Now
35°C · Clear
Today
35° / 12°
Soil 6 cm
24°C
First frost
~83 days (Nov 30)
Gardening in Sacramento
AI field guide · refreshed weeklySacramento Gardening: Early Fall Planting for Winter Harvest
Zone 9b means your first fall frost arrives around November 30—you have 83 days to grow cool-season crops. Soil at 24°C (75°F) is ideal for germinating brassicas, leafy greens, and root vegetables; it'll cool steadily through October. Last spring frost was February 21, so you're 199 days past that window. Plant now to harvest November through January before the rare hard freeze (average low -1.6°C / 29°F).
Sow outdoors now
Broccoli and cauliflower (transplants)
Set out 6–8 week old seedlings now for November–December harvest; varieties like 'Calabrese' and 'Romanesco' thrive in Sacramento's cool season. Space 45 cm (18 in) apart in full sun.
Kale and collards
Direct sow or transplant 'Lacinato', 'Winterbor', or 'Georgia' collards; they sweeten after frost and produce through winter. Thin to 30 cm (12 in) spacing.
Spinach and arugula
Sow seeds directly 1 cm (0.5 in) deep; both germinate well at 24°C and mature in 40–50 days. Succession-sow every 2 weeks through October.
Carrots and beets
Direct sow 'Nantes' carrots and 'Detroit Dark Red' beets 0.5 cm (0.25 in) deep; they'll size up through fall and store well. Thin seedlings to 5 cm (2 in) and 8 cm (3 in) respectively.
Lettuce and Asian greens
Sow 'Buttercrunch', 'Lollo Rosso', or 'Tatsoi' directly; they'll mature before hard frost and tolerate light frosts. Keep soil moist until germination.
Start indoors now
Cabbage and Brussels sprouts
Start seeds indoors now for transplanting in 4–5 weeks; 'January King' cabbage and 'Jade Cross' sprouts are reliable for Sacramento winters. Harden off before planting out in mid-October.
Onions (from seed)
Start long-day varieties like 'Walla Walla' or 'Ailsa Craig' indoors; transplant in 6–8 weeks for spring bulbing in zone 9b. Keep seedlings at 18–21°C (65–70°F).
Leeks
Sow indoors for transplanting in late September; leeks mature slowly but tolerate Sacramento's winter cold and can be harvested through February.
Harvest now
Summer squash and zucchini
Pick while tender; plants are winding down as heat fades. Harvest every 2–3 days to encourage final flushes before frost.
Tomatoes and peppers
Pick ripe fruit now; with 83 days to frost, late bloomers won't mature. Ripen green tomatoes indoors or use for salsa.
Beans and peas (spring plantings)
Finish harvesting spring-sown crops; plants are exhausted and won't produce in cooling weather.
Tasks this week
- Clear spent summer beds and amend with compost or aged manure before planting fall crops.
- Water new sowings and transplants deeply; no rain in the forecast and soil will dry quickly at 24°C.
- Set up shade cloth (30–50%) if daytime temps stay above 35°C (95°F) to protect tender seedlings from bolting.
- Scout for aphids and whiteflies on brassica transplants; spray with neem oil if needed before populations explode.
- Mulch around new plantings with 5 cm (2 in) of straw to retain moisture and keep soil cool.
Watch out for
- Powdery mildew: common in fall on squash and melons as nights cool; remove infected leaves and improve air flow.
- Cabbage moths and loopers: will target new brassicas; use row covers or Bt spray at first sign of damage.
- Dry soil: zero rain forecast through mid-September; water deeply 2–3 times weekly until plants establish.
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