In Sacramento, the average last spring frost is Feb 2 and the average first fall frost is Dec 1, a growing season of about 302 days (zone 9b). Start tomatoes indoors around Dec 22 and move them outside from Feb 16. For a fall and winter garden, sow peas and kale around Sep 22, lettuce around Oct 6, spinach around Oct 13 and radishes around Oct 27.
Sacramento at a glance
- Last spring frost
- Feb 2 (average)
- First fall frost
- Dec 1 (average)
- Frost-free season
- About 302 days
- Hardiness zone
- 9b (USDA)
- Weather stations
- Sacramento 5 ESE, CA; Sacramento Executive AP, CA; and Davis 2 WSW Exp Farm, CA, 1991 to 2020 normals. GrowSmart's dates are the median of these stations, to within 3 days
An average frost date means frost is still possible after it in about half of years. GrowSmart times tender crops like tomatoes, peppers and basil after this date, not on it.
What to plant in Sacramento this month (January)
- Start basil indoors: Jan 5
- Direct sow spinach: Jan 12
- Direct sow peas: Jan 12
- Direct sow radishes: Jan 12
- Transplant lettuce: Jan 19
- Direct sow carrots: Jan 19
- Start cucumbers indoors: Jan 19
- Start zucchini indoors: Jan 19
- Start winter squash indoors: Jan 19
- Direct sow beets: Jan 26
- Transplant kale: Jan 26
- Transplant broccoli: Jan 26
- Transplant cabbage: Jan 26
- Direct sow potatoes: Jan 26
Coming up in early February: transplant onions (Feb 2), transplant cucumbers (Feb 9), transplant zucchini (Feb 9), transplant winter squash (Feb 9) and direct sow beans (Feb 9).
What to plant in Sacramento this month (February)
- Transplant onions: Feb 2
- Transplant cucumbers: Feb 9
- Transplant zucchini: Feb 9
- Transplant winter squash: Feb 9
- Direct sow beans: Feb 9
- Transplant tomatoes: Feb 16
- Transplant peppers: Feb 16
- Transplant eggplant: Feb 16
- Transplant basil: Feb 16
What to plant in Sacramento this month (March)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Sacramento in March. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Sep 22.
What to plant in Sacramento this month (April)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Sacramento in April. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Sep 22.
What to plant in Sacramento this month (May)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Sacramento in May. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Sep 22.
What to plant in Sacramento this month (June)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Sacramento in June. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Sep 22.
What to plant in Sacramento this month (July)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Sacramento in July. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Sep 22.
What to plant in Sacramento this month (August)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Sacramento in August. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Sep 22.
What to plant in Sacramento this month (September)
- Sow peas for a fall harvest: Sep 22
- Sow kale for a fall harvest: Sep 22
Coming up in early October: sow lettuce for a fall harvest (Oct 6) and sow spinach for a fall harvest (Oct 13).
What to plant in Sacramento this month (October)
- Sow lettuce for a fall harvest: Oct 6
- Sow spinach for a fall harvest: Oct 13
- Plant garlic: Oct 20
- Sow radishes for a fall harvest: Oct 27
What to plant in Sacramento this month (November)
- Start onions indoors: Nov 24
What to plant in Sacramento this month (December)
- Start tomatoes indoors: Dec 22
- Start peppers indoors: Dec 22
- Start eggplant indoors: Dec 22
- Start lettuce indoors: Dec 22
- Start kale indoors: Dec 29
- Start broccoli indoors: Dec 29
- Start cabbage indoors: Dec 29
Coming up in early January: start basil indoors (Jan 5), direct sow spinach (Jan 12), direct sow peas (Jan 12) and direct sow radishes (Jan 12).
Sacramento planting calendar
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Dec 22 | Transplant Feb 16 | From May 5 |
| Peppers | Dec 22 | Transplant Feb 16 | From Apr 29 |
| Eggplant | Dec 22 | Transplant Feb 16 | From May 2 |
| Basil | Jan 5 | Transplant Feb 16 | From Mar 30 |
| Onions (from seed) | Nov 24 | Transplant Feb 2 | From May 13 |
| Lettuce | Dec 22 | Transplant Jan 19Fall: direct sow Oct 6 | From Feb 28Fall: from Nov 15 |
| Spinach | n/a | Direct sow Jan 12Fall: direct sow Oct 13 | From Feb 21Fall: from Nov 22 |
| Peas | n/a | Direct sow Jan 12Fall: direct sow Sep 22 | From Mar 13Fall: from Nov 21 |
| Radishes | n/a | Direct sow Jan 12Fall: direct sow Oct 27 | From Feb 6Fall: from Nov 21 |
| Carrots | n/a | Direct sow Jan 19 | From Mar 30 |
| Beets | n/a | Direct sow Jan 26 | From Mar 22 |
| Kale | Dec 29 | Transplant Jan 26Fall: direct sow Sep 22 | From Mar 22Fall: from Nov 16 |
| Broccoli | Dec 29 | Transplant Jan 26 | From Apr 1 |
| Cabbage | Dec 29 | Transplant Jan 26 | From Apr 6 |
| Cucumbers | Jan 19 | Transplant Feb 9 | From Apr 5 |
| Zucchini | Jan 19 | Transplant Feb 9 | From Mar 31 |
| Winter squash | Jan 19 | Transplant Feb 9 | From May 10 |
| Beans | n/a | Direct sow Feb 9 | From Apr 5 |
| Potatoes | n/a | Direct sow Jan 26 | From Apr 16 |
| Garlic | n/a | Plant cloves around Oct 20 | Around Apr 27 the next year |
Dates are for one planting of each crop, from Sacramento's average frost dates. Tomatoes are indeterminate, lettuce is looseleaf and beans are bush beans. Harvest dates are when the first picking is usually ready.
Fall planting in Sacramento
GrowSmart schedules garlic in Sacramento around Oct 20, six weeks before the average first fall frost of Dec 1, with harvest around Apr 27.
Shallots: GrowSmart's plan has you plant shallot sets in fall in zone 5 and warmer, and in spring in colder zones.
Cool-season crops GrowSmart schedules for a fall harvest in Sacramento:
- Peas: sow Sep 22, ready from about Nov 21
- Kale: sow Sep 22, ready from about Nov 16
- Lettuce: sow Oct 6, ready from about Nov 15
- Spinach: sow Oct 13, ready from about Nov 22
- Radishes: sow Oct 27, ready from about Nov 21
Nearby planting calendars
Sacramento planting questions
When is the last frost in Sacramento?
The average last spring frost in Sacramento is Feb 2, and the average first fall frost is Dec 1, from 1991 to 2020 climate normals at 3 nearby weather stations. Frost is still possible after the spring date in about half of years.
When should I start tomato seeds in Sacramento?
Start tomatoes indoors around Dec 22, 8 weeks before moving them outside around Feb 16, which is two weeks after the average last frost.
What can I plant in Sacramento in fall?
Fall and winter is a main growing season in Sacramento. Sow peas and kale around Sep 22, lettuce around Oct 6, spinach around Oct 13 and radishes around Oct 27, and plant garlic around Oct 20.