Calendars by city / CA
Sacramento, California vegetable planting calendar
Planting windows for Sacramento, California built from the NOAA 1991–2020 freeze normals at SACRAMENTO EXECUTIVE AIRPORT, CA US (station USW00023232), not from a hardiness zone.
Sacramento, California planting dates for 27 vegetables
The same windows as a table
Each row applies a published extension rule to the frost dates above. Hardy crops go out 2–4 weeks before the last frost; semi-hardy crops 0–2 weeks before; tender crops around the frost date; very tender crops 2 or more weeks after. The last fall planting date counts the crop's days to harvest back from the first fall frost. The rules and their sources are on the methodology page.
| Crop | Frost class | Start seeds indoors | Plant outdoors | Last fall planting | Days to harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beets | Semi-hardy | — (direct sow) | Direct sow: Jan 26 – Feb 9 | Oct 11 | 60 |
| Broccoli | Hardy | Nov 24 – Dec 22 | Transplant: Jan 12 – Jan 26 | Oct 13 | 65 (from transplant) |
| Cabbage | Hardy | Nov 24 – Dec 22 | Transplant: Jan 12 – Jan 26 | Sep 23 | 85 (from transplant) |
| Carrots | Semi-hardy | — (direct sow) | Direct sow: Jan 26 – Feb 9 | Oct 1 | 70 |
| Cauliflower | Semi-hardy | Dec 8 – Jan 5 | Transplant: Jan 26 – Feb 9 | Oct 6 | 65 (from transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Hardy | — (direct sow) | Direct sow: Jan 12 – Jan 26 | Oct 28 | 50 |
| Lettuce (leaf) | Hardy | — (direct sow) | Direct sow: Jan 12 – Jan 26 | Oct 18 | 60 |
| Onions (green) | Hardy | — (direct sow) | Direct sow: Jan 12 – Jan 26 | Oct 18 | 60 |
| Onions (dry, from seed) | Hardy | — (direct sow) | Direct sow: Jan 12 – Jan 26 | Aug 29 | 110 |
| Onions (dry, from sets) | Hardy | — (direct sow) | Plant sets: Jan 12 – Jan 26 | Aug 29 | 110 |
| Parsnips | Semi-hardy | — (direct sow) | Direct sow: Jan 26 – Feb 9 | Oct 1 | 70 |
| Peas | Hardy | — (direct sow) | Direct sow: Jan 12 – Jan 26 | Oct 13 | 65 |
| Potatoes | Semi-hardy | — (direct sow) | Plant seed potatoes: Jan 26 – Feb 9 | Aug 7 | 125 |
| Radishes | Hardy | — (direct sow) | Direct sow: Jan 12 – Jan 26 | Nov 17 | 30 |
| Spinach | Hardy | — (direct sow) | Direct sow: Jan 12 – Jan 26 | Nov 7 | 40 |
| Swiss chard | Semi-hardy | — (direct sow) | Direct sow: Jan 26 – Feb 9 | Oct 11 | 60 |
| Turnips | Hardy | — (direct sow) | Direct sow: Jan 12 – Jan 26 | Oct 28 | 50 |
| Snap beans | Tender | — (direct sow) | Direct sow: Feb 9 – Feb 16 | Oct 4 | 60 |
| Cantaloupe | Very tender | Feb 2 – Feb 23 | Direct sow (or transplant): Feb 23 – Mar 9 | Sep 9 | 85 |
| Sweet corn | Tender | — (direct sow) | Direct sow: Feb 9 – Feb 16 | Sep 4 | 60–90 |
| Cucumbers | Tender | Jan 19 – Feb 2 | Direct sow (or transplant): Feb 9 – Feb 16 | Oct 9 | 55 |
| Eggplant | Very tender | Dec 22 – Jan 26 | Transplant: Feb 23 – Mar 9 | Oct 4 | 60 (from transplant) |
| Peppers | Very tender | Dec 29 – Jan 26 | Transplant: Feb 23 – Mar 9 | Sep 24 | 70 (from transplant) |
| Tomatoes | Very tender | Jan 5 – Feb 2 | Transplant: Feb 23 – Mar 9 | Sep 29 | 65 (from transplant) |
| Summer squash | Tender | Jan 19 – Feb 2 | Direct sow (or transplant): Feb 9 – Feb 16 | Oct 14 | 50 |
| Winter squash | Very tender | Feb 2 – Feb 23 | Direct sow (or transplant): Feb 23 – Mar 9 | Aug 25 | 100 |
| Watermelon | Very tender | Feb 2 – Feb 23 | Direct sow (or transplant): Feb 23 – Mar 9 | Sep 9 | 85 |
What the Sacramento, California frost-free season means for your choices
At 297 frost-free days, Sacramento, California gardeners should compare that number to the days-to-harvest column before buying seed. A crop whose days to harvest plus its transplant age is close to the season length needs either an early start indoors or a short-season variety.
