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Sacramento, California · vegetable planting calendar

What to plant now in Sacramento

This month's sowing list for Sacramento, what is ready to pick, when to plant the favourites, the planting year at a glance and the local frost dates.

October

28 vegetables to sow or plant now

22 of them are at their best time to start. The last frost is usually around March 17, and frost is unlikely after about April 12.

Quick, easy wins this month: radish, arugula, bok choy, cilantro, beets and scallions.

Sow or plant in Sacramento in October

Start seeds indoors

  • Cabbage
  • Cauliflower
  • Leek
  • Onion

Direct sow

  • Arugula
  • Beets
  • Bok choy
  • Carrot
  • Chives
  • Cilantro
  • Fava beans
  • Kale
  • Lettuce
  • Parsley
  • Parsnip
  • Peas
  • Radish
  • Scallions
  • Spinach
  • Swiss chard
  • Dill
  • Rutabaga
  • Turnip

Transplant

  • Broccoli
  • Brussels sprouts
  • Cabbage
  • Chives
  • Garlic
  • Kale
  • Onion
  • Parsley
  • Strawberry
  • Cauliflower
  • Celeriac
  • Leek

Names with a dashed outline can be started now, but it is not their best time.

Last month to start: arugula, beets, bok choy, cilantro, dill, kale, lettuce, radish, scallions, Swiss chard and turnip.

Ready to pick in October

  • Arugula
  • Beets
  • Bell pepper
  • Bok choy
  • Broccoli
  • Brussels sprouts
  • Bush beans
  • Cabbage
  • Carrot
  • Cauliflower
  • Celery
  • Chives
  • Cilantro
  • Cucumber
  • Dill
  • Hot pepper
  • Kale
  • Leek
  • Lettuce
  • Parsley
  • Pole beans
  • Potato
  • Radish
  • Runner beans
  • Scallions
  • Strawberry
  • Sweet corn
  • Swiss chard
  • Tomato
  • Turnip
  • Winter squash
  • Zucchini

Coming up in November

Nothing new starts in November. This month's list carries on.

When to plant the favourites in Sacramento

Tomato

Tomatoes

Start seeds indoors: March to June.

Transplant: April to August.

Best time to start: April to June.

Pick: July to October.

First pick about 17 weeks after starting.

Potato

Potatoes

Plant: March to September.

Best time to start: March to May and July to August.

Pick: June to December.

First pick about 10 weeks after starting.

Garlic

Garlic

Plant: October to December.

Best time to start: October to December.

Pick: April to June.

First pick about 24 weeks after starting.

Lettuce

Lettuce

Direct sow: August to October and December to May.

Best time to start: January to May and August to October.

Pick: September to July.

First pick about 8 weeks after starting.

Carrot

Carrots

Direct sow: All year.

Best time to start: January to May and July to October.

Pick: All year.

First pick about 10 weeks after starting.

Bush beans

Bush beans

Direct sow: April to August.

Best time to start: April to August.

Pick: June to October.

First pick about 8 weeks after starting.

Onion

Onions

Start seeds indoors: August to March.

Transplant: September to May.

Best time to start: September to May.

Pick: April to August.

First pick about 27 weeks after starting.

Strawberry

Strawberries

Plant: September to May.

Best time to start: September to May.

Pick: May to November.

First pick about 21 weeks after starting.

Winter squash

Winter squash

Start seeds indoors: April to June.

Direct sow: April to July.

Transplant: April to July.

Best time to start: April to July.

Pick: July to October.

First pick about 14 weeks after starting.

Zucchini

Zucchini

Start seeds indoors: April to August.

Direct sow: April to August.

Transplant: April to August.

Best time to start: April to July.

Pick: June to October.

First pick about 7 weeks after starting.

The planting year in Sacramento

VegetableONDJFMAMJJASFirst pick
ArugulaSSSSSSSSabout 5 weeks
BasilTSSSPabout 7 weeks
BeetsSSSSSSSSSSSabout 7 weeks
Bell pepperTPPPPabout 17 weeks
Bok choySSSSSSSSSSabout 5 weeks
BroccoliPTPPPPPTPPabout 15 weeks
Brussels sproutsPPTTPPabout 30 weeks
Bush beansSSSSSabout 8 weeks
CabbagePPPPPPPPPPPPabout 15 weeks
CantaloupeTSSabout 10 weeks
CarrotSSSSSSSSSSSSabout 10 weeks
CauliflowerPPPPPTPPabout 21 weeks
CeleriacPPTTPPPTTPabout 32 weeks
CeleryTTPPPPPabout 21 weeks
ChivesSSTSSSSSSSSabout 9 weeks
CilantroSSSSSabout 6 weeks
CucumberTSSSSabout 7 weeks
DillSSSSSSSSSabout 5 weeks
EggplantTTPPPabout 18 weeks
Fava beansSSSSSabout 17 weeks
GarlicPPPabout 24 weeks
Hot pepperTPPPPabout 19 weeks
KaleSSSSSSSSSSSabout 7 weeks
LeekPPPPPPPPPPPPabout 21 weeks
LettuceSSSSSSSSSabout 8 weeks
OkraSabout 7 weeks
OnionPPPPPPPPTPabout 27 weeks
ParsleySSTSSSSSSSSabout 8 weeks
ParsnipSSSSSabout 23 weeks
PeasSSSSSSSSSabout 12 weeks
Pole beansSSSSSabout 9 weeks
PotatoPPPPPPPabout 10 weeks
RadishSSSSSSSSSSabout 3 weeks
Runner beansSabout 9 weeks
RutabagaSSSSSSabout 19 weeks
ScallionsSSSSSSSSSSSabout 7 weeks
SpinachSSSSSSSSabout 8 weeks
StrawberryPPPPPPPPPabout 21 weeks
Sweet cornSSSSPabout 10 weeks
Sweet potatoPabout 10 weeks
Swiss chardSSSSSSSSSSSabout 7 weeks
TomatoTPPPPPabout 17 weeks
TurnipSSSSSSSSSabout 8 weeks
WatermelonTSPabout 10 weeks
Winter squashSSSSabout 14 weeks
ZucchiniSSSSSabout 7 weeks

