THE HARVEST CALENDAR
Lancaster County Growing Season • 2026
Behind the Lititz Community Center, in the shadow of the old Amish barn, we planted our first tomato seedlings on April 12th. This calendar tracks every frost warning, every watering schedule, every harvest moon.
This is not poetry. This is the ledger I keep on my desk between calls. Because a community feeds itself—or it waits for someone else to cook.
Seasonal Tasks
Completed
Upcoming
SPRING PLANTING
March 21 — June 20
- • March 15: Indoor seed starts (tomatoes, peppers)
- • April 12: First outdoor transplant (hardened-off seedlings)
- • April 28: Garlic harvest (neck braiding begins)
- • May 10: Collard greens direct sow (Row B, east fence)
- • May 22: Squash family (zucchini, yellow crookneck)
- • June 1: Corn planting (Sweet, Flint, Flour varieties)
- • June 15: Late blight prevention spray
SUMMER MAINTENANCE
June 21 — September 20
- • July 4: First tomato harvest (green zebra variety)
- • July 15: Nitrogen top-dress (compost tea, Row C)
- • August 1: Pumpkin vine trellis installation
- • August 10: Early corn pollination check
- • August 25: Fall crop succession (kale, mustard greens)
- • September 1: Frost cloth inventory check
FALL HARVEST
September 21 — December 20
- • October 1: Winter squash harvest (butternut, Hubbard)
- • October 15: Apple orchard thinning (Community Grove)
- • November 1: Root cellar prep (potato curing begins)
- • November 10: Seed saving (heirloom tomato pods)
- • December 1: Soil amendment application
WINTER REST
December 21 — March 20
- • January 1: Tool maintenance (scythe sharpening)
- • February 1: Indoor propagation room setup
- • March 1: Seed catalog ordering deadline
Personal Note:
On June 1st, during the 2 PM shift, I'll pause the call queue to walk the south row. The zucchini flowers should be opening then. I'll take one bloom, press it between pages of my planner, and return to the phones. Some tasks cannot wait—even the ones that matter most.
← Return to Home
On June 1st, during the 2 PM shift, I'll pause the call queue to walk the south row. The zucchini flowers should be opening then. I'll take one bloom, press it between pages of my planner, and return to the phones. Some tasks cannot wait—even the ones that matter most.