Understanding Rainfall Seasons
Every region has distinct rainfall patterns that repeat annually. By understanding these patterns and historical data, you can time your plantings to work with nature rather than against it. This approach reduces water costs, improves plant health, and increases yields dramatically.
Key Principle:
"Plant thirsty crops before wet seasons, drought-tolerant crops before dry seasons"
This simple rule can increase your success rate by 60% while reducing irrigation needs by half.
Rainfall Pattern Types
🌧️ Mediterranean Pattern
- • Wet Season: October - March
- • Dry Season: April - September
- • Best For: Cool season crops in wet months
- • Regions: California, Mediterranean, Chile
☔ Monsoon Pattern
- • Wet Season: June - September
- • Dry Season: October - May
- • Best For: Rice, warm season crops
- • Regions: India, Southeast Asia, Southwest US
🌦️ Continental Pattern
- • Wet Season: April - September
- • Dry Season: October - March
- • Best For: Summer crops, grain production
- • Regions: Midwest US, Central Europe, East Asia
Spring Planting Strategy (March-May)
🌱 Early Spring (March): Wet Season Crops
High Water Need Crops
Leafy Greens
Plant 2-3 weeks before heaviest spring rains
- • Lettuce, spinach, arugula
- • Kale, collards, chard
Cool Season Herbs
Establish before hot weather arrives
- • Parsley, cilantro, chives
- • Dill, fennel, oregano
Root Vegetables
Fast Growers
Harvest before summer heat
- • Radishes (25 days)
- • Baby carrots (50 days)
Long Season
Need consistent spring moisture
- • Full-size carrots
- • Parsnips, beets
Spring Rainfall Strategy:
- • Start seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost
- • Transplant 2 weeks before peak spring rainfall
- • Use cold frames to extend the growing season
- • Succession plant every 2 weeks through April
🌤️ Late Spring (April-May): Transition Crops
| Crop | Planting Window | Rainfall Preference | Harvest Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peas | Early April | Cool, wet weather | Before summer heat |
| Fava Beans | Mid April | Moderate rainfall | Early summer |
| Broccoli | Late April | Consistent moisture | Mid summer |
| Cabbage | Early May | Regular watering | Late summer |
Summer Planting Strategy (June-August)
☀️ Early Summer (June): Heat-Loving Crops
High Heat Crops
85-95°F
optimal range
- Tomatoes
- Peppers
- Eggplant
- Okra
Warm Season Vines
75-85°F
optimal range
- Cucumbers
- Squash
- Melons
- Beans
Long Season
100+
days to harvest
- Corn
- Pumpkins
- Winter Squash
- Sweet Potatoes
Summer Rainfall Considerations:
- • Plant after soil warms to 60°F+ consistently
- • Plan irrigation for periods between summer storms
- • Mulch heavily to retain summer rainfall
- • Use afternoon thunderstorms to reduce watering needs
🌽 Mid-Summer (July): Second Season Planning
Succession Plantings
Quick Turnaround (30-45 days)
- • Bush beans every 2 weeks
- • Lettuce in shaded areas
- • Radishes for fall harvest
- • Asian greens (bok choy, mizuna)
Fall Harvest Crops
Plant for Fall (60-90 days)
- • Brussels sprouts
- • Winter cabbage
- • Cauliflower
- • Storage onions
Fall Planting Strategy (September-November)
🍂 Early Fall (September): Cool Weather Return
Fall Revival Crops
Cold-Hardy Greens
Improve flavor with cool weather
- • Kale, collards (sweetened by frost)
- • Spinach, arugula
- • Winter lettuce varieties
Root Vegetables
Store in ground through winter
- • Carrots, beets, turnips
- • Parsnips (need frost to sweeten)
Cover Crops & Soil Building
Nitrogen Fixers
Use fall rains to establish
- • Crimson clover
- • Winter peas
- • Vetch
Soil Protection
Prevent winter erosion
- • Winter rye
- • Winter wheat
- • Oats (winter-kill)
Fall Planting Timeline:
- • Early September: Plant winter greens for November harvest
- • Mid September: Sow cover crops before fall rains
- • Late September: Plant garlic for next summer
- • October: Final succession of cold-hardy crops
❄️ Late Fall (October-November): Winter Preparation
| Crop | Plant Date | Winter Hardiness | Harvest Window |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garlic | October | -20°F | Next July |
| Fava Beans | November | 15°F | Next May |
| Overwintering Onions | Late October | 10°F | Next June |
| Winter Lettuce | Early November | 20°F | December-February |
Winter Strategy (December-February)
❄️ Winter Growing & Planning
Active Winter Growing
Protected Growing
- • Cold frames for lettuce and greens
- • Greenhouse production of herbs
- • Row covers for kale and Brussels sprouts
- • Indoor microgreens and sprouts
Planning & Preparation
Next Year Planning
- • Analyze this year's rainfall data
- • Order seeds based on weather patterns
- • Plan crop rotations for next season
- • Prepare beds and improve soil
Winter Rainfall Strategy:
- • Use winter rains to recharge soil moisture for spring
- • Plant winter cover crops to capture and hold nutrients
- • Collect and store rainwater for drier seasons
- • Plan spring planting based on winter precipitation levels
Creating Your Personal Planting Calendar
📅 Step-by-Step Calendar Creation
Research Phase
- Collect 5-10 years of local rainfall data
- Identify your region's wet and dry seasons
- Note average first and last frost dates
- Record typical temperature patterns
- Identify extreme weather events (droughts, floods)
Planning Phase
- List crops you want to grow
- Note each crop's water and temperature needs
- Calculate days to maturity for each variety
- Plan succession plantings every 2-3 weeks
- Schedule based on optimal rainfall timing
🗓️ Monthly Planting Template
Early Month (1st-10th)
- □ Check soil temperature
- □ Review weather forecast
- □ Start seeds indoors
- □ Prepare planting areas
Mid Month (11th-20th)
- □ Direct sow cool/warm crops
- □ Transplant seedlings
- □ Monitor soil moisture
- □ Apply mulch as needed
Late Month (21st-30th)
- □ Succession plantings
- □ Harvest mature crops
- □ Plan next month's activities
- □ Record rainfall amounts
Your Seasonal Planting Action Plan
This Month:
- ✓ Research your area's 10-year rainfall patterns
- ✓ Create a monthly planting calendar template
- ✓ Plan next season's crop rotation
- ✓ Order seeds for weather-appropriate varieties
- ✓ Set up rain gauge for accurate data collection
This Year:
- ✓ Track actual vs. predicted rainfall patterns
- ✓ Test different planting times for same crops
- ✓ Document which varieties perform best when
- ✓ Build season extension structures (cold frames)
- ✓ Establish perennial crops for long-term stability