Vegetable Planting Guide for Coastal Regions
Introduction
Welcome to our Vegetable Planting Guide for Coastal Regions of Contra Costa County. We hope this information inspires you to try many different vegetables in your home garden!
How to Use This Planting Guide
Use this Planting Guide if your garden is in the coastal region of Contra Costa County (Sunset Zone 17). In Contra Costa, this region generally includes areas directly exposed to and influenced by San Francisco Bay or San Pablo Bay (e.g. Richmond, El Cerrito, Crockett).
For more information on cultural needs of listed vegetables and advice for managing pests, diseases and other plant problems, contact our Help Desk as shown below, or consult the websites listed for each vegetable variety. If you cannot locate the recommended varieties, other appropriate varieties may be found at reputable nurseries in the area where your garden is located.
Happy gardening and eating!
Table Listing Planting Time and Varieties for Coastal Regions
| Plant | Planting Time & Recommended Varieties for Interior Regions |
|---|---|
| Artichoke | Late Summer - Fall: Plant bare root for early spring harvest. December - March: Plant bare root for fall harvest. Grow as a perennial. Variety: Green Globe. More Information: |
| Asparagus | December - March: Plant crowns. Grown as perennial with production for 15+ years. Takes several years to develop a ,full harvest. Varieties: UC 157, Mary Washington, Jersey Knight and UC 72. More Information: |
| Beans (Lima) | May: Sow seeds in place. Varieties: Burpee Improved Bush, Fordhook Bush and Henderson. |
| Beans (Snap, Pole or Bush) | May - Early June: Sow seed in place. Plant successive crops of bush beans as late as mid-July. Hot temps (above 80° F) may reduce bean set. Varieties: Tendergreen (bush), Cherokee Wax (bush), Butter Crisp (bush), Romano (bush and pole) and Kentucky Blue (pole). More Information: |
| Beets | February - July: Sow seed in place. Varieties: Early Wonder, Detroit Dark, Ruby Queen (red), Burpee Golden and Chioggia (alternating white & red rings). |
| Bok Choy Pac Choy | February - March or September - November: Sow seed in place. Protect from snails and slugs. |
| Broccoli, Chinese (Kai-Lan) | January - February: Start seeds indoors. Transplant six weeks later. Varieties: Green Lance and Ryokuho. |
| Broccoli | Mid-February to Mid-March: Plant seedlings for summer harvest. August: Plant seedlings for winter harvest. Start seeds 6-8 weeks before transplant. Varieties For Spring Planting: Green Goliath, Calabrese, Umpqua and Nutribud. Varieties For Fall Planting: Watham 29, Packman F and Romanesco. More Information: |
| Broccoli Raab | February - March or October - November: Plant seedlings. Start seeds 6 weeks before transplant. Best grown in cool weather. Varieties For Spring Planting: Spring Rapini. Varieties For Fall Planting: Early Fall Rapini and Marzatica. |
| Brussels Sprouts | By July 1: Plant seedlings of long-season varieties by July 1. Seedlings of short season varieties may be planted to Mid-Aug. Start seeds indoors 6 weeks earlier. Long Season Varieties: Diablo and Long Island Improved. Short Season Varieties: Bubbles, Jade Cross and Royal Marvel. More Information: |
| Cabbage | February - November: Plant seedlings any month except Dec-Jan. Start seeds six weeks before transplant. Varieties For Spring/Summer Planting: Early Jersey Wakefield, Winningstadt, Red Drumhead and many others. Varieties For Fall Planting: January King and Danish Ballhead. More Information: |
| Cantaloupe, Honeydew, and Related Melons | Late March: Start seeds in 4-inch bottomless containers. Late April - Early May: Plant out seedlings. Melons require warm temperatures to ripen. Cantaloupe is the melon most likely to succeed in cool coastal areas. Plant early varieties in a protected area. Early Varieties: Earliqueen F1 and Halona F1. More Information: |
| Carrots | February - June: Sow seed in place for summer harvest. July - September: Sow seed in place for winter harvest. Varieties: *Danvers ½ Long, *Thumbelina, Nantes and Royal Chantenay. (*excellent for heavy soil) More Information: |
| Cauliflower | January - April: Plant seedlings of short-season varieties for harvest between April and July. July - August: Plant seedlings of short-season varieties for harvest in Sept-Oct. June - August: Plant seedlings of long-season varieties for harvest between fall and late winter. Start seeds 6 weeks before transplant. Short Season Varieties: Snow Crown, Early Dawn, Ravella and Snowball. Long Season Varieties: Emeraude. More Information: |
| Celery | January - March: Start seeds Jan-Mar for transplanting outside March-June. Plant in partial shade to reduce summer heat. Varieties: Tall Utah 52-70, Golden Self Blanching and Ventura. More Information: |
| Chard | March - October: Sow seed in place or start indoors 6 weeks before transplant. Varieties: Rhubarb, Fordhook and Bright Lights. |
| Corn (Sweet) | April - July: Sow seed in place. In cool summer microclimates, grow short-season varieties. Varieties: Early Sunflow F1, Peaches and Cream and Northern Xtra Sweet F1. More Information: |
| Cucumber | March - May: Start seeds Mar-May for transplanting outdoors May-June. Slicing Varieties: Straight Eight, Salad Bush and Tasty Green. Pickling Varieties: Liberty Hybrid, County Fair 83 and Pot Luck. More Information: |
