Now
27°C · Overcast
Today
32° / 19°
Soil 6 cm
26°C
First frost
Rare
Gardening in Santa Barbara
AI field guide · refreshed weeklySanta Barbara Garden Guide: Early Fall Planting & Transition
Zone 10b with virtually no frost risk—your growing season runs nearly year-round. Last spring frost averaged January 13; first fall frost is rare to nonexistent. Soil at 26°C (79°F) is ideal for cool-season crop germination. This week's heat spike (up to 40°C/104°F mid-week) will break into mild 19–25°C (66–77°F) lows by week's end, signaling the true start of fall planting season. You have 238 days since last frost and can plant through December.
Sow outdoors now
Lettuce & Leafy Greens (Lactuca sativa)
Direct-sow 'Buttercrunch', 'Red Oakleaf', or 'Jericho' varieties now; they'll germinate in 26°C soil and mature in 45–60 days as temperatures drop. Space 15 cm (6 in) apart in partial afternoon shade to extend harvest into winter.
Spinach (Spinacia oleracea)
Sow 'Space' or 'Bloomsdale Long Standing' directly into beds; prefers cooler weather and will thrive through your mild winter. Thin to 10 cm (4 in) spacing.
Arugula (Eruca vesicana)
Fast-growing (30–40 days), peppery leaves for salads. Sow every 2 weeks through November for continuous harvest. Tolerates light frost.
Radish (Raphanus sativus)
Try 'Cherry Belle' or 'French Breakfast' for quick 25–30 day turnaround. Sow in succession for fall and winter crops.
Peas (Pisum sativum)
Plant sugar snap or snow pea varieties like 'Sugar Snap' or 'Oregon Sugar Pod' by mid-September; they'll climb trellises and produce heavily through winter. Soak seed 2 hours before sowing.
Start indoors now
Broccoli & Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea)
Start 'Calabrese' broccoli or 'Snowball' cauliflower indoors now; transplant seedlings in 4–5 weeks when they're 10 cm (4 in) tall. They'll head up in November–December as nights cool.
Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata)
Sow 'Savoy' or 'Red Acre' indoors; transplant in 5 weeks for harvest in late fall and winter. These store well.
Kale (Brassica oleracea var. acephala)
Start 'Lacinato' or 'Winterbor' indoors now for transplant in 4 weeks. Kale sweetens after frost and will produce through your mild winter.
Harvest now
Summer Tomatoes & Peppers
Pick ripe fruit now before heat stress peaks mid-week. Mature green tomatoes will ripen indoors if picked before frost (which is rare here, but before November).
Eggplant (Solanum melongena)
Harvest 'Black Beauty' or 'Japanese Long' eggplants while skin is glossy; they're at peak flavor now before plants slow in late fall.
Basil & Summer Herbs
Cut basil, oregano, and marjoram heavily before they bolt in cooler weather. Dry or freeze for winter use.
Tasks this week
- Amend beds with 5 cm (2 in) of compost before planting cool-season crops; fall rains (if any) will activate nutrients.
- Set up shade cloth (30–50%) for new lettuce and greens to protect from mid-week heat spike and extend harvest.
- Water deeply after sowing; soil at 26°C will dry fast. Mulch with 5 cm (2 in) straw to retain moisture.
- Deadhead spent summer flowers and prune back leggy herbs to encourage fall growth.
- Scout for spider mites and whiteflies on remaining warm-season plants; spray with neem oil if needed.
Watch out for
- Powdery mildew thrives in Santa Barbara's coastal humidity—space plants well and water at soil level only, especially as nights cool.
- Gophers and voles are active in fall; use hardware cloth under raised beds or row covers over direct-seeded crops.
- Sudden temperature swings (40°C to 19°C this week) can stress transplants—harden off indoor seedlings gradually before planting out.
The gardening note for Santa Barbara, every week
One email, Sunday evening. Unsubscribe anytime.