Gardening in rhythm with nature – the phenology calendar
Nature has its own internal rhythms, and following them in your garden can have a really powerful effect.
While the traditional calendar gives us fixed dates, the phenology calendar follows a different principle: it’s aligned with natural developments in the world of plants and wildlife. Because of this it shows us when it’s really time for sowing, planting and harvesting.
What is the phenology calendar?
Unlike the meteorological or astronomical calendar, the phenology calendar doesn’t have fixed dates. Instead it divides the year into ten natural seasons, defined by the development stage of specific indicator plants.
These natural markers are reliable guides to how far the year has really progressed – independently of what our calendars might say.
Here we’ll take a look at the signs you can spot in your garden and surroundings and the garden jobs to do in each phase of the year.
The ten phenological seasons are:
Early spring – the first whiff of spring’s in the air
Nature’s signs:
Winter is slowly beginning to retreat. Snowdrops break through the frosty earth, catkins are dangling from hazel bushes, and there’s early colour from the first flowers, like crocuses. The days are becoming noticeably longer, but night frosts are still possible.
Jobs in your garden:
Now’s a good time to prune fruit trees and to sow the first hardy vegetables like spinach or lamb’s lettuce in cold frames.
Mid spring – nature’s awakening
Nature’s signs:
Forsythia produces its vibrant yellow flowers, gooseberry shoots appear, the first pussy willow is out. Violets are flowering among the grasses and the first bumblebees are buzzing through the air.
Jobs in your garden:
The soil is gradually warming up. Now’s the time to sow early vegetables like radishes, carrots and peas. You can start chitting your potatoes and perennials will benefit from pruning.
Late spring – a riot of blossom
Nature’s signs:
Apple trees are in full blossom, fields and waysides are dotted with bright yellow dandelions, the scent of lilac begins to fill the air. Bees are buzzing busily about and the air is abuzz with insect sounds.
Jobs in your garden:
Now’s the perfect time to plant tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers in the greenhouse. Outdoors you can start squashes, beans and courgettes. It’s also the ideal time for planting out potatoes.
Early summer – nature’s racing ahead
Nature’s signs:
The fragrant white umbels of elderflowers are in bloom, grasses are beginning to flower, and the first wild strawberries are turning red. Temperatures are rising – the days feel noticeably warmer.
Jobs in your garden:
Many plants you’ve started indoors – like courgettes, squashes and cucumbers – can now be planted outside. Tender herbs like basil will also be happy outside now. If you want to sow sunflowers, now’s the time to do it.
Midsummer – the first big harves
Nature’s signs:
Lime trees are in full blossom, filling the air with their sweet fragrance, currants are ripening and many wild herbs like yarrow and chamomile are flowering. On hot days bees are buzzing busily among the flowers.
Jobs in your garden:
This is when the first big harvest begins: berries, peas, early potatoes and lettuces are ready to harvest. For a second harvest you can sow late carrots, radishes and cabbage. Regular watering and mulching will help plants cope with periods of drought.
Late summer – a time of abundance
Nature’s signs:
Heather is flowering, cornelian cherries ripen, and the first early apples are ready to harvest. In the mornings, spider webs glitter in the dew, in the evenings it’s starting to get noticeably cooler.
Jobs in your garden:
This is when harvesting begins for many fruit and vegetable varieties including tomatoes, beans and courgettes. Preserving and storing the crops you’ve grown is a priority. The first autumn flowers like coneflowers and asters are in bloom, and it’s hay harvesting time.
Early autumn – harvesting is in full swing
Nature’s signs:
Elderberries are ripe, conkers are falling from horse chestnut trees, the first acorns are lying on the ground and leaves are slowly beginning to turn their various colours. The air often has that fresh, clear autumn smell.
Jobs in your garden:
The main harvest time for many fruit and vegetable varieties – like apples, squashes and potatoes – is in full swing. You can sow green manures and mulch your beds to prepare your garden for winter.
Mid autumn – a final blaze of glory
Nature’s signs:
Nuts are ripening, maple trees are gorgeous in yellow and red, and the last rays of sunshine are bathing the natural world in golden light. Many migrating birds are setting off on their journeys southwards.
Jobs in your garden:
Now’s the perfect time to plant winder-hardy plants like garlic and to cut back perennials. You can also add even more colour to your garden by planting early-flowering bulbs like tulips and narcissi.
Late autumn – farewell to the gardening year
Nature’s signs:
Trees are losing their leaves, the first frosts are rolling in, early in the day the fields are often shrouded in fog. Squirrels and other creatures are gathering supplies for the winter.
Jobs in your garden:
Now’s the time to make your final preparations for winter. Clean and store garden tools, protect tender plants from the frost, and pile up those last autumn leaves to create a hideaway for hedgehogs.
Winter – the dormant time begins
Nature’s signs:
The landscape is bare, the ground is frozen, nature is in retreat. Many animals are hibernating or less active. The only colours are those of evergreens like firs and holly.
Jobs in your garden:
It’s a time of rest for gardeners, too – or a time when you could be making plans for the year ahead, sorting your seeds, or reading gardening books for inspiration. Protecting tender plants from snow and putting out winter food for birds are things to remember now.
Why the phenology calendar is so helpful for gardeners
1. Adapting to climate change
The ongoing impact of climate change on temperatures means that we can no longer simply rely on calendar dates alone. Nature itself gives us more accurate information – when forsythia is in bloom, for instance, the ground is generally warm enough for sowing carrots and radishes.
2. Natural plant development
The phenology calendar is based on real-life conditions – which means, for example, that apple blossom is a better guide than the calendar date when it comes to putting your tomato plants outside and avoiding cold snaps.
3. Harvesting at just the right time
Berries, fruit and vegetables taste best when they’re harvested at the right time. When the elderflowers are out it’s time to pick strawberries, and when acorns are falling most apple varieties are ripe.
4. Better protection against pests
Many pests appear in specific phenological phases – getting to know their cycle will help you take counter-measures and use natural protective methods more effectively.
How to use the phenology calendar in your garden
- Pay attention to indicator plants: look out for the plants mentioned here in your garden and in the natural world, noting when they are flowering and fruiting.
- Keep a garden diary: writing down when specific plants in your garden produce shoots or flowers will help you develop a feeling for the natural rhythms.
- Adapt your sowing and planting: sow and plant according to nature’s signs rather than the calendar date.
- Learn from the past: by documenting your observations year on year you will spot changes as they happen and react better to climate fluctuations.
Summing up: gardening in harmony with nature
The phenology calendar is a wonderful way of connecting with nature’s rhythms and managing your garden in a more sustainable way. Instead of following fixed calendar dates, follow the true signs and signals of the plant world – for healthier plants, better crops and a more harmonious gardening year.
Give it a try – let nature be your guide!
Fancy a garden that’s brimming with joyfulness and life?
