2026 — Slow winter cutting	5December 5, 2026 — Slow winter cutting
6December 6, 2026 — Slow winter cutting	7December 7, 2026 — Slow winter cutting	8December 8, 2026 — Slow winter cutting	9December 9, 2026 — Slow winter cutting	10December 10, 2026 — Slow winter cutting	11December 11, 2026 — Slow winter cutting	12December 12, 2026 — Slow winter cutting
13December 13, 2026 — Slow winter cutting	14December 14, 2026 — Slow winter cutting	15December 15, 2026 — Slow winter cutting	16December 16, 2026 — Slow winter cutting	17December 17, 2026 — Slow winter cutting	18December 18, 2026 — Slow winter cutting	19December 19, 2026 — Slow winter cutting
20December 20, 2026 — Slow winter cutting	21December 21, 2026 — Slow winter cutting	22December 22, 2026 — Slow winter cutting	23December 23, 2026 — Slow winter cutting	24December 24, 2026 — Slow winter cutting	25December 25, 2026 — Slow winter cutting	26December 26, 2026 — Slow winter cutting
27December 27, 2026 — Slow winter cutting	28December 28, 2026 — Slow winter cutting	29December 29, 2026 — Slow winter cutting	30December 30, 2026 — Slow winter cutting	31December 31, 2026 — Slow winter cutting

Phase day
Planting day
Today's date

12December

Slow winter cutting

Under cover, kale and spinach keep making leaves, just slowly. Bundles get smaller and less frequent, and we say so rather than promising a weekly delivery we cannot make in December.

January 2027

January 2027
Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
					1January 1, 2027 — The cold weeks, and the spring plan	2January 2, 2027 — The cold weeks, and the spring plan
3January 3, 2027 — The cold weeks, and the spring plan	4January 4, 2027 — The cold weeks, and the spring plan	5January 5, 2027 — The cold weeks, and the spring plan	6January 6, 2027 — The cold weeks, and the spring plan	7January 7, 2027 — The cold weeks, and the spring plan	8January 8, 2027 — The cold weeks, and the spring plan	9January 9, 2027 — The cold weeks, and the spring plan
10January 10, 2027 — The cold weeks, and the spring plan	11January 11, 2027 — The cold weeks, and the spring plan	12January 12, 2027 — The cold weeks, and the spring plan	13January 13, 2027 — The cold weeks, and the spring plan	14January 14, 2027 — The cold weeks, and the spring plan	15January 15, 2027 — The cold weeks, and the spring plan	16January 16, 2027 — The cold weeks, and the spring plan
17January 17, 2027 — The cold weeks, and the spring plan	18January 18, 2027 — The cold weeks, and the spring plan	19January 19, 2027 — The cold weeks, and the spring plan	20January 20, 2027 — The cold weeks, and the spring plan	21January 21, 2027 — The cold weeks, and the spring plan	22January 22, 2027 — The cold weeks, and the spring plan	23January 23, 2027 — The cold weeks, and the spring plan
24January 24, 2027 — The cold weeks, and the spring plan	25January 25, 2027 — The cold weeks, and the spring plan	26January 26, 2027 — The cold weeks, and the spring plan	27January 27, 2027 — The cold weeks, and the spring plan	28January 28, 2027 — The cold weeks, and the spring plan	29January 29, 2027 — The cold weeks, and the spring plan	30January 30, 2027 — The cold weeks, and the spring plan
31January 31, 2027 — The cold weeks, and the spring plan

Phase day
Planting day
Today's date

13January

The cold weeks, and the spring plan

Almost nothing grows. We sit down with our partner clinic, go through what the autumn actually produced, and agree what may go in for spring before we order a seed.

