vegetables
UC Master Gardeners of Butte County
Article

Planting Guide for the Chico Valley Area

Planting and harvest dates used in this chart are guidelines only. Seeding and transplanting dates may vary between varieties. Please check seed package or nursery for additional information. Seasonal weather can modify planting and harvesting dates. The National Gardening Association’s Frost Date Tool can be helpful in determining first and last frost dates, however they may not be reflective of current weather conditions due to global climate change. It can be helpful to keep track of temperatures and dates when planting and harvesting for future reference.


Summer/Fall Vegetables

Brussels Sprouts

  • June: seed in cold frame or green house
  • July: direct seed into the ground   
  • late July–August: transplant
  • December–March

Cabbage    

  • early July: seed in cold frame or green house
  • late July: direct seed into the ground
  • August: Transplant
  • November–March: harvest

Parsnips 

  • July: direct seed into the ground
  • December–February: harvest

Cauliflower & Broccoli

  • late july–early August: direct seed into the ground
  • November–February: harvest

Carrots

  • late July–August: direct seed into the ground
  • December–March: harvest

Rutabaga

  • late july–early August: direct seed into the ground
  • November–February: harvest

Lettuce

  • late July–mid October: direct seed into the ground—seed several times during this period for an extended harvest
  • October–February: harvest

Turnips

  • August: direct seed into the ground
  • November–February: harvest

Spinach

  • mid September–early November: direct seed into the ground
  • December–March: harvest

Spinach

  • January: direct seed into the ground
  • March–May: harvest

Fava Beans

  • October–early December: direct seed into the ground
  • March–early May: harvest

Peas

  • late October–mid November: direct seed into the ground
  • March–May: harvest

Winter/Spring Vegetables

cauliflower & broccoli

  • December: seed in cold frame or green house
  • Late December, early january: direct seed into the ground
  • Mid-January–Early February: Transplant
  • April–early June: harvest

Onion

  • Late December–January: direct seed into the ground
  • Late-January–February: Transplant
  • April–early July: harvest

Cabbage

  • Late-December: seed in cold frame or green house

  • Early January: direct seed into the ground
  • Late-January–mid-February: Transplant
  • April–mid June: harvest

Lettuce

  • Late December–early january: direct seed into the ground
  • Mid-January: Transplant
  • March–April: harvest

Lettuce

  • Mid-January–mid-February: direct seed into the ground
  • Mid- to late February: Transplant
  • April–May: harvest

Lettuce

  • Early to mid-March: direct seed into the ground
  • Late March–early April: Transplant
  • May: harvest

shallots & garlic

  • January: Transplant
  • Late May–early July: harvest

Tomato

  • Mid-January–early February: seed in cold frame or green house
  • Early February–mid-March: direct seed into the ground
  • Late March–April: Transplant
  • June–November: harvest

Carrots

  • Late January–early March: direct seed into the ground
  • May–August: harvest

Carrots

  • Mid-March–April: direct seed into the ground
  • June–Dec: harvest

Potato

  • Late January–Mid-March: direct seed into the ground
  • Late May–July: harvest

Chard

  • Late January–February: direct seed into the ground
  • March: Transplant
  • Late April–December: harvest

Beets

  • Late January–Mid-March: direct seed into the ground
  • Late May–July: harvest

Pepper & eggplant

  • Late February: seed in cold frame or green house
  • March: direct seed into the ground
  • April: Transplant
  • June–November: harvest

Cucumber

  • Late March: seed in cold frame or green house
  • Mid-March: direct seed into the ground
  • Late April–early May: Transplant
  • June–September: harvest

Cucumber

  • Late May–early June: direct seed into the ground
  • August–October: harvest

Corn

  • Mid-March–mid-April: direct seed into the ground
  • June: harvest

Corn

  • Mid-April–mid-May: direct seed into the ground
  • July: harvest

Corn

  • Mid-May–mid-June: direct seed into the ground
  • August: harvest

Corn

  • Mid-June–mid-July: direct seed into the ground
  • August: harvest

Green bean

  • April: direct seed into the ground
  • June–September: harvest

Green bean

  • June: direct seed into the ground
  • August–October: harvest

Melon

  • April–mid-May: direct seed into the ground
  • July–August: harvest

Melon

  • Mid-May–mid-June: direct seed into the ground
  • Mid-August–September: harvest

Squash

  • Mid-April–mid-May: direct seed into the ground
  • July–October: harvest

Lima bean

  • May: direct seed into the ground
  • September–November: harvest