GreenlyWhat to plant in October in California
Worked out for 11 cities from their own weather and frost dates, by zone.
What to sow and plant in October in California, by zone: frost-free, highs above 82 °F (Los Angeles, Fresno and 2 more): zucchini, green beans, basil, bok choy and borage; frost-free, highs of 72–82 °F (San Diego, San Jose and 4 more): broad bean, peas, onion, spinach, lettuce and 17 more; frost-free, highs of 61–72 °F (San Francisco): broad bean, peas, onion, spinach, lettuce and 19 more.
In California, October is fall.
Frost-free, highs above 82 °F: Los Angeles, Fresno, Bakersfield and Riverside
In October, on average, these cities have highs of 83 to 86 °F and lows of 55 to 59 °F, 0.3 to 0.5 in of rain on 1 to 3 days; the day lasts 11 h 18 min to 11 h 22 min (on the 15th). A dry month: whatever is sown needs watering.
No frost in October in 10 years of data: frost-tender crops can go in too, if it is warm enough for them.
| How | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| sow direct | Zucchini, green beans, basil, bok choy, borage | Los Angeles, Bakersfield and Riverside |
| sow direct | Watermelon, pumpkin, sweet corn, chayote, corn, Florence fennel, kiwano, luffa, moringa, Napa cabbage, okra, peanut, soybean | Los Angeles |
Compared with September: no longer sown — cucumber, melon and achocha.
Not starting in October: tomato (January, started indoors), bell pepper (January, started indoors), lettuce (November, sown direct), peas (November, sown direct) and spinach (November, sown direct) — dates for Fresno.
Frost-free, highs of 72–82 °F: San Diego, San Jose, Sacramento, Santa Barbara and 2 more
In October, on average, these cities have highs of 75 to 80 °F and lows of 52 to 60 °F, 0.7 to 2.5 in of rain on 1 to 5 days; the day lasts 11 h 11 min to 11 h 24 min (on the 15th).
No frost in October in 10 years of data: frost-tender crops can go in too, if it is warm enough for them.
| How | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| sow direct | Broad bean, peas, cabbage, beet, parsley, cilantro, arugula, chamomile, chickpea, dill, mustard greens | San Diego, San Jose, Santa Barbara and 1 more |
| plant sets | Onion, shallot | San Diego, San Jose, Santa Barbara and 1 more |
| start indoors, plant out in November | Spinach | San Jose, Santa Barbara and Redding |
| start indoors, plant out in November or sow direct | Lettuce, Swiss chard, kale, kohlrabi | San Diego, San Jose, Santa Barbara and 1 more |
| sow direct | Carrot, parsnip | Santa Barbara |
| start indoors, plant out in December or sow direct | Broccoli | San Diego, San Jose, Santa Barbara and 1 more |
| start indoors, plant out in November | Cauliflower | San Diego, San Jose, Santa Barbara and 1 more |
| start indoors, plant out in December | Leek, Brussels sprouts | San Diego, San Jose, Santa Barbara and 1 more |
| sow direct | Zucchini, green beans, watermelon, pumpkin, sweet corn, basil, bok choy, borage, chayote, corn, Florence fennel, kiwano, Napa cabbage, peanut, soybean | San Diego |
| start indoors, plant out in November | Chicory | Redding |
Compared with September: new — spinach, lettuce, carrot, Swiss chard, leek, kale, kohlrabi, chicory and 1 more; no longer sown — cucumber, melon, achocha, luffa, moringa and okra.
Not starting in October: tomato (February, started indoors) and bell pepper (February, started indoors) — dates for San Jose.
Ready to harvest in October in San Jose, if sown in the right month: zucchini (August), green beans (August), watermelon (July), pumpkin (June), sweet corn (July), basil (August), bok choy (August) and borage (August).
Frost-free, highs of 61–72 °F: San Francisco
In October, on average, San Francisco has highs of 67 °F and lows of 55 °F, 1.4 in of rain on 3 days; the day lasts 11 h 16 min (on the 15th).
No frost in October in 10 years of data: frost-tender crops can go in too, if it is warm enough for them.
| How | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| sow direct | Broad bean, peas, spinach, lettuce, radish, carrot, cabbage, broccoli, Swiss chard, beet, parsley, cilantro, arugula, chamomile, daikon, dill, kale, kohlrabi, mustard greens, parsnip | San Francisco |
| plant sets | Onion, shallot | San Francisco |
| start indoors, plant out in November | Cauliflower | San Francisco |
| start indoors, plant out in December | Brussels Sprouts | San Francisco |
Compared with September: no longer sown — leek.
Not starting in October: tomato (no month outdoors by these rules), bell pepper (no month outdoors by these rules), zucchini (no month outdoors by these rules) and green beans (no month outdoors by these rules) — dates for San Francisco.
Ready to harvest in October in San Francisco, if sown in the right month: broad bean (July), peas (August), spinach (August), lettuce (August), radish (September), carrot (August), cabbage (June) and broccoli (July).
How we work it out
For each city we use its average weather in October and the months after (highs, lows and rain for 2016–2025, ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo) and its average frost dates. A crop starts in October if the month's mean temperature reaches the minimum soil temperature for germination on its card (we use the mean air temperature as a stand-in for the soil's) and if, over its first months (up to three), the average highs stay within its group's range, with no frost for crops that cannot take it. Crops started indoors count from the month they are planted out.
Temperature groups from Colorado State University Extension: cool-season crops prefer 60–80 °F and lose quality in heat; hardy ones grow in days as cool as 40 °F, semi-hardy ones from 40–50 °F (we use 50 °F); warm-season crops need days above 55 °F, and the most tender (tomato, pepper, eggplant, melon, watermelon, squash) above 60 °F, up to 95 °F. Crops the guide does not name go into the stricter group by their frost hardiness. Fava (broad) beans, which the guide does not name, count as hardy: hardy varieties are sown in fall and overwinter (RHS). Garlic and bulbs: a month before the first frost, and later only while the ground is not frozen (as on each city's page).
This is a general rule from averages: your garden can be a week or two earlier or later, and a greenhouse or a cold frame brings the season forward. Greenly works out the dates for your location.
- Moon planting calendar for October 2027
- What to plant in October: all climates
- Gardening in the United States: guide by region
Other months in California
- What to plant in October in the Northeast and Midwest
- What to plant in October in the South
- What to plant in October in Texas
- What to plant in October in Florida
- What to plant in October in the Pacific Northwest
- What to plant in October in the Southwest
- What to plant in October in the Mountain West
- What to plant in October in Canada
- What to plant in October in the UK