| Eggplant | By March1st: Start seeds indoors by March 1. Set out after all danger of frost or after April 15th. Varieties: Ichiban, Black Beauty, Dusky and Rosa Bianco. More Information: |
| Endive, Chicory (Including Radicchio) | January - February: Start seeds Jan-Feb for planting out in Feb-March for early summer harvest. July - August: Plant seedlings to mature in fall/winter. Select variety based on whether you like broad-leaf escarole or curled leaves of frisee. Varieties: Perfect (broad-leaf), Neos (frisée), Full Heart Batavian (frisée), Green Curled (frisée) and Palla Rossa Special (radicchio). |
| Garlic | October 15 - February 15: Plant bulbs. Start with purchased garlic bulbs. Best to use nursery bulbs that are certified disease-free. Fall planting will produce larger bulbs. Varieties: Early Italian Purple and California Late. More Information: |
| Kohlrabi | June - July: Sow seed in place or plant seedlings. Varieties: Early Purple Vienna and Early White Vienna. |
| Leeks | December - January: Start seeds indoors; or January - March: Sow seed in place. For baby leeks, plant a summer variety. For fall/winter harvest of fully developed bulbs, plant a winter variety. |
| Lettuce (Head) | February - June: Sow seed in place in Feb-June or plant transplants Feb-July. Varieties: Great Lakes, GL 659, and Empire. More Information: |
| Lettuce (Romaine, Cos) | February - April and July - September: Sow seed in place. Varieties: Little Caesar, Little Gem, Parris Island and Rouge d’Hiver. More Information: |
| Lettuce (Loose) | February - April and July - September: Sow seed in place. Varieties: Red Sails, Simpson Elite, Crispy Frills and Oak Leaf. More Information: |
| Okra | April - May: Start seeds indoors April - May and transplant in May - June. Okra requires high temperatures. For best success in cooler climates, select an early variety. Early Varieties: Cajun Delight and Emerald. |
| Onions | October - December: Start seeds indoors Oct-Dec or sow in place January-September. To produce green onions (scallions), plant seeds or set them in place Feb-Oct. To produce large bulbs, plant seedlings in mid February. Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before transplant date or buy seedlings at a nursery. Varieties: White Sweet, Spanish Early, Yellow Globe, Southport Red Globe, Red Torpedo, Beltsville Bunching and White Lisbon. More Information: |
| Parsley | October - May: Start seeds inside and expect long germination or use nursery seedlings. Varieties: Dark Green Italian and Dwarf Curled. |
| Parsnip | February - June: Sow seed in place for summer harvest. July - September: Sow seed in place for winter harvest. Cool weather improves flavor. |
| Peas | October - February: Sow seed in place. Varieties: Super Sugar Snaps, Snowbird and Wando. More Information: |
| Peppers, Sweet and Hot | By March1st: Start seeds indoors. Set out seedlings when night temperatures are above 45° F (about May). Varieties: Fast & Sassy, New Ace, Yolo Wonder, Sweet Banana, Hungarian Red, Cayenne, Anaheim Chili and Yellow (Wax). More Information: |
| Potatoes, Sweet | About March15: Start slips. Sweet potatoes are usually grown from slips. Start slips by slicing a sweet potato in half lengthwise and placing it on a bed of damp potting soil. Cover with a few inches of soil and keep moist and warm (70-80° F). Roots should develop in a few days, followed by leaves. Transplant at about 4" – 8" tall (about May 1). Best to obtain nursery-produced certified disease-free potatoes or slips. |
| Potatoes, White | February - August: Plant tuber or seed potato. Traditionally grown from pieces of tuber that have at least one bud or eye. Small seed potatoes also available. Use certified disease-free tubers or seed potatoes. Varieties: Many available at nurseries. More Information: |
| Pumpkins | May: Sow seed in place. Varieties: Jack-Be-Little (mini) and Small Sugar. More Information: |
| Radish | Year Round: Sow seed in place. Varieties: Most. |
| Rhubarb | January - March: Plant bare root. Varieties: Cherry (red stalks) and Victoria (green stalks with red shading). |
| Rutabaga | Early Spring: Sow seeds in place; or Mid to Late Summer: Sow seeds in place so that roots mature in cool fall weather. |
| Spinach | March - April and September - January: Sow seeds in place. Varieties: Long Standing Bloomsdale, Melody, and New Zealand. More Information: |
| Summer Squash | April - May: Sow seed in place. Varieties: All types, including Zucchini, Scallop, Crookneck, Straightneck, and Round. More Information: |
| Winter Squash | May: Sow seed in place. Varieties: Table King Acorn and Butterbush. More Information: |
| Tomatoes | May 1: Plant seedlings after May 1. Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before transplant. Varieties: Ace, Early Girl, Fourth of July, San Francisco Fog, Super Tasty, Viva Italia and Cherry types. More Information: |
| Turnips | January - August: Sow seed in place. Varieties: Purple Top, White Globe, and Hakurie. |
| Watermelon | May - June 15: Sow seed in place or start seeds indoors in bottomless container 6 weeks before transplant. Varieties: Garden Baby, Yellow Doll, and Sugarbaby. More Information: |
UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County
2380 Bisso Lane, Concord, CA 94520
Web: https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardener-program-contra-costa-county