DibbleCalifornia planting calendar
California falls in USDA Zones 5 to 11. Here is a planting calendar for Zone 9, the most common zone across California, with start, sow, transplant, and harvest dates for every crop. Enter your ZIP code in Dibble for dates tuned to your exact spot.
Right now in California
What has a planting window open in Zone 9 this month and next, and what is coming in from the garden. Every crop links to its exact dates.
January in Zone 9
- Start seeds indoors: Tomato, Pepper, Onion, Kale, Broccoli, Cabbage, Marigold, Parsley, Oregano, Sage, Chives, Eggplant, Cauliflower, Leek, Celery, Hot Pepper, Tomatillo, Collard Greens
- Direct sow: Pea, Spinach
February in Zone 9
- Start seeds indoors: Tomato, Kale, Broccoli, Cabbage, Basil, Marigold, Parsley, Oregano, Chives, Cauliflower, Brussels Sprouts, Tomatillo, Collard Greens
- Direct sow: Potato, Lettuce, Carrot, Pea, Spinach, Beet, Radish, Cilantro, Dill, Swiss Chard, Turnip, Parsnip, Arugula, Calendula, Green Onion, Bok Choy, Fennel, Shallot, Kohlrabi, Chamomile
- Transplant: Onion, Kale, Broccoli, Cabbage, Strawberry, Blueberry, Raspberry, Blackberry, Asparagus, Rhubarb, Grape, Parsley, Chives, Cauliflower, Leek, Collard Greens, Apple, Pear, Peach, Plum, Cherry, Apricot
March in Zone 9
- Direct sow: Potato, Bean (bush), Cucumber, Zucchini, Winter Squash, Sweet Corn, Cilantro, Zinnia, Sunflower, Cosmos, Dill, Swiss Chard, Parsnip, Okra, Cantaloupe, Watermelon, Nasturtium, Calendula, Borage, Pumpkin, Bok Choy, Fennel, Shallot, Kohlrabi, Chamomile
- Transplant: Tomato, Pepper, Onion, Kale, Broccoli, Sweet Potato, Cabbage, Basil, Marigold, Strawberry, Blackberry, Asparagus, Grape, Fig, Mint, Parsley, Thyme, Rosemary, Oregano, Sage, Chives, Eggplant, Cauliflower, Brussels Sprouts, Leek, Celery, Lavender, Hot Pepper, Tomatillo, Collard Greens, Peach, Apricot, Lemon, Orange
- Plant tubers: Dahlia
Harvesting: Lettuce, Pea, Spinach, Beet, Radish, Tulip, Asparagus, Rhubarb, Turnip, Arugula, Orange
April in Zone 9
- Transplant: Sweet Potato
Harvesting: Lettuce, Carrot, Pea, Kale, Broccoli, Beet, Cabbage, Cilantro, Marigold, Asparagus, Rhubarb, Dill, Swiss Chard, Cauliflower, Turnip, Nasturtium, Calendula, Borage, Green Onion, Collard Greens, Bok Choy, Kohlrabi, Chamomile
May in Zone 9
No planting windows open in May for Zone 9. It is the stretch for planning beds, ordering seed and getting tools ready.
Harvesting: Tomato, Pepper, Potato, Onion, Carrot, Bean (bush), Cucumber, Zucchini, Kale, Broccoli, Sweet Corn, Cabbage, Basil, Zinnia, Sunflower, Marigold, Cosmos, Strawberry, Mint, Parsley, Dill, Thyme, Oregano, Sage, Chives, Eggplant, Swiss Chard, Cauliflower, Okra, Nasturtium, Calendula, Borage, Green Onion, Tomatillo, Collard Greens, Fennel, Shallot, Chamomile, Cherry
June in Zone 9
No planting windows open in June for Zone 9. It is the stretch for planning beds, ordering seed and getting tools ready.
Harvesting: Tomato, Pepper, Potato, Onion, Cucumber, Zucchini, Winter Squash, Kale, Sweet Corn, Sweet Potato, Basil, Dahlia, Zinnia, Sunflower, Marigold, Cosmos, Strawberry, Blueberry, Raspberry, Blackberry, Mint, Parsley, Thyme, Oregano, Sage, Chives, Eggplant, Swiss Chard, Brussels Sprouts, Leek, Parsnip, Celery, Okra, Cantaloupe, Watermelon, Nasturtium, Calendula, Borage, Lavender, Hot Pepper, Tomatillo, Collard Greens, Shallot, Chamomile, Peach, Plum, Apricot
July in Zone 9
No planting windows open in July for Zone 9. It is the stretch for planning beds, ordering seed and getting tools ready.
