Northern California Vegetable Planting Calendar: What to Plant Now
Month-by-month planting calendar for Northern California and the Central Valley. 179 crops with sow windows for a Mediterranean climate.
This is our Northern California vegetable planting calendar for Sacramento, Fresno and the inland valleys. It starts with what vegetables to plant now in Northern California, then goes through the whole year, with planting windows set for a climate that is Mediterranean, with mild winters and hot, dry summers, across USDA zones 7b to 10a. Further down you will find a sowing chart for popular vegetables, local timing notes, frost dates by ZIP code and a season-by-season guide, all from the same data that runs the Planting Season app. This is a first-pass calendar built from regional extension guidance and under local review, so treat it as a strong first draft.
Monthly Planting Calendar
Northern California and the Central Valley (Sacramento, Fresno and the inland valleys, USDA 7b-10a) have a Mediterranean climate: mild, wet winters with light frost and long, hot, dry summers. The growing season runs about 300 days, so something is always in the ground. Cool-season crops grow right through the mild winter and the spring and fall shoulders; warm-season crops go in from late February once frost passes and crop through the heat. The hardest stretch is the peak-summer heat for tender greens. Last frost is typically late February and the first fall frost around mid-November. These windows are a first-pass estimate from UC and regional guidance and are being reviewed locally.
Month-by-month vegetable planting calendar for Northern California
Every vegetable in our Northern California calendar, grouped by the month you can sow or plant it. Each month links to its full page with herbs, fruit and flowers.
| Month | Vegetables to sow or plant | Count |
|---|---|---|
| January | Arugula, Asparagus, Beet, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Broccolini, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Chicory, Collard Greens, Daikon, Endive & Escarole, Fava Beans, Fennel (Herb), Florence Fennel, Gai Lan (Chinese Broccoli), Globe Artichoke, Horseradish, Kale, Kohlrabi, Komatsuna, Lettuce, Mibuna, Mustard Greens, Napa Cabbage, Onion, Peas, Potato, Quinoa, Radicchio, Radish, Rhubarb, Rutabaga, Snow Peas, Sorrel, Spinach, Sunchoke, Tatsoi, Turnip, Watercress | 42 |
| February | Arugula, Asparagus, Beet, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Broccolini, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Chicory, Collard Greens, Daikon, Endive & Escarole, Fava Beans, Fennel (Herb), Florence Fennel, Gai Lan (Chinese Broccoli), Globe Artichoke, Green Onion, Horseradish, Kale, Kohlrabi, Komatsuna, Leek, Lettuce, Mibuna, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Napa Cabbage, Peas, Potato, Quinoa, Radicchio, Radish, Rhubarb, Rutabaga, Shallot, Snow Peas, Sorrel, Spinach, Sunchoke, Swiss Chard, Tatsoi, Turnip, Watercress | 46 |
| March | Amaranth, Arugula, Asparagus, Beet, Bell Pepper, Bitter Melon, Bok Choy, Brazilian Spinach, Broccoli, Broccolini, Brussels Sprouts, Bush Beans, Cabbage, Cantaloupe, Carrot, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Celery, Chayote, Chicory, Chili Pepper, Collard Greens, Cucumber, Daikon, Edamame, Eggplant, Endive & Escarole, Fava Beans, Fennel (Herb), Florence Fennel, Gai Lan (Chinese Broccoli), Globe Artichoke, Good King Henry, Green Onion, Horseradish, Hyacinth Bean (Lablab), Kale, Kohlrabi, Komatsuna, Leek, Lettuce, Lima Beans, Luffa (Loofah), Malabar Spinach, Mibuna, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Napa Cabbage, New Zealand Spinach, Okra, Peanuts, Peas, Popcorn, Potato, Pumpkin, Quinoa, Radicchio, Radish, Rhubarb, Rutabaga, Scarlet Runner Bean, Snow Peas, Sorghum, Sorrel, Southern Peas, Spinach, Squash, Sunchoke, Sweet Corn, Swiss Chard, Tatsoi, Tomatillo, Tomato, Turnip, Watercress, Watermelon, Winged Beans, Yardlong Beans, Zucchini | 79 |
