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Planting Calendar for Mission Viejo, CA | Almanac.com
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Planting Calendar for Mission Viejo, CA

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The planting calendar below tells you when to plant in the SPRING and also plant in the FALL, based on your zip code or postal code.

Spring Planting Calendar

Our spring planting calendar starts with the very first dates that you can plant (based on the last spring frost). But if you've missed these dates, no worries! This is why we've added "last planting dates" to our spring calendar; this is meant to help new gardeners understand that if they missed the first spring planting window, they could still get crops in the ground.

In fact, many crops with short maturity times (such as radishes) can be succession planted all the way through the summer in northern areas. However, note that some cool-seasons crops such as kale and lettuce do not grow well in hot temperatures, which can cause bolting issues.  For some gardeners, especially in the South, a break to avoid summer heat is needed, but they can start once the heat has passed. 

The dates provided are based on the number of weeks before or after frost, so we can provide a unique calendar to every user in the country. Thus, several crops (especially similar crops) may appear to have the same date. Kale and lettuce, for example, or dates for starting seeds, like broccoli and cabbage. 

Fall Planting Calendar

When we say "fall," we really mean planting in summer in time for a fall harvest. Think of this as a second summer! It's easy to keep the crops going if you've already prepared the soil! 

Many crops that would be started indoors for a spring crop can just be plunked into the soil directly for a fall crop. Not only is the soil already warm but also there are less pests and it tends to be rainier so you don't need to water as often. Some fall vegetables need to be harvested by the first frost, but many are frost-tolerant and even taste better after a kiss of fall frost!

See each plant's individual Growing Guide for more specific planting, plant care, and harvesting information.

Specifically, on the charts, there are different columns labeled as follows:

  1. Start Seeds Indoors: When to sow seeds indoors to get an early start on the season.
  2. Plant Seedlings Outdoors: When to put small seedlings that you grew indoors (OR starter plants that you bought at a garden nursery) in the outdoor soil.
  3. Start Seeds Outdoors: When to plant seeds directly into the outdoor soil.
  4. Last Date to Plant: You may plant any time from the "start seeds" dates until this "last date." Don't wait any longer, or the crop won't have time to get to harvest before fall/winter frosts.

The "Moon Dates" indicate the best planting dates based on Moon phases. You can learn more about this age-old technique below.

When N/A appears in the chart, that starting method is typically not recommended, although it is likely still possible. 

