Vegetable Planting Schedule for the Lake Tahoe Basin
Below is a crop-by-crop summary of the best time to plant vegetables here in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Keep in mind these are estimates of ideal planting windows, each season can bring very different conditions so also take into account potential freezes in the weather forecast and your individual planting zone. Where available we've also included some suggested varieties known to grow well here in the Tahoe Basin, though these are only a small sampling of varieties that will thrive.
Annual Vegetables
Vegetables grown from seeds or seedlings each year, listed in alphabetical order:
Beans
Start Seeds Indoors: Not recommended
Start Seeds or Transplant Outdoors: May 1 - July 1, depending on variety
Days to Maturity: 50 - 75 days
Suggested Varieties: Blue Lake Bush Bean, Celine Bean, Gold Rush Bush Bean
Beets
Start Seeds Indoors: Not recommended
Start Seeds or Transplant Outdoors: April 15 - June 15
Days to Maturity: 55 - 65 days
Suggested Varieties: Red Ace, Touchstone Gold
Root Crop Growing Instructions
Broccoli
Start Seeds Indoors: March 1 - 30
Start Seeds or Transplant Outdoors: April 15 - June 15
Days to Maturity: 60 - 80 days
Brussels Sprouts
Start Seeds Indoors: March 1 - 30
Start Seeds or Transplant Outdoors: May 15 - 30
Days to Maturity: 80 - 120 days
Cabbage
Start Seeds Indoors: March 1 - 30
Start Seeds or Transplant Outdoors: April 15 - July 15, depending on variety
Days to Maturity: 60 - 80 days
Carrots
Start Seeds Indoors: Not Recommended
Start Seeds or Transplant Outdoors: April 15 - July 15 or Oct 1 - Nov 15
Days to Maturity: 70 - 80 days when planted in spring
Recommended Varieties: Purple Star, Yaya
Root Crop Growing Instructions
Cauliflower
Start Seeds Indoors: March 1 - 30
Start Seeds or Transplant Outdoors: April 15 - June 15
Days to Maturity: 55 - 60 days
Celery
Start Seeds Indoors: Feb 15 - March 15
Start Seeds or Transplant Outdoors: May 15 - June 15
Days to Maturity: 90 - 120 days
Chard
Start Seeds Indoors: Not Recommended
Start Seeds or Transplant Outdoors: May 1 - June 1
Days to Maturity: 30 - 55 days
Suggested Varieties, early & late season: Argentata, Bright Lights, Fordhook Giant, Perpetual Chard, White Silver
Suggested Varieties, mid-summer: Bright Lights, Fordhook Giant, Rhubarb Supreme
Collards
Start Seeds Indoors: Not Recommended
Start Seeds or Transplant Outdoors: April 15 - May 15
Days to Maturity: 55 - 70 days
Leafy Greens Growing Instructions
Cucumbers
Start Seeds Indoors: Not Recommended
Start Seeds or Transplant Outdoors: May 1 - June 15
Days to Maturity: 60 - 65 days
Eggplant
Start Seeds Indoors: March 1 - 30
Transplant Outdoors: May 15 - June 15 (direct seeding not recommended)
Days to Maturity: 60 - 65 days
Endive
Start Seeds Indoors: Not recommended
Start Seeds or Transplant Outdoors: April 15 - May 1
Days to Maturity: 60 - 65 days
Leafy Greens Growing Instructions
Garlic
Start Bulbs Indoors: Not recommended
Start Bulbs Outdoors: Oct 1 - Nov 1
Days to Maturity: 90 - 150 days
Onions & Leeks Growing Instructions
Kale
Start Seeds Indoors: Not recommended
Start Seeds or Transplant Outdoors: April 15 - June 15
Days to Maturity: 50 - 70 days
Suggested Varieties: Black Jack, Dazzling Blue, Dwarf Green Curled, Darkibor F1, KX1, Meadow Lark, Redbor, Toscano, Vates Blue Curled
Leafy Greens Growing Instructions
Kohlrabi
Start Seeds Indoors: Not recommended
Start Seeds or Transplant Outdoors: April 15 - June 15
Days to Maturity: 50 - 70 days
Lettuce, Leaf
Start Seeds Indoors: Not recommended
Start Seeds or Transplant Outdoors: April 15 - June 15
Days to Maturity: 40 - 65 days
Suggested Varieties, early/late season: Black Seeded Simpson, Outredgeous Romaine, Salad Bowl
Suggested Varieties, mid-summer: Jericho, Merlot, Nevada, Oak Leaf, Outredgeous Romaine, Parris Island, Red Sails, Salad Bowl, Sierra
Lettuce, Head
Start Seeds Indoors: March 1 - April 1
