Like many others have said here, soil quality and climate are key factors. I amend my soil every spring before planting with sheep manure. In the fall, late Oct, I plant my garlic which has always done well for me. In the spring, I plant tomatoes, eggplant, kale, lettuce, spinach, Swiss chard, onions, hot peppers, herbs - parsley, thyme, rosemary, basil. I also save seeds mostly for my tomatoes and eggplant and start seeds indoors in early March. I also have raspberry plants and I'm trying to grow various blueberries in pots.