February 2027

February 2027
Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
	1February 1, 2027 — The beds wake up	2February 2, 2027 — The beds wake up	3February 3, 2027 — The beds wake up	4February 4, 2027 — The beds wake up	5February 5, 2027 — The beds wake up	6February 6, 2027 — The beds wake up
7February 7, 2027 — The beds wake up	8February 8, 2027 — The beds wake up	9February 9, 2027 — The beds wake up	10February 10, 2027 — The beds wake up	11February 11, 2027 — The beds wake up	12February 12, 2027 — The beds wake up	13February 13, 2027 — The beds wake up
14February 14, 2027 — The beds wake up	15February 15, 2027 — The beds wake up	16February 16, 2027 — The beds wake up	17February 17, 2027 — The beds wake up	18February 18, 2027 — The beds wake up	19February 19, 2027 — The beds wake up	20February 20, 2027 — The beds wake up
21February 21, 2027 — The beds wake up	22February 22, 2027 — The beds wake up	23February 23, 2027 — The beds wake up	24February 24, 2027 — The beds wake up	25February 25, 2027 — The beds wake up	26February 26, 2027 — The beds wake up	27February 27, 2027 — The beds wake up
28February 28, 2027 — The beds wake up

Phase day
Planting day
Today's date

14February

The beds wake up

Lengthening days restart the overwintered kale and spinach. Covers come off on mild days and go back on at night.

March 2027

March 2027
Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
	1March 1, 2027 — Spring sowing	2March 2, 2027 — Spring sowing	3March 3, 2027 — Spring sowing	4March 4, 2027 — Spring sowing	5March 5, 2027 — Spring sowing	6March 6, 2027 — Spring sowing
7March 7, 2027 — Spring sowing	8March 8, 2027 — Spring sowing	9March 9, 2027 — Spring sowing	10March 10, 2027 — Spring sowing	11March 11, 2027 — Spring sowing	12March 12, 2027 — Spring sowing	13March 13, 2027 — Spring sowing
14March 14, 2027 — Spring sowing	15March 15, 2027 — Spring sowing	16March 16, 2027 — The perennials come back	17March 17, 2027 — The perennials come back	18March 18, 2027 — The perennials come back	19March 19, 2027 — The perennials come back	20March 20, 2027 — The perennials come back
21March 21, 2027 — The perennials come back	22March 22, 2027 — The perennials come back	23March 23, 2027 — The perennials come back	24March 24, 2027 — The perennials come back	25March 25, 2027 — The perennials come back	26March 26, 2027 — The perennials come back	27March 27, 2027 — The perennials come back
28March 28, 2027 — The perennials come back	29March 29, 2027 — The perennials come back	30March 30, 2027 — The perennials come back	31March 31, 2027 — The perennials come back

Phase day
Planting day
Today's date

15Mar 1-15

Spring sowing

Fresh cilantro, dill and spinach go into the ground. The overwintered plants will run to flower as it warms, so the spring round is sown before that happens rather than after.

16Mar 16-31

The perennials come back

Peppermint and oregano push new shoots out of the roots they wintered on. Nothing was replanted; they are the same plants that went in last August.

April 2027

April 2027
Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
				1April 1, 2027 — Spring greens peak	2April 2, 2027 — Spring greens peak	3April 3, 2027 — Spring greens peak
4April 4, 2027 — Spring greens peak	5April 5, 2027 — Spring greens peak	6April 6, 2027 — Spring greens peak	7April 7, 2027 — Spring greens peak	8April 8, 2027 — Spring greens peak	9April 9, 2027 — Spring greens peak	10April 10, 2027 — Spring greens peak
11April 11, 2027 — Spring greens peak	12April 12, 2027 — Spring greens peak	13April 13, 2027 — Spring greens peak	14April 14, 2027 — Spring greens peak	15April 15, 2027 — Spring greens peak	16April 16, 2027 — Basil goes back in	17April 17, 2027 — Basil goes back in
18April 18, 2027 — Basil goes back in	19April 19, 2027 — Basil goes back in	20April 20, 2027 — Basil goes back in	21April 21, 2027 — Basil goes back in	22April 22, 2027 — Basil goes back in	23April 23, 2027 — Basil goes back in	24April 24, 2027 — Basil goes back in
25April 25, 2027 — Basil goes back in	26April 26, 2027 — Basil goes back in	27April 27, 2027 — Basil goes back in	28April 28, 2027 — Basil goes back in	29April 29, 2027 — Basil goes back in	30April 30, 2027 — Basil goes back in

Phase day
Planting day
Today's date

17Apr 1-15

Spring greens peak

Kale and spinach are at their best of the whole season, and the March sowing is coming up behind them. The heaviest bundles of the year.