Harvesting: Tomato, Pepper, Garlic, Winter Squash, Sweet Potato, Basil, Dahlia, Zinnia, Marigold, Cosmos, Blueberry, Raspberry, Blackberry, Grape, Mint, Parsley, Thyme, Rosemary, Oregano, Sage, Chives, Eggplant, Swiss Chard, Brussels Sprouts, Leek, Parsnip, Celery, Okra, Nasturtium, Calendula, Borage, Lavender, Pumpkin, Hot Pepper, Tomatillo, Collard Greens, Apple, Pear, Peach, Plum
August in Zone 9
No planting windows open in August for Zone 9. It is the stretch for planning beds, ordering seed and getting tools ready.
Harvesting: Basil, Dahlia, Blackberry, Grape, Fig, Mint, Thyme, Rosemary, Oregano, Sage, Chives, Swiss Chard, Lavender, Hot Pepper, Apple, Pear
September in Zone 9
No planting windows open in September for Zone 9. It is the stretch for planning beds, ordering seed and getting tools ready.
Harvesting: Fig, Mint, Thyme, Rosemary, Oregano, Sage, Chives
October in Zone 9
- Plant bulbs: Tulip
November in Zone 9
Harvesting: Rosemary
December in Zone 9
Any month: January · February · March · April · May · June · July · August · September · October · November · December
What to plant and when in California
| Crop | Plant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|
| Tomato | March 8 | May 22 |
| Pepper | March 15 | May 24 |
| Potato | February 15 | May 16 |
| Onion | February 15 | May 26 |
| Garlic | November 3 | July 1 |
| Lettuce | February 1 | March 23 |
| Carrot | February 8 | April 19 |
| Bean (bush) | March 8 | May 2 |
| Pea | January 25 | March 26 |
| Cucumber | March 15 | May 14 |
| Zucchini | March 8 | May 2 |
| Winter Squash | March 15 | June 23 |
| Kale | February 15 | April 16 |
| Spinach | January 18 | March 4 |
| Broccoli | February 15 | April 21 |
| Beet | February 1 | March 28 |
| Radish | February 1 | March 1 |
| Sweet Corn | March 8 | May 22 |
| Sweet Potato | March 22 | June 30 |
| Cabbage | February 15 | April 26 |
| Basil | March 8 | May 7 |
| Cilantro | February 15 | April 6 |
| Dahlia | March 8 | June 6 |
| Zinnia | March 8 | May 7 |
| Sunflower | March 1 | May 20 |
| Marigold | March 1 | April 20 |
| Tulip | October 20 | February 17 |
| Cosmos | March 8 | May 17 |
| Strawberry | February 15 | May 16 |
| Blueberry | February 8 | June 8 |
| Raspberry | February 8 | June 8 |
| Blackberry | February 15 | June 25 |
| Asparagus | February 15 | February 15 |
| Rhubarb | February 8 | February 8 |
| Grape | February 15 | July 15 |
| Fig | March 8 | August 5 |
| Mint | March 1 | May 30 |
| Parsley | February 15 | May 1 |
| Dill | February 15 | April 11 |
| Thyme | March 1 | May 30 |
| Rosemary | March 8 | July 6 |
| Oregano | March 1 | May 30 |
| Sage | March 1 | May 30 |
| Chives | February 15 | May 6 |
| Eggplant | March 15 | May 29 |
| Swiss Chard | February 15 | April 11 |
| Cauliflower | February 15 | April 26 |
| Brussels Sprouts | March 15 | June 23 |
| Leek | February 15 | June 15 |
| Turnip | February 1 | March 23 |
| Parsnip | February 15 | June 15 |
| Celery | March 1 | June 29 |
| Arugula | February 1 | March 8 |
| Okra | March 15 | May 14 |
| Cantaloupe | March 15 | June 3 |
| Watermelon | March 15 | June 8 |
| Nasturtium | March 8 | April 27 |
| Calendula | February 15 | April 6 |
| Borage | March 1 | April 25 |
| Lavender | March 1 | June 29 |
| Pumpkin | March 15 | July 3 |
| Hot Pepper | March 15 | June 3 |
| Green Onion | February 1 | April 2 |
| Tomatillo | March 8 | May 22 |
| Collard Greens | February 15 | April 16 |
| Bok Choy | February 15 | April 1 |
| Fennel | February 15 | May 6 |
| Shallot | February 15 | May 26 |
| Kohlrabi | February 15 | April 11 |
| Chamomile | February 15 | April 21 |
| Apple | February 8 | July 8 |
| Pear | February 8 | July 8 |
| Peach | February 15 | June 15 |
| Plum | February 8 | June 28 |
| Cherry | February 8 | May 9 |
| Apricot | February 15 | June 5 |
| Lemon | March 15 | December 10 |
| Orange | March 15 | January 9 |
These dates use Zone 9 as a representative for California. Your town may run a zone warmer or cooler, so Dibble pins the dates to your exact ZIP code.
