In San Jose, the average last spring frost is Jan 6 and the average first fall frost is Dec 23, a growing season of about 351 days (zone 9b). 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 14, lettuce around Oct 28, spinach around Nov 4 and radishes around Nov 18.
San Jose at a glance
- Last spring frost
- Jan 6 (average)
- First fall frost
- Dec 23 (average)
- Frost-free season
- About 351 days
- Hardiness zone
- 9b (USDA)
- Weather stations
- San Jose, CA (two stations) and Moffett Federal Airfield, 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 Jose 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 Jose this month (February)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in San Jose in February. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Oct 14.
What to plant in San Jose this month (March)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in San Jose in March. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Oct 14.
What to plant in San Jose this month (April)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in San Jose in April. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Oct 14.
What to plant in San Jose this month (May)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in San Jose in May. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Oct 14.
What to plant in San Jose this month (June)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in San Jose in June. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Oct 14.
What to plant in San Jose this month (July)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in San Jose in July. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Oct 14.
What to plant in San Jose this month (August)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in San Jose in August. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Oct 14.
What to plant in San Jose this month (September)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in San Jose in September. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Oct 14.
What to plant in San Jose this month (October)
- Sow peas for a fall harvest: Oct 14
- Sow kale for a fall harvest: Oct 14
- Start onions indoors: Oct 28
- Sow lettuce for a fall harvest: Oct 28
Coming up in early November: sow spinach for a fall harvest (Nov 4) and plant garlic (Nov 11).
What to plant in San Jose this month (November)
- Sow spinach for a fall harvest: Nov 4
- Plant garlic: Nov 11
- Sow radishes for a fall harvest: Nov 18
- Start tomatoes indoors: Nov 25
- Start peppers indoors: Nov 25
- Start eggplant indoors: Nov 25
- Start lettuce indoors: Nov 25
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 Jose 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 Jose 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 Oct 28 | From Feb 1Fall: from Dec 7 |
| Spinach | n/a | Direct sow Dec 16Fall: direct sow Nov 4 | From Jan 25Fall: from Dec 14 |
| Peas | n/a | Direct sow Dec 16Fall: direct sow Oct 14 | From Feb 14Fall: from Dec 13 |
| Radishes | n/a | Direct sow Dec 16Fall: direct sow Nov 18 | From Jan 10Fall: from Dec 13 |
| 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 14 | From Feb 23Fall: from Dec 8 |
| 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 11 | Around Mar 31 the next year |
Dates are for one planting of each crop, from San Jose'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 Jose
GrowSmart schedules garlic in San Jose around Nov 11, six weeks before the average first fall frost of Dec 23, 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 Jose:
- Peas: sow Oct 14, ready from about Dec 13
- Kale: sow Oct 14, ready from about Dec 8
- Lettuce: sow Oct 28, ready from about Dec 7
- Spinach: sow Nov 4, ready from about Dec 14
- Radishes: sow Nov 18, ready from about Dec 13
Nearby planting calendars
San Jose planting questions
When is the last frost in San Jose?
The average last spring frost in San Jose is Jan 6, and the average first fall frost is Dec 23, 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 Jose?
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 Jose in fall?
Fall and winter is a main growing season in San Jose. Sow peas and kale around Oct 14, lettuce around Oct 28, spinach around Nov 4 and radishes around Nov 18, and plant garlic around Nov 11.