In San Diego, the average last spring frost is Jan 6 and the average first fall frost is Dec 31, a growing season of about 359 days (zone 11a). Start tomatoes indoors around Nov 25 and move them outside from Jan 20. For a fall and winter garden, sow peas and kale around Oct 22, lettuce around Nov 5, spinach around Nov 12 and radishes around Nov 26.
San Diego at a glance
- Last spring frost
- Jan 6 (average)
- First fall frost
- Dec 31 (average)
- Frost-free season
- About 359 days
- Hardiness zone
- 11a (USDA)
- Weather stations
- El Cajon, CA; San Diego Brown Fld, CA; and Rancho Bernardo, 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 San Diego this month (January)
- Transplant onions: Jan 6
- Transplant cucumbers: Jan 13
- Transplant zucchini: Jan 13
- Transplant winter squash: Jan 13
- Direct sow beans: Jan 13
- Transplant tomatoes: Jan 20
- Transplant peppers: Jan 20
- Transplant eggplant: Jan 20
- Transplant basil: Jan 20
What to plant in San Diego this month (February)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in San Diego in February. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Oct 22.
What to plant in San Diego this month (March)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in San Diego in March. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Oct 22.
What to plant in San Diego this month (April)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in San Diego in April. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Oct 22.
What to plant in San Diego this month (May)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in San Diego in May. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Oct 22.
What to plant in San Diego this month (June)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in San Diego in June. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Oct 22.
What to plant in San Diego this month (July)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in San Diego in July. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Oct 22.
What to plant in San Diego this month (August)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in San Diego in August. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Oct 22.
What to plant in San Diego this month (September)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in San Diego in September. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Oct 22.
What to plant in San Diego this month (October)
- Sow peas for a fall harvest: Oct 22
- Sow kale for a fall harvest: Oct 22
- Start onions indoors: Oct 28
Coming up in early November: sow lettuce for a fall harvest (Nov 5) and sow spinach for a fall harvest (Nov 12).
What to plant in San Diego this month (November)
- Sow lettuce for a fall harvest: Nov 5
- Sow spinach for a fall harvest: Nov 12
- Plant garlic: Nov 19
- Start tomatoes indoors: Nov 25
- Start peppers indoors: Nov 25
- Start eggplant indoors: Nov 25
- Start lettuce indoors: Nov 25
- Sow radishes for a fall harvest: Nov 26
Coming up in early December: start kale indoors (Dec 2), start broccoli indoors (Dec 2), start cabbage indoors (Dec 2) and start basil indoors (Dec 9).
What to plant in San Diego this month (December)
- Start kale indoors: Dec 2
- Start broccoli indoors: Dec 2
- Start cabbage indoors: Dec 2
- Start basil indoors: Dec 9
- Direct sow spinach: Dec 16
- Direct sow peas: Dec 16
- Direct sow radishes: Dec 16
- Transplant lettuce: Dec 23
- Direct sow carrots: Dec 23
- Start cucumbers indoors: Dec 23
- Start zucchini indoors: Dec 23
- Start winter squash indoors: Dec 23
- Direct sow beets: Dec 30
- Transplant kale: Dec 30
- Transplant broccoli: Dec 30
- Transplant cabbage: Dec 30
- Direct sow potatoes: Dec 30
Coming up in early January: transplant onions (Jan 6), transplant cucumbers (Jan 13), transplant zucchini (Jan 13), transplant winter squash (Jan 13) and direct sow beans (Jan 13).
San Diego planting calendar
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Nov 25 | Transplant Jan 20 | From Apr 8 |
| Peppers | Nov 25 | Transplant Jan 20 | From Apr 2 |
| Eggplant | Nov 25 | Transplant Jan 20 | From Apr 5 |
| Basil | Dec 9 | Transplant Jan 20 | From Mar 3 |
| Onions (from seed) | Oct 28 | Transplant Jan 6 | From Apr 16 |
| Lettuce | Nov 25 | Transplant Dec 23Fall: direct sow Nov 5 | From Feb 1Fall: from Dec 15 |
| Spinach | n/a | Direct sow Dec 16Fall: direct sow Nov 12 | From Jan 25Fall: from Dec 22 |
| Peas | n/a | Direct sow Dec 16Fall: direct sow Oct 22 | From Feb 14Fall: from Dec 21 |
| Radishes | n/a | Direct sow Dec 16Fall: direct sow Nov 26 | From Jan 10Fall: from Dec 21 |
| Carrots | n/a | Direct sow Dec 23 | From Mar 3 |
| Beets | n/a | Direct sow Dec 30 | From Feb 23 |
| Kale | Dec 2 | Transplant Dec 30Fall: direct sow Oct 22 | From Feb 23Fall: from Dec 16 |
| Broccoli | Dec 2 | Transplant Dec 30 | From Mar 5 |
| Cabbage | Dec 2 | Transplant Dec 30 | From Mar 10 |
| Cucumbers | Dec 23 | Transplant Jan 13 | From Mar 9 |
| Zucchini | Dec 23 | Transplant Jan 13 | From Mar 4 |
| Winter squash | Dec 23 | Transplant Jan 13 | From Apr 13 |
| Beans | n/a | Direct sow Jan 13 | From Mar 9 |
| Potatoes | n/a | Direct sow Dec 30 | From Mar 20 |
| Garlic | n/a | Plant cloves around Nov 19 | Around Mar 31 the next year |
Dates are for one planting of each crop, from San Diego'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 San Diego
GrowSmart schedules garlic in San Diego around Nov 19, six weeks before the average first fall frost of Dec 31, with harvest around Mar 31.
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 San Diego:
- Peas: sow Oct 22, ready from about Dec 21
- Kale: sow Oct 22, ready from about Dec 16
- Lettuce: sow Nov 5, ready from about Dec 15
- Spinach: sow Nov 12, ready from about Dec 22
- Radishes: sow Nov 26, ready from about Dec 21
Nearby planting calendars
San Diego planting questions
When is the last frost in San Diego?
The average last spring frost in San Diego is Jan 6, and the average first fall frost is Dec 31, 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 San Diego?
Start tomatoes indoors around Nov 25, 8 weeks before moving them outside around Jan 20, which is two weeks after the average last frost.
What can I plant in San Diego in fall?
Fall and winter is a main growing season in San Diego. Sow peas and kale around Oct 22, lettuce around Nov 5, spinach around Nov 12 and radishes around Nov 26, and plant garlic around Nov 19.