Plant Something Day
May 19 is Plant Something Day- a straightforward, cheerful reminder to go grow something. A flower, a herb, a tomato seedling, a tree. Literally anything with roots count.
Plant Something Day was started by a group of horticulture researchers and industry folks who noticed something worth worrying about: people were drifting away from growing things, and the reasons to grow more for the environment, for mental health, for food diversity were being lost in the noise. So they made a day for it.
The History of This Day
Plant Something Day was created by the National Initiative for Consumer Horticulture (NICH)- a coalition of university researchers, nurseries, public gardens, government agencies, and non-profits who decided the gardening world needed a louder, more united voice.
The movement grew out of conversations happening in the early 2010s among members of the National Initiative for Consumer Horticulture. Researchers and horticulture professionals were noticing several troubling trends at once:
- Fewer households were gardening regularly.
- Children were spending less time outdoors.
- Urban communities were becoming increasingly disconnected from green spaces.
At the same time, studies were piling up showing that gardening offered real benefits. Community gardens improved neighborhood engagement. Home-grown produce encouraged healthier eating. Green spaces reduced stress and improved mental well-being. Pollinator-friendly planting helped bees, butterflies, and local ecosystems survive in urban environments.
Celebrate Plant Something Day
- Plant something, anything actually. Some beginner-friendly ideas include: Basil or mint in a kitchen pot, Marigolds or sunflowers, Cherry tomato seedlings, Aloe vera or snake plants, Native wildflowers or a small tree or shrub.
- Grow something edible like lettuce, spinach, green onions, cilantro and so on.
- Join a community garden. Community gardens have become important green spaces in many cities. They allow people without yards to grow plants while also building neighborhood connections.
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