.JPG){kind=link}
In the garden now (2 November 2026)
Sow or plant outside
PeasLettuceSpinachKaleCabbageBroccoliCarrotsBeetsRadishesOnionsSwiss chardCilantroParsley
Start indoors
Ready to pick
TomatoesCucumbersZucchiniPumpkinsSweet cornGreen beansPeasLettuceSpinachKaleCabbageBroccoliCarrotsBeetsRadishesOnionsPotatoesSwiss chardBasilCilantroParsley
Coming up in the next 4 weeks
No new outdoor sowings start in the next four weeks.
San Francisco 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 | Mar 26 – Apr 30 | May 21 – Aug 14 plant out | Aug 26 – Nov 30 |
| Pepper | No outdoor window passes all the checks here; grow it under cover or try a specialist variety. | ||
| Eggplant (aubergine) | Summers are too cool for a reliable outdoor crop. Grow it in a greenhouse or polytunnel. | ||
| Cucumber | May 14 – Jun 10 | Jun 11 – Sep 2 sow | Aug 24 – Nov 30 |
| Zucchini (courgette) | Apr 23 – May 20 | May 21 – Sep 7 sow | Aug 1 – Nov 30 |
| Pumpkin and winter squash | Apr 23 – May 20 | May 21 – Jul 16 sow | Sep 30 – Feb 5 |
| Watermelon | Summers are too cool for a reliable outdoor crop. Grow it in a greenhouse or polytunnel. | ||
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 30 – Aug 4 sow | Aug 10 – Nov 30 |
| Green beans | – | May 21 – Sep 2 sow | Aug 7 – Nov 30 |
| Peas | – | Jan 1 – Dec 31 sow | Jan 1 – Dec 31 |
| Lettuce | – | Jan 1 – Dec 31 sow | Jan 1 – Dec 31 |
| Spinach | – | Jan 1 – Dec 31 sow | Jan 1 – Dec 31 |
| 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 | – | Jan 1 – Dec 31 sow | Jan 1 – Dec 31 |
| 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 | – | Dec 19 – Oct 23 sow | Apr 29 – Apr 13 |
| Swiss chard | – | Jan 1 – Dec 31 sow | Jan 1 – Dec 31 |
| Basil | Jul 4 – Aug 1 | Aug 15 – Sep 29 plant out | Sep 20 – Nov 30 |
| Cilantro (coriander) | – | Jan 1 – Dec 31 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 Francisco
Frost is rare in San Francisco: 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 Francisco Dwtn (1 km from the city centre).
Climate at a glance
- Hardiness zone
- 10b from station records
- Average coldest winter night
- 4°C39°F
- Warmest month
- September, highs 23°C74°F
- Coldest month
- January, lows 7°C44°F
- Crops with an outdoor window
- 21 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 | 14°C58°F | 7°C44°F | 11°C51°F | 160 mm6.3 in |
| February | 16°C61°F | 8°C46°F | 12°C53°F | 154 mm6.1 in |
| March | 17°C63°F | 8°C47°F | 13°C55°F | 112 mm4.4 in |
| April | 19°C65°F | 9°C47°F | 14°C56°F | 57 mm2.2 in |
| May | 20°C68°F | 10°C50°F | 15°C59°F | 25 mm1.0 in |
| June | 21°C71°F | 11°C52°F | 16°C61°F | 7 mm0.3 in |
| July | 22°C71°F | 12°C53°F | 17°C62°F | 2 mm0.1 in |
| August | 22°C72°F | 12°C54°F | 17°C63°F | 2 mm0.1 in |
| September | 23°C74°F | 12°C54°F | 18°C64°F | 4 mm0.1 in |
| October | 22°C72°F | 11°C52°F | 17°C62°F | 42 mm1.6 in |
| November | 18°C65°F | 9°C48°F | 13°C56°F | 86 mm3.4 in |
| December | 15°C59°F | 7°C45°F | 11°C52°F | 164 mm6.5 in |
Monthly averages 1991–2020 from TerraClimate (about 4 km grid).