The chart starts at October. "First pick" is the usual time from starting to the first harvest.

Choose a quick-maturing (early) variety of: sweet potato.

Sacramento season by season

Spring March to May

Time to start: basil, bell pepper, bush beans, cantaloupe, cucumber, eggplant, hot pepper, pole beans, potato, sweet corn, tomato, watermelon, winter squash and zucchini.

Last chance for: arugula, broccoli, celeriac, cilantro, lettuce, onion, parsnip, peas, spinach, strawberry and turnip.

Summer June to August

Time to start: arugula, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, celeriac, lettuce, okra, onion, runner beans, sweet potato and turnip.

Last chance for: basil, bell pepper, bush beans, cantaloupe, celery, cucumber, eggplant, hot pepper, okra, pole beans, runner beans, sweet corn, sweet potato, tomato, watermelon, winter squash and zucchini.

Fall September to November

Time to start: cilantro, fava beans, garlic, parsnip, peas, rutabaga, spinach and strawberry.

Last chance for: arugula, beets, bok choy, Brussels sprouts, chives, cilantro, dill, kale, lettuce, parsley, parsnip, potato, radish, scallions, Swiss chard and turnip.

Winter December to February

Time to start: arugula, beets, bok choy, celery, chives, cilantro, dill, kale, lettuce, parsley, parsnip, radish, scallions, Swiss chard and turnip.

Last chance for: cauliflower, fava beans, garlic and rutabaga.

Any time of year: cabbage, carrot and leek.

Frost in Sacramento

Last frost, most years
around March 17
Frost is unlikely after
about April 12
First frost, most years
around November 22
Frost-free days in a year
about 250

The end of frost is not planting time. Tender plants also need warm nights, which usually come two to four weeks later, and a week or two of hardening off first, so go by the months for each vegetable above. A low corner where cold air settles runs later. Tomatoes, peppers, beans, zucchini, winter squash and basil are the ones to hold back or cover.

Questions about planting in Sacramento

What can I plant now in Sacramento?

In October, 28 vegetables can be sown or planted in Sacramento, including arugula, beets, bok choy, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrot and cauliflower. The full list is at the top of this page and changes every month.

When should I plant tomatoes in Sacramento?

In Sacramento, sow tomatoes indoors from March to June and transplant them from April to August. The best time to start is from April to June. Picking runs from July to October.

When should I plant potatoes in Sacramento?

In Sacramento, plant potatoes from March to September. The best time to start is from March to May and from July to August. Picking runs from June to December.

When should I plant garlic in Sacramento?

In Sacramento, plant garlic from October to December. The best time to start is from October to December. Picking runs from April to June.

When is the last frost in Sacramento?

In most years the last frost in Sacramento comes around March 17. Frost is unlikely after about April 12, though tender vegetables go out later still, once nights are warm. The first frost of the cold season usually arrives around November 22.

What can I plant at any time of year in Sacramento?

Cabbage, carrot and leek can be started in Sacramento in every month of the year.

Which vegetables are quickest to grow in Sacramento?

The quick ones are radish (about 3 weeks), arugula (about 5 weeks), bok choy (about 5 weeks), cilantro (about 6 weeks), basil (about 7 weeks), beets (about 7 weeks), cucumber (about 7 weeks) and scallions (about 7 weeks). The time is from starting to the first pick.

Other cities

What to plant now in New York · What to plant now in Boston · What to plant now in Chicago · What to plant now in Cleveland · What to plant now in Philadelphia · What to plant now in Washington DC · What to plant now in Minneapolis · What to plant now in Detroit · What to plant now in Charlotte · What to plant now in Nashville · What to plant now in St. Louis · What to plant now in Kansas City · What to plant now in Salt Lake City · What to plant now in Atlanta · What to plant now in Dallas · What to plant now in Houston · What to plant now in Austin · What to plant now in Denver · What to plant now in Phoenix · What to plant now in Seattle · What to plant now in Portland · What to plant now in Los Angeles · What to plant now in San Diego

These dates are estimates for general guidance, based on the usual weather in Sacramento. Seasons vary from year to year, so check the seed packet and local advice as well.
Temperatures: Source: Meteostat and its data providers (CC BY 4.0). Crop temperature ranges checked against FAO ECOCROP (CC BY 4.0).

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