| April | Amaranth, Arrowroot, Bell Pepper, Bitter Melon, Brazilian Spinach, Bush Beans, Cantaloupe, Celeriac, Celery, Chayote, Chili Pepper, Cucumber, Edamame, Eggplant, Ginger, Good King Henry, Hyacinth Bean (Lablab), Jicama, Lima Beans, Luffa (Loofah), Malabar Spinach, New Zealand Spinach, Okra, Peanuts, Popcorn, Pumpkin, Scarlet Runner Bean, Sorghum, Southern Peas, Squash, Sweet Corn, Sweet Potato, Taro, Tomatillo, Tomato, Turmeric, Water Chestnut, Watermelon, Winged Beans, Yardlong Beans, Zucchini | 41 |
| May | Amaranth, Arrowroot, Bell Pepper, Bitter Melon, Brazilian Spinach, Bush Beans, Cantaloupe, Chayote, Chili Pepper, Cucumber, Edamame, Eggplant, Ginger, Hyacinth Bean (Lablab), Jicama, Lima Beans, Luffa (Loofah), Malabar Spinach, New Zealand Spinach, Okra, Peanuts, Popcorn, Pumpkin, Sorghum, Southern Peas, Squash, Sweet Corn, Sweet Potato, Taro, Tomatillo, Tomato, Turmeric, Water Chestnut, Watermelon, Winged Beans, Yardlong Beans, Zucchini | 37 |
| June | Amaranth, Bell Pepper, Bitter Melon, Brazilian Spinach, Bush Beans, Cantaloupe, Celery, Chayote, Chili Pepper, Cucumber, Edamame, Eggplant, Hyacinth Bean (Lablab), Jicama, Leek, Lima Beans, Luffa (Loofah), Malabar Spinach, New Zealand Spinach, Okra, Peanuts, Popcorn, Pumpkin, Sorghum, Southern Peas, Squash, Sweet Corn, Sweet Potato, Tomatillo, Tomato, Water Chestnut, Watermelon, Winged Beans, Yardlong Beans, Zucchini | 35 |
| July | Amaranth, Bell Pepper, Bitter Melon, Brazilian Spinach, Bush Beans, Cantaloupe, Celeriac, Celery, Chayote, Chili Pepper, Cucumber, Edamame, Eggplant, Hyacinth Bean (Lablab), Lima Beans, Luffa (Loofah), Malabar Spinach, New Zealand Spinach, Okra, Parsnip, Peanuts, Popcorn, Pumpkin, Salsify, Scorzonera, Sorghum, Southern Peas, Squash, Sweet Corn, Tomatillo, Tomato, Watermelon, Winged Beans, Yardlong Beans, Zucchini | 35 |
| August | Arugula, Beet, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Broccolini, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Celery, Chicory, Collard Greens, Daikon, Endive & Escarole, Fava Beans, Fennel (Herb), Florence Fennel, Gai Lan (Chinese Broccoli), Hamburg Parsley, Kale, Kohlrabi, Komatsuna, Leek, Lettuce, Mibuna, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Napa Cabbage, Onion, Parsnip, Peas, Potato, Quinoa, Radicchio, Radish, Rutabaga, Salsify, Scorzonera, Snow Peas, Sorrel, Spinach, Tatsoi, Turnip, Watercress | 45 |
| September | Arugula, Beet, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Broccolini, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Celery, Chicory, Collard Greens, Daikon, Endive & Escarole, Fava Beans, Fennel (Herb), Florence Fennel, Gai Lan (Chinese Broccoli), Green Onion, Hamburg Parsley, Kale, Kohlrabi, Komatsuna, Leek, Lettuce, Mibuna, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Napa Cabbage, Peas, Potato, Quinoa, Radicchio, Radish, Rutabaga, Snow Peas, Sorrel, Spinach, Swiss Chard, Tatsoi, Turnip, Watercress | 42 |
