In the garden now (2 November 2026)
Sow or plant outside
TomatoesCucumbersZucchiniPumpkinsSweet cornGreen beansPeasLettuceSpinachKaleCabbageBroccoliCarrotsBeetsRadishesOnionsPotatoesSwiss chardBasilCilantroParsley
Start indoors
Ready to pick
TomatoesPeppersEggplantCucumbersZucchiniPumpkinsWatermelonsSweet cornGreen beansLettuceSpinachKaleCabbageBroccoliCarrotsBeetsRadishesOnionsPotatoesSwiss chardBasilCilantroParsley
Coming up in the next 4 weeks
No new outdoor sowings start in the next four weeks.
San Diego planting calendar
Bars show when each crop can go in and when a planting from that window is ready. Hover or tap a crop for details.
Sow indoorsSow or plant outdoorsHarvestToday
Swipe sideways to see the whole year →
Dates by crop
| Crop | Sow indoors | Sow / plant outdoors | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Jan 6 – Feb 10 | Mar 3 – Nov 10 plant out | Jun 1 – May 11 |
| Pepper | Feb 8 – Mar 15 | Apr 19 – Oct 13 plant out | Jul 4 – Mar 30 |
| Eggplant (aubergine) | Mar 1 – Apr 5 | May 10 – Sep 29 plant out | Jul 22 – Feb 20 |
| Cucumber | Mar 4 – Mar 31 | Apr 1 – Nov 9 sow | Jun 4 – Mar 30 |
| Zucchini (courgette) | Feb 3 – Mar 2 | Mar 3 – Dec 8 sow | May 11 – May 8 |
| Pumpkin and winter squash | Feb 3 – Mar 2 | Mar 3 – Dec 8 sow | Jun 29 – Jun 14 |
| Watermelon | Apr 12 – May 9 | May 10 – Sep 6 sow | Jul 25 – Dec 18 |
| Sweet corn | – | Jan 1 – Dec 31 sow | Jan 1 – Dec 31 |
| Green beans | – | Mar 3 – Dec 8 sow | May 17 – Apr 26 |
| Peas | – | Sep 20 – May 30 sow | Nov 8 – Aug 13 |
| Lettuce | Jul 17 – Jul 25 | Aug 1 – Jul 16 sow | Jan 1 – Dec 31 |
| Spinach | – | Sep 16 – Jun 19 sow | Oct 19 – Aug 18 |
| Kale | – | Jan 1 – Dec 31 sow | Jan 1 – Dec 31 |
| Cabbage | Nov 13 – Dec 18 | Jan 1 – Dec 31 plant out | Jan 1 – Dec 31 |
| Broccoli | Nov 13 – Dec 18 | Jan 1 – Dec 31 plant out | Jan 1 – Dec 31 |
| Carrots | – | Jan 1 – Dec 31 sow | Jan 1 – Dec 31 |
| Beets (beetroot) | – | Jan 1 – Dec 31 sow | Jan 1 – Dec 31 |
| Radishes | – | Aug 15 – Jul 29 sow | Sep 5 – Sep 1 |
| Onions | Oct 23 – Nov 27 | Jan 1 – Dec 31 plant out | Jan 1 – Dec 31 |
| Garlic | Garlic needs about six weeks below 10 °C to form bulbs; winters here are too mild for most varieties. | ||
| Potatoes | – | Jan 1 – Dec 31 sow | Jan 1 – Dec 31 |
| Swiss chard | – | Jan 1 – Dec 31 sow | Jan 1 – Dec 31 |
| Basil | Mar 8 – Apr 5 | Apr 19 – Nov 2 plant out | May 23 – Feb 24 |
| Cilantro (coriander) | – | Aug 7 – Jul 21 sow | Jan 1 – Dec 31 |
| Parsley | – | Jan 1 – Dec 31 sow | Jan 1 – Dec 31 |
Dates are for a typical year and the middle of the window is the safest. Sow a little at a time across a window rather than all at once. Cold snaps, heat waves, frost pockets and city warmth all shift the real dates; watch the forecast.
Frost dates in San Diego
Frost is rare in San Diego: fewer than half of winters have one. Heat and the dry or wet season matter more here than frost; the calendar works around them.
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, San Diego Intl Ap (3 km from the city centre).
Climate at a glance
- Hardiness zone
- 11a from station records
- Average coldest winter night
- 5°C41°F
- Warmest month
- September, highs 27°C81°F
- Coldest month
- December, lows 8°C47°F
- Crops with an outdoor window
- 24 of 25
The zone follows the USDA scheme: bands of the average lowest temperature of the year, 10 °F wide, split into a and b halves. Worked out from the coldest night of each year 1991–2020 at the NOAA station. It tells you which perennials survive winter, not when to sow.
Temperature and rain by month
Average highAverage lowRainFreezing point
| Month | High | Low | Mean | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 20°C69°F | 9°C48°F | 15°C58°F | 46 mm1.8 in |
| February | 20°C68°F | 9°C49°F | 15°C58°F | 56 mm2.2 in |
| March | 21°C69°F | 11°C51°F | 16°C60°F | 41 mm1.6 in |
| April | 22°C72°F | 12°C53°F | 17°C63°F | 21 mm0.8 in |
| May | 22°C72°F | 14°C58°F | 18°C65°F | 6 mm0.3 in |
| June | 24°C75°F | 16°C61°F | 20°C68°F | 2 mm0.1 in |
| July | 26°C78°F | 18°C64°F | 22°C71°F | 2 mm0.1 in |
| August | 27°C80°F | 19°C65°F | 23°C73°F | 1 mm0.1 in |
| September | 27°C81°F | 18°C64°F | 22°C72°F | 3 mm0.1 in |
| October | 26°C78°F | 15°C59°F | 20°C68°F | 11 mm0.4 in |
| November | 23°C74°F | 11°C52°F | 17°C63°F | 24 mm0.9 in |
| December | 20°C69°F | 8°C47°F | 14°C58°F | 41 mm1.6 in |
Monthly averages 1991–2020 from TerraClimate (about 4 km grid).