Planting seasons in California
Spring planting in California
Zone 9's last spring frost lands around March 1. Spring in California is the crowded season: the last of the indoor starts, the first direct sowings once the soil can be worked, and the transplants that go out after the frost date passes.
- Direct sow: Potato, Bean (bush), Cucumber, Zucchini, Winter Squash, Sweet Corn, Cilantro, Zinnia, Sunflower, Cosmos, Dill, Swiss Chard, Parsnip, Okra, Cantaloupe, Watermelon, Nasturtium, Calendula, Borage, Pumpkin, Bok Choy, Fennel, Shallot, Kohlrabi, Chamomile
- Transplant: Tomato, Pepper, Onion, Kale, Broccoli, Sweet Potato, Cabbage, Basil, Marigold, Strawberry, Blackberry, Asparagus, Grape, Fig, Mint, Parsley, Thyme, Rosemary, Oregano, Sage, Chives, Eggplant, Cauliflower, Brussels Sprouts, Leek, Celery, Lavender, Hot Pepper, Tomatillo, Collard Greens, Peach, Apricot, Lemon, Orange
- Plant tubers: Dahlia
Summer planting in California
Summer in California is succession sowing and the start of the fall garden. Quick crops go in every few weeks, and the cool-season crops for autumn are started while it is still hot.
Nothing goes in the ground in Zone 9 between June and August. It is the planning stretch.
Fall planting in California
Zone 9's first fall frost lands around December 1. Fall planting in California means cool-season crops that finish before it, garlic and other bulbs that go in for next year, and anything hardy enough to overwinter.
Winter in California
Winter is a growing season of its own in Zone 9. Cool-season crops go in and come out while colder states are still planning, and the earliest warm-season starts begin indoors before spring.
- Start seeds indoors: Onion, Leek, Celery, Tomato, Pepper, Kale, Broccoli, Cabbage, Marigold, Parsley, Oregano, Sage, Chives, Eggplant, Cauliflower, Hot Pepper, Tomatillo, Collard Greens, Basil, Brussels Sprouts
- Direct sow: Pea, Spinach, Potato, Lettuce, Carrot, Beet, Radish, Cilantro, Dill, Swiss Chard, Turnip, Parsnip, Arugula, Calendula, Green Onion, Bok Choy, Fennel, Shallot, Kohlrabi, Chamomile
- Transplant: Onion, Kale, Broccoli, Cabbage, Strawberry, Blueberry, Raspberry, Blackberry, Asparagus, Rhubarb, Grape, Parsley, Chives, Cauliflower, Leek, Collard Greens, Apple, Pear, Peach, Plum, Cherry, Apricot
California frost dates
The last spring frost and first fall frost anchor every planting date here. See California frost dates by zone.
Find your exact zone in California
California spans Zones 5 to 11. Pick the zone that matches your area for a full planting calendar:
Zone 5
Planting calendarZone 6
Planting calendarZone 7
Planting calendarZone 8
Planting calendarZone 9
Planting calendarZone 10
Planting calendarZone 11
Planting calendarPlant at the right time this season
Dibble builds your calendar in under a minute. Free to start, no account needed.