Farmers in the Southeast have a different climate and growing conditions compared to the Midwest, which affects their agricultural calendar. Here’s a month-by-month breakdown, including planting and harvesting dates for corn, wheat, and vegetables, along with irrigation and other essential tasks:
January
- Tasks: Equipment maintenance, soil testing, planning for the upcoming season, start planting cool-season crops (lettuce, spinach).
- Irrigation: Not typically needed.
- Planting Dates:
- Vegetables: Cool-season vegetables like lettuce and spinach.
February
- Tasks: Continue equipment maintenance, finalize crop plans, plant early potatoes and onions.
- Irrigation: Start monitoring soil moisture levels.
- Planting Dates:
- Vegetables: Early potatoes, onions.
March
- Tasks: Begin field preparation (tilling, applying fertilizers), start planting corn, continue planting cool-season vegetables.
- Irrigation: Regular monitoring and start irrigation as needed.
- Planting Dates:
- Corn: Early to mid-March.
- Vegetables: Cool-season vegetables, early warm-season crops.
April
- Tasks: Finish corn planting, plant beans and squash, continue field preparation.
- Irrigation: Regular irrigation, especially for newly planted crops.
- Planting Dates:
- Corn: Continue planting.
- Vegetables: Beans, squash, other warm-season vegetables.
May
- Tasks: Finish planting beans and squash, plant tomatoes and peppers, start side-dressing corn with nitrogen.
- Irrigation: Ensure consistent moisture, particularly for young plants.
- Planting Dates:
- Vegetables: Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers.
June
- Tasks: Continue vegetable planting, weed control, pest management, monitor for signs of disease.
- Irrigation: Regular irrigation, especially during dry spells.
- Planting Dates:
- Vegetables: Continue staggered planting for succession crops.
July
- Tasks: Pest and weed control, monitor crop health, side-dress corn if necessary.
- Irrigation: Maintain consistent irrigation, critical for corn during pollination.
- Harvesting Dates:
- Vegetables: Harvest early planted vegetables like tomatoes and beans.
August
- Tasks: Continue harvesting vegetables, monitor crop development, prepare for fall planting.
- Irrigation: Maintain irrigation for ongoing crops.
- Harvesting Dates:
- Corn: Start early corn harvest.
- Vegetables: Continue harvesting.
September
- Tasks: Harvest corn and vegetables, plant fall vegetables (broccoli, cabbage, kale).
- Irrigation: Reduce irrigation as crops mature.
- Harvesting Dates:
- Corn: Continue harvesting.
- Vegetables: Ongoing harvest, start planting fall crops.
October
- Tasks: Finish corn harvest, continue harvesting vegetables, prepare fields for winter cover crops.
- Irrigation: Minimal, mainly for fall vegetables if dry.
- Harvesting Dates:
- Corn: Complete harvest.
- Vegetables: Harvest fall crops like pumpkins and squash.
November
- Tasks: Harvest remaining vegetables, soil testing, apply fall fertilizers, field cleanup, plant winter wheat.
- Irrigation: Typically not needed.
- Planting Dates:
- Wheat: Plant winter wheat.
December
- Tasks: Equipment storage and maintenance, review and plan for the next season, attend educational events, monitor winter wheat.
- Irrigation: Not needed.
- Planting Dates:
- Wheat: Ensure winter wheat is well-established.
Additional Notes:
- Corn Planting Dates: Optimal planting window is early to mid-March.
- Wheat Planting Dates: Winter wheat is planted in November.
- Vegetable Planting Dates: Cool-season vegetables in January-February and again in fall; warm-season vegetables from March to June.
Irrigation:
- March-August: Regular irrigation for corn and vegetables, especially during dry spells.
- July-August: Critical for corn during pollination and early grain fill stages.
- September-October: Reduced need as crops mature.
This schedule helps ensure that all necessary tasks are completed on time, promoting healthy crop growth and optimizing yields in the Southeast’s climate.
Triple K Irrigation is here to help. Visit our website (www.irrigationsupplyparts.com), call us at 517-45-8741, or email us at info@triplekirrigation.com.