18Apr 16-30

Basil goes back in

Basil is the one thing that has to be replanted, and it cannot go in until the last frost has passed. New plants in, three weeks to the first cut.

May 2027

May 2027
Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
						1May 1, 2027 — The greens bolt
2May 2, 2027 — The greens bolt	3May 3, 2027 — The greens bolt	4May 4, 2027 — The greens bolt	5May 5, 2027 — The greens bolt	6May 6, 2027 — The greens bolt	7May 7, 2027 — The greens bolt	8May 8, 2027 — The greens bolt
9May 9, 2027 — The greens bolt	10May 10, 2027 — The greens bolt	11May 11, 2027 — The greens bolt	12May 12, 2027 — The greens bolt	13May 13, 2027 — The greens bolt	14May 14, 2027 — The greens bolt	15May 15, 2027 — The greens bolt
16May 16, 2027 — Herb season	17May 17, 2027 — Herb season	18May 18, 2027 — Herb season	19May 19, 2027 — Herb season	20May 20, 2027 — Herb season	21May 21, 2027 — Herb season	22May 22, 2027 — Herb season
23May 23, 2027 — Herb season	24May 24, 2027 — Herb season	25May 25, 2027 — Herb season	26May 26, 2027 — Herb season	27May 27, 2027 — Herb season	28May 28, 2027 — Herb season	29May 29, 2027 — Herb season
30May 30, 2027 — Herb season	31May 31, 2027 — Herb season

Phase day
Planting day
Today's date

19May 1-15

The greens bolt

Heat and long days send the overwintered kale, spinach and cilantro to flower. They come out of the beds, and the herbs carry the bundles from here.

20May 16-31

Herb season

Basil, peppermint, oregano and the spring dill all cutting at once. Lighter bundles than April, and the most aromatic of the year.

June 2027

June 2027
Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
		1June 1, 2027 — Final deliveries	2June 2, 2027 — Final deliveries	3June 3, 2027 — Final deliveries	4June 4, 2027 — Final deliveries	5June 5, 2027 — Final deliveries
6June 6, 2027 — Final deliveries	7June 7, 2027 — Final deliveries	8June 8, 2027 — Final deliveries	9June 9, 2027 — Final deliveries	10June 10, 2027 — Final deliveries	11June 11, 2027 — Final deliveries	12June 12, 2027 — Final deliveries
13June 13, 2027 — Final deliveries	14June 14, 2027 — Final deliveries	15June 15, 2027 — Final deliveries	16June 16, 2027 — Final deliveries	17June 17, 2027 — Final deliveries	18June 18, 2027 — Final deliveries	19June 19, 2027 — Final deliveries
20June 20, 2027 — Final deliveries	21June 21, 2027 — Season review with the clinic	22June 22, 2027 — Season review with the clinic	23June 23, 2027 — Season review with the clinic	24June 24, 2027 — Season review with the clinic	25June 25, 2027 — Season review with the clinic	26June 26, 2027 — Season review with the clinic
27June 27, 2027 — Season review with the clinic	28June 28, 2027 — Season review with the clinic	29June 29, 2027 — Season review with the clinic	30June 30, 2027 — Season review with the clinic

Phase day
Planting day
Today's date

21Jun 1-20

Final deliveries

The last bundles of the first season. The perennials stay in the ground — they are the head start the second season begins with.

22Jun 21-30

Season review with the clinic

We sit down with our partner clinic, go through what worked across the whole year, and agree the list for the second season before we order a seed.

What is in the ground

Five herbs, two greens, one planting day.

Click any crop for how long it takes, when it is ready, and what to do with it in a kitchen. The bars are drawn from real days-to-maturity, so you can see for yourself where the harvests actually land.

GrowingFast crop, ready firstMid-seasonLong-season, ready last

Sweet basil21-30d

Went in as a nursery plant rather than seed, which is what let an August planting reach a September delivery. Pinch the growing tips and it bushes out instead of running to flower.