| October | Arugula, Beet, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Broccolini, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Celery, Chicory, Collard Greens, Daikon, Endive & Escarole, Fava Beans, Fennel (Herb), Florence Fennel, Gai Lan (Chinese Broccoli), Garlic, Green Onion, Hamburg Parsley, Kale, Kohlrabi, Komatsuna, Leek, Lettuce, Mibuna, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Napa Cabbage, Onion, Peas, Potato, Quinoa, Radicchio, Radish, Rutabaga, Shallot, Snow Peas, Sorrel, Spinach, Swiss Chard, Tatsoi, Turnip, Watercress | 45 |
| November | Arugula, Beet, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Broccolini, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Celery, Chicory, Collard Greens, Daikon, Endive & Escarole, Fava Beans, Fennel (Herb), Florence Fennel, Gai Lan (Chinese Broccoli), Garlic, Globe Artichoke, Kale, Kohlrabi, Komatsuna, Lettuce, Mibuna, Mustard Greens, Napa Cabbage, Onion, Peas, Potato, Quinoa, Radicchio, Radish, Rutabaga, Shallot, Snow Peas, Sorrel, Spinach, Tatsoi, Turnip, Watercress | 41 |
| December | Arugula, Beet, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Broccolini, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Chicory, Collard Greens, Daikon, Endive & Escarole, Fava Beans, Fennel (Herb), Florence Fennel, Gai Lan (Chinese Broccoli), Globe Artichoke, Kale, Kohlrabi, Komatsuna, Lettuce, Mibuna, Mustard Greens, Napa Cabbage, Onion, Peas, Potato, Quinoa, Radicchio, Radish, Rutabaga, Snow Peas, Sorrel, Spinach, Tatsoi, Turnip, Watercress | 38 |
Northern California vegetable sowing chart
36 popular crops, with the months you can sow or plant them in Northern California. Shaded months are open planting windows, and the last column spells them out. Where our data says a crop is set out as transplants, the window is the transplanting window.
| Crop | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Sow or plant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Mar to Jul | ||||||||||||
| Bell Pepper | Mar to Jul | ||||||||||||
| Chili Pepper | Mar to Jul | ||||||||||||
| Eggplant | Mar to Jul | ||||||||||||
| Zucchini | Mar to Jul | ||||||||||||
| Squash | Mar to Jul | ||||||||||||
| Cucumber | Mar to Jul | ||||||||||||
| Pumpkin | Mar to Jul | ||||||||||||
| Sweet Corn | Mar to Jul | ||||||||||||
| Bush Beans | Mar to Jul | ||||||||||||
| Peas | Aug to Mar | ||||||||||||
| Snow Peas | Aug to Mar | ||||||||||||
| Okra | Mar to Jul | ||||||||||||
| Southern Peas | Mar to Jul | ||||||||||||
| Lettuce | Aug to Mar | ||||||||||||
| Spinach | Aug to Mar | ||||||||||||
| Swiss Chard | Feb to Mar and Sep to Oct | ||||||||||||
| Kale | Aug to Mar | ||||||||||||
| Collard Greens | Aug to Mar | ||||||||||||
| Broccoli | Aug to Mar | ||||||||||||
| Cabbage | Aug to Mar | ||||||||||||
| Cauliflower | Aug to Mar | ||||||||||||
| Carrot | Aug to Mar | ||||||||||||
| Beet | Aug to Mar | ||||||||||||
| Radish | Aug to Mar | ||||||||||||
| Turnip | Aug to Mar | ||||||||||||
| Onion | Aug and Oct to Jan | ||||||||||||
| Garlic | Oct to Nov | ||||||||||||
| Potato | Aug to Mar | ||||||||||||
| Sweet Potato | Apr to Jun | ||||||||||||
| Basil | Mar to Jul | ||||||||||||
| Cilantro | Aug to Mar | ||||||||||||
| Parsley | Feb to Mar and Sep to Oct | ||||||||||||
| Strawberry | Nov to Feb | ||||||||||||
| Watermelon | Mar to Jul | ||||||||||||
| Cantaloupe | Mar to Jul |
Local timing notes for Northern California
Where timing in Northern California needs explaining, our data carries a local note. These are the same notes the Planting Season app shows for this region, and they explain the shape of the chart above.
- Onion (Aug and Oct to Jan): Sow seed in August, set out transplants in October, or plant sets from October to January.
- Sweet Potato (Apr to Jun): Set out slips once the soil is warm; July plantings do not size up before the first frost.
