In the garden now (2 November 2026)
Sow or plant outside
PeasLettuceSpinachKaleCabbageBroccoliCarrotsBeetsRadishesOnionsPotatoesSwiss chardCilantroParsley
Start indoors
Ready to pick
TomatoesPeppersEggplantCucumbersZucchiniPumpkinsWatermelonsSweet cornGreen beansLettuceKaleCabbageBroccoliCarrotsBeetsRadishesOnionsPotatoesSwiss chardBasilCilantroParsley
Coming up in the next 4 weeks
No new outdoor sowings start in the next four weeks.
San Jose 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 | Feb 11 – Mar 18 | Apr 8 – Sep 5 plant out | Jun 25 – Dec 2 |
| Pepper | Feb 27 – Apr 3 | May 8 – Sep 2 plant out | Jul 15 – Dec 2 |
| Eggplant (aubergine) | Mar 10 – Apr 14 | May 19 – Aug 29 plant out | Jul 26 – Dec 2 |
| Cucumber | Mar 28 – Apr 24 | Apr 25 – Sep 17 sow | Jun 21 – Dec 2 |
| Zucchini (courgette) | Mar 11 – Apr 7 | Apr 8 – Sep 21 sow | Jun 8 – Dec 2 |
| Pumpkin and winter squash | Mar 11 – Apr 7 | Apr 8 – Aug 17 sow | Jul 18 – Dec 28 |
| Watermelon | Apr 21 – May 18 | May 19 – Aug 20 sow | Jul 30 – Dec 2 |
| Sweet corn | – | Feb 24 – Aug 31 sow | Jun 16 – Dec 2 |
| Green beans | – | Apr 8 – Sep 17 sow | Jun 12 – Dec 2 |
| Peas | – | Sep 19 – Apr 6 sow | Nov 10 – Jun 27 |
| Lettuce | Aug 6 – Sep 3 | Sep 10 – May 5 sow | Oct 17 – Jul 9 |
| Spinach | – | Oct 11 – Apr 25 sow | Nov 21 – Jun 27 |
| Kale | – | Jan 1 – Dec 31 sow | Jan 1 – Dec 31 |
| Cabbage | Jun 14 – Jul 19 | Aug 2 – Jun 2 plant out | Sep 26 – Aug 23 |
| Broccoli | Jun 21 – Jul 26 | Aug 9 – Jun 8 plant out | Sep 26 – Aug 22 |
| Carrots | – | Jan 1 – Dec 31 sow | Jan 1 – Dec 31 |
| Beets (beetroot) | – | Jan 1 – Dec 31 sow | Jan 1 – Dec 31 |
| Radishes | – | Sep 24 – May 19 sow | Oct 15 – Jun 22 |
| 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 27 – Apr 24 | May 8 – Oct 8 plant out | Jun 8 – Dec 2 |
| Cilantro (coriander) | – | Sep 19 – May 11 sow | Oct 19 – Jul 7 |
| 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 Jose
San Jose sees a frost only in some winters: half of all years have their last frost by January 12 and their first by December 22, so the risky stretch is a few weeks around midwinter. Keep fleece handy for tender plants then.
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, San Jose (4 km from the city centre).
Climate at a glance
- Hardiness zone
- 10a from station records
- Average coldest winter night
- -1°C31°F
- Warmest month
- August, highs 29°C85°F
- Coldest month
- December, lows 6°C42°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 | 17°C62°F | 6°C43°F | 11°C52°F | 78 mm3.1 in |
| February | 18°C65°F | 7°C44°F | 13°C55°F | 65 mm2.6 in |
| March | 20°C69°F | 8°C47°F | 14°C58°F | 57 mm2.2 in |
| April | 22°C72°F | 9°C48°F | 16°C60°F | 35 mm1.4 in |
| May | 25°C77°F | 11°C52°F | 18°C65°F | 7 mm0.3 in |
| June | 28°C82°F | 13°C56°F | 21°C69°F | 2 mm0.1 in |
| July | 29°C84°F | 14°C58°F | 22°C71°F | 1 mm0.0 in |
| August | 29°C85°F | 15°C58°F | 22°C71°F | 1 mm0.0 in |
| September | 29°C84°F | 14°C57°F | 21°C70°F | 2 mm0.1 in |
| October | 26°C79°F | 11°C52°F | 19°C65°F | 23 mm0.9 in |
| November | 21°C69°F | 8°C46°F | 14°C57°F | 46 mm1.8 in |
| December | 17°C62°F | 6°C42°F | 11°C52°F | 69 mm2.7 in |
Monthly averages 1991–2020 from TerraClimate (about 4 km grid).