Start Seeds or Transplant Outdoors: April 15 - June 15
Days to Maturity: 60 - 85 days
Suggested Varieties, early/late season: Arctic King, Winter Density, Winter Marvel,
Suggested Varieties, mid-summer: Buttercrunch, Red Cross, Summer Bibb, Summertime
Okra
Start Seeds Indoors: March 15 - April 15
Start Seeds or Transplant Outdoors: June 1 - 15
Days to Maturity: 55 - 60 days
Onion
Start Seeds Indoors: Feb 1 - 15
Start Seeds Outdoors: April 1 - May 1
Transplant Outdoors (from slips): April 15 - June 15
Days to Maturity: 100 - 120 days
Suggested Varieties: Cippolini, Red Candy Apple, Red Torpedo
Onions & Leeks Growing Instructions
Parsley
Start Seeds Indoors: Not recommended
Start Seeds or Transplant Outdoors: April 15 - June 15
Days to Maturity: 30 - 90 days
Pea
Start Seeds Indoors: Not recommended
Start Seeds or Transplant Outdoors: April 15 - June 15
Days to Maturity: 50 - 80 days
Suggested Varieties: Avalanche Snow, Mammoth Melting Snow, Oregon Sugar II, Sugar Ann Snap
Pepper
Start Seeds Indoors: March 15 - April 15
Transplant Outdoors: June 1 - 15 (direct seeding not recommended)
Days to Maturity: 40 - 65 days
Suggested Varieties: Early-maturing varieties including Ace (sweet), , Gypsy (sweet), Shishito (mild), Quickfire (hot), Serrano (hot)
Potatoes, Irish
Start Seeds Indoors: Not recommended
Start Seeds/Tubers Outdoors: June 1 - 15
Days to Maturity: 70 - 90 days
Suggested Varieties: Bellanita, Constance, Huckleberry Gold, Red LaSoda, Sifra
Potatoes, Sweet
Start Seeds/Roots Indoors: April 1 - 15
Start Seeds/Roots or Transplant Outdoors: May 15 - June 15
Days to Maturity: 90 - 150 days
Pumpkin
Start Seeds Indoors: March 15 - April 15
Start Seeds or Transplant Outdoors: May 10 - June 15
Days to Maturity: 85 - 90 days
Suggested Varieties: Small Sugar Pumpkin (or any variety with relatively short days to maturity)
Squash & Pumpkin Growing Instructions
Radish
Start Seeds Indoors: Not recommended
Start Seeds or Transplant Outdoors: April 1 - June 15 or August 1 - 15
Days to Maturity: 25 - 35 days
Suggested Varieties: Bravo, Donato
Root Crop Growing Instructions
Spinach
Start Seeds Indoors: Not recommended
Start Seeds or Transplant Outdoors: April 15 - June 15 or August 1 - 15
Days to Maturity: 35 - 45 days
Suggested Varieties: Bloomsdale, Giant Winter, Reflect
Leafy Greens Growing Instructions
Squash
Start Seeds Indoors: March 15 - April 15
Start Seeds or Transplant Outdoors: May 10 - June 15
Days to Maturity: 55 - 80 days for Summer Squash, 85 - 90 days for Winter Squash
Suggested Varieties: Butterfish, Emerald Delight, Superpik
Squash & Pumpkin Growing Instructions
Sweet Corn
Start Seeds Indoors: Not recommended
Start Seeds or Transplant Outdoors: May 10 - June 15
Days to Maturity: 80 - 100 days
Suggested Varieties: Ambrosia, Bodacious RM, Quickie, Sugar Buns, Trinity
Tomato
Start Seeds Indoors: March 15 - April 15
Start Seeds or Transplant Outdoors: May 15 - June 15
Days to Maturity: 70 - 85 days
Suggested Varieties: Ace Red Slicing, Ace 55 Canning, Cherokee Purple, Juliet F1, Lemon Boy, Red Racer, Roma, Sun Gold, SuperSweet 100
Turnip
Start Seeds Indoors: Not recommended
Start Seeds or Transplant Outdoors: April 15 or August 1
Days to Maturity: 45 - 60 days
Root Crop Growing Instructions
Perennial Vegetables
Vegetables that grow for multiple seasons, listed in alphabetical order:
Asparagus
Start Seeds Indoors: Not recommended
Plant Crowns Outdoors: April 1 - June 1
Days to Maturity: following year
Chives
Start Seeds Indoors: Not recommended
Start Seeds or Transplant Outdoors: April 15 - June 15
Days to Maturity: 80 - 90 days
Horseradish
Start Seeds Indoors: Not recommended
Plant Root Cuttings / Sets Outdoors: April 15 - June 15
Days to Maturity: 2nd spring for full flavor
Rhubarb
Start Seeds Indoors: Not recommended
Transplant Outdoors: April 15 - May 15
Days to Maturity: 2nd - 3rd spring
Special thanks to Brian Hirdman and Master Gardener Bekka for compiling this information