Browse by Category
Frost dates, climate and USDA zones in Northern California
The climate in Northern California is Mediterranean, with mild winters and hot, dry summers. Across the region the average last spring frost falls around February 28 and the first fall frost around November 17, which leaves a growing season of about 262 days for frost-tender crops such as tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash and basil. Those are regional midpoints: a frost pocket, a slope or a warm wall can shift your own dates by weeks.
Frost is local, so here is what the ZIP code records show for a few places across Sacramento, Fresno and the inland valleys:
- Sacramento (95814): typical last spring frost January 12; typical first fall frost December 16; a growing season of about 341 days.
- Fresno (93721): typical last spring frost January 30; typical first fall frost December 11; a growing season of about 319 days.
- Bakersfield (93301): typical last spring frost January 31; typical first fall frost December 8; a growing season of about 312 days.
- Redding (96001): typical last spring frost February 13; typical first fall frost December 13; a growing season of about 304 days.
Enter your own ZIP code in the Frost Lookup for your typical last and first frost. ZIP code figures come from the nearest weather station in the NOAA 1991 to 2020 Climate Normals, at the 50 percent probability level, so in one year out of two the last frost comes later.
USDA hardiness zones: our Northern California region spans zones 7b to 10a. Your zone tells you which perennials, shrubs and fruit trees survive a normal winter; it does not tell you when to sow, which is why this calendar follows frost dates and summer heat instead. Zone pages: zone 7b, zone 8a, zone 8b, zone 9a, zone 9b, zone 10a.
Northern California planting seasons: a season-by-season guide
The calendar above, read by season. Counts and crop lists come straight from the Northern California planting windows, so they change only when our data changes.
Spring in Northern California (March to May)
86 vegetables can be sown or planted at some point in spring. Planting windows that open: in March, Tomato, Bell Pepper, Chili Pepper, Eggplant, Zucchini, Squash, Cucumber, Pumpkin, Sweet Corn, Bush Beans and 24 more; in April, Sweet Potato, Arrowroot, Ginger, Jicama, Taro, Turmeric and Water Chestnut. Last chance before the season ends: March for Peas, Snow Peas, Lettuce, Spinach, Swiss Chard, Kale, Collard Greens, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower and 35 more; April for Celeriac, Celery, Good King Henry and Scarlet Runner Bean. You can keep sowing Tomato, Bell Pepper, Chili Pepper, Eggplant, Zucchini, Squash, Cucumber, Pumpkin, Sweet Corn, Bush Beans, Okra, Southern Peas, Watermelon, Cantaloupe and 16 more through every month of it.
Summer in Northern California (June to August)
78 vegetables can be sown or planted at some point in summer. Planting windows that open: in June, Celery and Leek; in July, Celeriac, Parsnip, Salsify and Scorzonera; in August, Peas, Snow Peas, Lettuce, Spinach, Kale, Collard Greens, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Carrot and 30 more. Last chance before the season ends: June for Sweet Potato, Jicama, Leek and Water Chestnut; July for Tomato, Bell Pepper, Chili Pepper, Eggplant, Zucchini, Squash, Cucumber, Pumpkin, Sweet Corn, Bush Beans and 20 more. You can keep sowing Celery through every month of it.
Fall in Northern California (September to November)
46 vegetables can be sown or planted at some point in fall. Planting windows that open: in September, Swiss Chard and Green Onion; in October, Onion, Garlic and Shallot; in November, Globe Artichoke. Last chance before the season ends: October for Swiss Chard, Green Onion, Hamburg Parsley, Leek and Mizuna. You can keep sowing Peas, Snow Peas, Lettuce, Spinach, Kale, Collard Greens, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Carrot, Beet, Radish, Turnip, Potato and 23 more through every month of it. Fall is also garlic planting time here; see how to grow garlic.
Winter in Northern California (December to February)
47 vegetables can be sown or planted at some point in winter. Planting windows that open: in January, Asparagus, Horseradish, Rhubarb and Sunchoke; in February, Swiss Chard, Green Onion, Leek, Mizuna and Shallot. Last chance before the season ends: January for Onion. You can keep sowing Peas, Snow Peas, Lettuce, Spinach, Kale, Collard Greens, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Carrot, Beet, Radish, Turnip, Potato and 23 more through every month of it.