Planted: August 12, 2026
Days to harvest: 21-30
Harvest window: Sep 2 - Sep 11
Ready when: The plant has several sets of true leaves and stands about a hand tall.
How to pick: Cut whole stems above a leaf pair, never strip single leaves.
Keeping it: Stems in a glass of water on the counter. Never the fridge, which blackens it.
In the kitchen: Torn over anything hot at the last second. Heat drives off the aroma.

Kale25-65d

The workhorse, and one of the two things here that is not an herb. Cut at baby-leaf size for the first harvest and the same plant keeps producing straight through the winter.

Planted: August 12, 2026
Days to harvest: 25-65
Harvest window: Sep 6 - Oct 16
Ready when: Leaves are the size of your palm for baby leaf, a hand span for full size.
How to pick: Outer leaves first, always leaving the growing center intact.
Keeping it: Loosely bagged in the fridge, about a week.
In the kitchen: Stems removed, leaves shredded. Holds up to long cooking better than spinach.

Peppermint30-60d

A perennial that dies back in the cold and comes up from the same roots in spring. It spreads by runners, so it is grown in its own container sunk in the bed rather than loose among everything else.

Planted: August 12, 2026
Days to harvest: 30-60
Harvest window: Sep 11 - Oct 11
Ready when: Stems are six inches or so and the leaves smell strongly when rubbed.
How to pick: Cut a stem above a leaf pair. It branches from the cut and comes back thicker.
Keeping it: Stems in water on the counter, or loosely bagged in the fridge for a few days.
In the kitchen: Torn into cold water, salads, yoghurt, or steeped in hot water on its own.

Cilantro30-55d

Sown straight into the bed, because it puts down a taproot and runs to flower if that gets disturbed. Cool weather is what keeps it in leaf.

Planted: August 12, 2026
Days to harvest: 30-55
Harvest window: Sep 11 - Oct 6
Ready when: The plant is about six inches tall with broad, flat lower leaves.
How to pick: Outer stems at the base, leaving the center. Cut the whole plant once it starts to flower.
Keeping it: Stems in a jar of water, a bag over the top, in the fridge. About a week.
In the kitchen: Raw and added at the end. Stems chopped fine are as good as the leaves.

Spinach40-50d

A cool-season crop, so an August sowing here is at the hot edge of its range. It comes into its own once the nights cool off, and carries on under cover all winter.

Planted: August 12, 2026
Days to harvest: 40-50
Harvest window: Sep 21 - Oct 1
Ready when: Leaves are big enough to pick without tearing the crown.
How to pick: Outer leaves, or cut the whole plant at the base.
Keeping it: Dry, loosely bagged, in the fridge. Wilts faster than kale.
In the kitchen: Raw when small, wilted in a hot pan when larger. Cooks down to almost nothing.

Dill40-60d

Direct-sown for the same taproot reason as the cilantro. The feathery leaf is what goes in a bundle; left alone the plant runs up to a flower head and sets seed.

Planted: August 12, 2026
Days to harvest: 40-60
Harvest window: Sep 21 - Oct 11
Ready when: The plant has four or five feathery fronds and stands about a hand tall.
How to pick: Snip whole fronds from the outside. Never strip a plant bare.
Keeping it: Loosely bagged in the fridge. Two or three days at its best, so it goes out fresh.
In the kitchen: Raw over potatoes, eggs, cucumber or fish. Stirred in off the heat.

Oregano45-60d

The slowest to get going and the longest-lived: six weeks before the first cut, and then the same plant is still there the following spring.

Planted: August 12, 2026
Days to harvest: 45-60
Harvest window: Sep 26 - Oct 11
Ready when: The plant is four or five inches across and woody at the base of the stems.
How to pick: Cut stems back by a third, above a leaf pair. Never more than a third at once.
Keeping it: Fresh in a bag in the fridge for a week, or hung in a bunch somewhere dry.
In the kitchen: Goes in early rather than late. It is one of the few that takes long cooking.

Day counts are typical ranges for our growing zone and are being checked against NC State Extension guidance for the North Carolina Piedmont.