- Hardy crops (peas, spinach, radishes, lettuce, broccoli, cabbage) can go in from about Jan 12 – Jan 26 and again for fall.
- Very tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, melons, winter squash) should wait until Feb 23 – Mar 9; start tomato seeds indoors Jan 5 – Feb 2.
- Fall sowing is worthwhile only for the rows that show a separate fall date; for the others the spring window already covers the season.
Sacramento, CA planting questions
When is the last frost in Sacramento, California?
The 50% probability date for the last spring 32°F reading at SACRAMENTO EXECUTIVE AIRPORT, CA US is Feb 9, from the NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals. In half the years on that record the last frost came later than that date, so tender crops are safer a week or two after it. The last 28°F hard freeze averages Jan 14.
When can I plant tomatoes in Sacramento, California?
Tomatoes are a very tender crop, so the Colorado State Extension rule puts them out 2 or more weeks after the last spring frost: Feb 23 – Mar 9 in Sacramento, California. Start the seeds indoors Jan 5 – Feb 2, which is 5 to 7 weeks before that transplant window.
How long is the growing season in Sacramento, California?
Sacramento, California averages 297 frost-free days, between the 50% last spring frost on Feb 9 and the 50% first fall frost on Dec 3 at SACRAMENTO EXECUTIVE AIRPORT, CA US. Check a variety's days to harvest against that number before buying seed.
When should I start seeds indoors in Sacramento, California?
The earliest indoor sowing on this calendar is broccoli and cabbage at Nov 24 – Dec 22. Hardy crops are transplanted out Jan 12 – Jan 26 here, and each crop's indoor window is simply its outdoor window minus the transplant age published by Colorado State Extension, so nothing starts earlier than that.
What can I plant in fall in Sacramento, California?
The crops with a separate fall sowing here, latest first, are radishes, spinach, kohlrabi, turnips, lettuce (leaf) and onions (green), plus 21 more on the chart above. Each fall date counts the crop's days to harvest back from the first fall frost on Dec 3, plus an allowance for frost-tolerant crops that is our own assumption, not the source's.
Station data and limitations
| NOAA station | SACRAMENTO EXECUTIVE AIRPORT, CA US (USW00023232) |
|---|---|
| Location | 38.5069, -121.495 · elevation 4.6 m |
| Last spring 32°F / 28°F (50%) | Feb 9 / Jan 14 |
| First fall 32°F / 28°F (50%) | Dec 3 / Dec 20 |
| Dataset | NOAA/NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, annual/seasonal product, data types ANN-TMIN-PRBLST/PRBFST-T32FP50 and T28FP50 |
| Retrieved | 2026-10-16 |
The normals describe the airport station, not your yard. They are averages of a 30-year record and say nothing about this year's weather. Watch the local forecast around the dates shown, and use soil temperature for warm-season crops, which the Colorado State guide treats as the better signal.
Nearby calendars
- Los Angeles, California
- San Diego, California
- Portland, Oregon — last spring frost Mar 16
- Salt Lake City, Utah — last spring frost Apr 21
Read the method behind these dates: last frost date vs hardiness zone.