Growing Guides
In-depth guides for the most popular crops and techniques. These guides adapt to your region.
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Open the App →Planting calendars for other US regions
Gardening somewhere else? Each region has its own planting windows, frost dates and month pages. For every region side by side, see what vegetables to plant now across the US, or find your region by ZIP code.
- North Florida vegetable planting calendar
North Florida: USDA zones 9a to 9b, frost window February 15 to December 5. - Central Florida vegetable planting calendar
Central Florida: USDA zones 9b to 10b, effectively frost free. - South Florida vegetable planting calendar
South Florida: USDA zones 10a to 11a, effectively frost free. - Gulf South vegetable planting calendar
Gulf South: USDA zones 8a to 9b, frost window February 25 to December 1. - Desert Southwest vegetable planting calendar
Desert Southwest: USDA zones 7a to 10a, frost window February 5 to December 5. - Texas vegetable planting calendar
Texas: USDA zones 8a to 10a, frost window March 1 to November 28. - Southern California vegetable planting calendar
Southern California: USDA zones 9b to 10b, effectively frost free. - Mid-South vegetable planting calendar
Mid-South: USDA zones 7a to 8b, frost window April 10 to October 25. - Pacific Northwest vegetable planting calendar
Pacific Northwest: USDA zones 6b to 9a, frost window March 25 to November 15. - Northeast & New England vegetable planting calendar
Northeast & New England: USDA zones 5a to 7b, frost window May 10 to October 15. - Mid-Atlantic vegetable planting calendar
Mid-Atlantic: USDA zones 6b to 8a, frost window April 15 to October 25. - Midwest & Great Lakes vegetable planting calendar
Midwest & Great Lakes: USDA zones 5a to 7a, frost window April 30 to October 15. - Upper Midwest & Northern Plains vegetable planting calendar
Upper Midwest & Northern Plains: USDA zones 3b to 5a, frost window May 15 to September 25. - Mountain West vegetable planting calendar
Mountain West: USDA zones 5a to 7b, frost window May 5 to September 30. - Southern Plains vegetable planting calendar
Southern Plains: USDA zones 5b to 7b, frost window April 10 to October 30. - Hawaii vegetable planting calendar
Hawaii: USDA zones 11b to 12b, effectively frost free. - Alaska vegetable planting calendar
Alaska: USDA zones 1b to 7b, frost window May 15 to September 10.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the planting season in the Central Valley?
Nearly year-round. Cool-season crops grow through the mild winter and the spring and fall shoulders; warm-season crops go in from late February after the last frost and crop through summer.
What about the summer heat?
Peak summer is hard on tender greens, but heat-lovers (tomatoes, peppers, melons, okra) thrive. Use shade cloth and steady water, and time leafy crops for the cooler shoulders.
How accurate are these dates?
A careful first pass based on UC and regional extension calendars, under local review.
What vegetables can I plant now in Northern California?
It depends on the month. Going by our Northern California calendar, in spring (Mar to May) you can sow Tomato, Bell Pepper, Chili Pepper, Eggplant, Zucchini, Squash and Cucumber; in summer (Jun to Aug) you can sow Tomato, Bell Pepper, Chili Pepper, Eggplant, Zucchini, Squash and Cucumber; in fall (Sep to Nov) you can sow Peas, Snow Peas, Lettuce, Spinach, Swiss Chard, Kale and Collard Greens; in winter (Dec to Feb) you can sow Peas, Snow Peas, Lettuce, Spinach, Kale, Collard Greens and Broccoli. The What to plant in Northern California now section at the top of this page always shows the current month, and each month page lists every crop.
When is the last frost in Northern California?
Across Northern California the average last spring frost is around February 28 and the first fall frost around November 17, a growing season of about 262 days. ZIP code records for Sacramento (95814) give a typical last spring frost of January 12 and a first fall frost of December 16. Check your own ZIP code with the Frost Lookup.
When should I plant tomatoes in Northern California?
Our Northern California calendar has tomatoes planted in March to July. More in how to grow tomatoes.
When should I plant garlic in Northern California?
Our Northern California calendar has garlic planted in October to November. More in how to grow garlic.