Grow with confidence

San Jose Vegetable Planting Calendar

Use San Jose climate patterns to see this month’s garden tasks and crop-by-crop planting windows for the Santa Clara Valley and nearby foothill communities.

See What to Plant NowView Planting Dates
USDA Zones 9b–10aMost San Jose neighborhoods fall in USDA Zones 9b–10a
Frost uncommonTypical last spring frost: January 11
Frost uncommonTypical first fall frost: December 26
Cool season

Plant through winter

Broccoli, lettuce, peas, carrots, radishes and leafy greens perform best from fall through early spring.

Warm season

Use spring warmth

Plant tomatoes, beans, cucumbers, squash and peppers as soils warm, before intense inland summer heat.

Late summer

Restart the cool garden

Begin fall brassicas indoors and prepare beds for direct-sown roots and greens as temperatures moderate.

Local dates, crop by crop

San Jose Planting Dates

Choose a season and search for a crop to see when to start seeds indoors, move plants outside, direct sow and finish planting in the San Jose area.

San Jose–Santa Clara CountyUSDA Zones 9b–10a · typical last frost January 11 · typical first frost December 26

Spring planting

Planting Dates for Spring

Dates use Santa Clara Valley climate timing. Frost exposure, summer heat and planting windows vary between the valley floor and nearby foothills. Always check soil temperature and the 10-day forecast before planting.

Crop Start seeds indoors Transplant or plant outdoors Direct sow outdoors Last recommended planting Shop

Use the dates with confidence

How to Read This Calendar

1

Start indoors

Sow in trays under strong light. The window is timed so seedlings reach transplant size without becoming root-bound.

2

Transplant or plant

Harden seedlings off for about a week. Perennial crowns, sets and seed potatoes are included in this column.

3

Direct sow

Plant seed directly into prepared soil. Cool-season crops can begin before frost; heat-loving crops need warm soil.

4

Last planting

This is the practical end of the selected window—not a guarantee. Variety maturity and unusual weather can move it.

San Jose soil checkpoints

Let Soil Temperature Be the Final Check

Calendar dates start the conversation. A simple soil thermometer helps confirm that the seedbed is actually ready.

40–50°FPeas, spinach, radishes and other hardy crops
55–60°FBeans, corn and many moderately warm crops
65°F+Cucumbers, squash, melons, okra and other heat lovers
Current San Jose soil temperatureLoading…Modeled near 2½ inches deep
Checking current conditions

Use this modeled reading as a local reference, then confirm conditions in your own garden with a soil thermometer.

Weather data by Open-Meteo

Selected for the current planting window

Seeds to Plant Now

References: University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources vegetable planting guidance and approximate California frost dates; USDA 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map; and Open-Meteo modeled soil-temperature data. the Santa Clara Valley contains meaningful neighborhood microclimates, so dates and live conditions are planning estimates, not guarantees.