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Planting Dates for Spring

On average, your last spring frost occurs on March 1 (at LAGUNA BEACH, CA climate station, elevation 42 feet).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds IndoorsPlant Seedlings
or Transplants
Start Seeds OutdoorsLast Date to Plant
ArugulaFrost Jan 5-19
Moon Jan 11-19
Frost Feb 9-23
Moon Feb 9-23
Frost Feb 2-9
Moon Feb 9
Nov 30
AsparagusN/AN/AFrost Feb 16-Mar 1
Moon Feb 25-Mar 1
Mar 1
BasilFrost Jan 19-Feb 2
Moon Jan 19-25
Frost Mar 15-29
Moon Mar 15-25
Frost Mar 15-29
Moon Mar 15-25
Nov 16
BeetsN/AFrost Feb 16-Mar 1
Moon Feb 25-Mar 1
Frost Feb 2-9
Moon Feb 2-8
Mar 15
Bell PeppersFrost Dec 22-Jan 5
Moon Dec 22-26
Frost Mar 15-22
Moon Mar 15-22
N/AOct 5
Bok ChoyFrost Jan 19-Feb 2
Moon Jan 19-25
Frost Mar 15-22
Moon Mar 15-22
Frost Mar 15-22
Moon Mar 15-22
Apr 12
BroccoliFrost Jan 5-19
Moon Jan 11-19
Frost Feb 16-Mar 1
Moon Feb 16-24
Frost Feb 2-9
Moon Feb 9
Oct 26
Brussels SproutsFrost Jan 19-Feb 2
Moon Jan 19-25
Frost Feb 16-Mar 1
Moon Feb 16-24
Frost Feb 2-9
Moon Feb 9
Sep 21
CabbageFrost Jan 5-19
Moon Jan 11-19
Frost Feb 16-Mar 1
Moon Feb 16-24
Frost Feb 2-9
Moon Feb 9
Sep 14
CantaloupesFrost Feb 9-23
Moon Feb 9-23
Frost Mar 1-15
Moon Mar 10-15
Frost Mar 8-15
Moon Mar 10-15
Sep 21
CarrotsN/AN/AFrost Feb 2-16
Moon Feb 2-8
Oct 19
CauliflowerFrost Jan 19-Feb 2
Moon Jan 19-25
Frost Feb 23-Mar 8
Moon Feb 23-24
N/AOct 19
CeleryFrost Dec 8-22
Moon Dec 12-22
Frost Mar 8-22
Moon Mar 10-22
Frost Mar 1
Oct 19
ChivesFrost Jan 5-19
Moon Jan 11-19
Frost Feb 9-16
Moon Feb 9-16
Frost Feb 9-16
Moon Feb 9-16
Nov 2
Cilantro (Coriander)N/AN/AFrost Mar 1-15
Moon Mar 10-15
Mar 22
CollardsFrost Jan 19-Feb 2
Moon Jan 19-25
Frost Feb 16-Mar 1
Moon Feb 16-24
Frost Feb 9-16
Moon Feb 9-16
Oct 19
CucumbersFrost Feb 9-16
Moon Feb 9-16
Frost Mar 8-22
Moon Mar 10-22
Frost Mar 15-22
Moon Mar 15-22
Oct 19
DillN/AN/AFrost Feb 23-Mar 15
Moon Feb 23-24, Mar 10-15
Nov 2
Dry BeansN/AN/AFrost Mar 15-22
Moon Mar 15-22
Sep 21
EggplantsFrost Jan 5-19
Moon Jan 11-19
Frost Mar 15-22
Moon Mar 15-22
N/AOct 19
Fava BeansN/AN/AFrost Feb 2-9
Moon Feb 9
Mar 15
FennelFrost Jan 19-Feb 2
Moon Jan 19-25
Frost Mar 8-15
Moon Mar 10-15
Frost Mar 1-15
Moon Mar 10-15
Oct 12
GarlicN/AN/AN/A
Green BeansN/AN/AFrost Mar 8-29
Moon Mar 10-25
Oct 19
Honeydew MelonsFrost Feb 9-16
Moon Feb 9-16
Frost Mar 15-22
Moon Mar 15-22
Frost Mar 15-22
Moon Mar 15-22
Sep 28
Jalapeño PeppersFrost Dec 22-Jan 5
Moon Dec 22-26
Frost Mar 15-22
Moon Mar 15-22
N/A
KaleFrost Jan 5-19
Moon Jan 11-19
Frost Feb 16-Mar 1
Moon Feb 16-24
Frost Feb 2-9
Moon Feb 9
Mar 15
KohlrabiFrost Jan 19-Feb 2
Moon Jan 19-25
Frost Feb 9-16
Moon Feb 9-16
Frost Feb 2-9
Moon Feb 9
Mar 15
LeeksFrost Dec 22-Jan 5
Moon Dec 22-26
Frost Feb 9-23
Moon Feb 9-23
N/ASep 14
LettuceFrost Jan 19-Feb 2
Moon Jan 19-25
Frost Feb 9-16
Moon Feb 9-16
Frost Feb 2-9
Moon Feb 9
Mar 15
Mustard GreensN/AN/AN/A
OkraFrost Feb 2-16
Moon Feb 9-16
Frost Mar 15-22
Moon Mar 15-22
Frost Mar 15-29
Moon Mar 15-25
Oct 19
OnionsN/AFrost Feb 2-16
Moon Feb 2-8
N/ASep 21
OreganoFrost Dec 22-Jan 19
Moon Dec 22-26, Jan 11-19
Frost Mar 8-22
Moon Mar 10-22
N/AOct 19
ParsleyFrost Dec 22-Jan 5
Moon Dec 22-26
Frost Mar 8-22
Moon Mar 10-22
Frost Feb 2-Mar 8
Moon Feb 9-24
Oct 12
ParsnipsN/AN/AFrost Feb 2-9
Moon Feb 2-8
Sep 21
PeasN/AN/AFrost Feb 2-9
Moon Feb 9
Mar 15
PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Feb 2-16
Moon Feb 2-8
Oct 19
PumpkinsFrost Feb 9-23
Moon Feb 9-23
Frost Mar 15-22
Moon Mar 15-22
Frost Mar 15-22
Moon Mar 15-22
Sep 14
RadishesN/AN/AFrost Feb 2-9
Moon Feb 2-8
Nov 2
RosemaryFrost Dec 8-22
Moon Dec 12-22
Frost Mar 15-22
Moon Mar 15-22
N/ANov 2
SageFrost Jan 5-19
Moon Jan 11-19
Frost Mar 8-22
Moon Mar 10-22
N/AOct 12
SalsifyN/AN/AFrost Feb 2-16
Moon Feb 2-8
Sep 21
SpinachFrost Jan 19-Feb 2
Moon Jan 19-25
Frost Feb 9-16
Moon Feb 9-16
Frost Feb 2-9
Moon Feb 9
Mar 15
Sweet CornN/AN/AFrost Mar 15-29
Moon Mar 15-25
Oct 12
Sweet PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Mar 15-29
Moon Mar 26-29
Sep 14
Swiss ChardFrost Jan 19-Feb 2
Moon Jan 19-25
Frost Feb 16-Mar 1
Moon Feb 16-24
Frost Feb 9-Mar 1
Moon Feb 9-24
Mar 15
ThymeFrost Dec 22-Jan 5
Moon Dec 22-26
Frost Mar 8-15
Moon Mar 10-15
N/AOct 5
TomatillosFrost Jan 19-Feb 2
Moon Jan 19-25
Frost Mar 15-29
Moon Mar 15-25
N/AOct 12
TomatoesFrost Jan 5-19
Moon Jan 11-19
Frost Mar 15-22
Moon Mar 15-22
N/ASep 28
TurnipsN/AN/AFrost Feb 2-9
Moon Feb 2-8
Nov 30
WatermelonsFrost Feb 9-23
Moon Feb 9-23
Frost Mar 15-22
Moon Mar 15-22
Frost Mar 8-15
Moon Mar 10-15
Sep 28
Winter SquashFrost Feb 9-16
Moon Feb 9-16
Frost Mar 8-22
Moon Mar 10-22
Frost Mar 15-22
Moon Mar 15-22
Sep 7
Zucchini (Summer Squash)Frost Feb 9-16
Moon Feb 9-16
Frost Mar 8-22
Moon Mar 10-22
Frost Mar 15-22
Moon Mar 15-22
Oct 26

Planting Dates for Fall

On average, your first fall frost occurs on December 28 (at LAGUNA BEACH, CA climate station).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds OutdoorsTransplantAverage Days to MaturityFrost Tolerance
ArugulaFrost Nov 9-Dec 14
Moon Nov 9-15, Dec 1-14
N/A40Frost-hardy
BeetsFrost Oct 5-Nov 2
Moon Oct 18-31
N/A50Frost-tolerant
Bok ChoyFrost Oct 19-Nov 9
Moon Nov 1-9
N/A50Frost-tolerant
BroccoliFrost Sep 28-Oct 5
Moon Oct 2-5
Frost Oct 19-Nov 2
Moon Nov 1-2
60Frost-tolerant
Brussels SproutsFrost Sep 7-21
Moon Sep 7-17
N/A100Frost-hardy
CabbageFrost Sep 28-Oct 5
Moon Oct 2-5
Frost Oct 19-26
90Frost-tolerant
CarrotsFrost Oct 12-19
Moon Oct 18-19
N/A70Frost-tolerant
CauliflowerFrost Sep 21-28
Frost Oct 5-12
Moon Oct 5-12
75Frost-tolerant
ChivesFrost Oct 5-Nov 2
Moon Oct 5-17, Nov 1-2
N/A70Frost-tolerant
FennelFrost Sep 28-Oct 12
Moon Oct 2-12
N/A80Tender
GarlicFrost Jan 11-25
N/A120Frost-hardy
Green BeansFrost Oct 12-26
Moon Oct 12-17
N/A55Tender
KaleFrost Oct 19-Nov 2
Moon Nov 1-2
N/A60Frost-hardy
KohlrabiFrost Oct 26-Nov 16
Moon Nov 1-15
N/A45Frost-tolerant
LettuceFrost Oct 19-Nov 2
Moon Nov 1-2
N/A60Frost-tolerant
Mustard GreensFrost Oct 26-Nov 16
Moon Nov 1-15
N/A45Tender
PeasFrost Oct 19-Nov 2
Moon Nov 1-2
N/A55Tender
RadishesFrost Nov 16-30
Moon Nov 16-30
N/A25Frost-tolerant
SpinachFrost Nov 9-30
Moon Nov 9-15
N/A30Frost-hardy
Swiss ChardFrost Oct 19-Nov 2
Moon Nov 1-2
N/A60Frost-tolerant
TurnipsFrost Oct 26-Nov 9
Moon Oct 26-31
N/A50Frost-tolerant
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