Planting Zone 12a

Min winter temp 50 to 55°F · frost-free, year-round growing

Last spring frost

Frost-free

First fall frost

Frost-free

Growing season

365 days

Zone 12a rarely sees frost, so you can plant across a long, near-continuous season. Focus on heat tolerance and, in the hottest months, some afternoon shade.

Zone 12a planting calendar

Start indoors Transplant Direct sow Harvest

Crop	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Sep
Tomatoes	●		●
Peppers	●		●
Cucumbers	●		●
Lettuce	●	●
Zucchini	●	●
Carrots	●		●
Beans (bush)	●	●
Peas	●		●
Broccoli	●		●
Spinach	●	●
Kale	●		●
Onions	●			●
Garlic	●				●
Potatoes	●			●
Squash (winter)	●			●
Corn	●		●
Radishes	●	●
Beets	●	●
Eggplant	●		●
Basil	●		●
Cilantro	●	●
Parsley	●		●
Pumpkins	●			●
Sunflowers	●		●

When to plant popular crops in Zone 12a

Tomatoes

~75 days

When to plant

Peppers

~80 days

When to plant

Cucumbers

~60 days

When to plant

Lettuce

~50 days

When to plant

Tomatoes Peppers Cucumbers Lettuce Zucchini Carrots Beans (bush) Peas Broccoli Spinach Kale Onions Garlic Potatoes Squash (winter) Corn Radishes Beets Eggplant Basil Cilantro Parsley Pumpkins Sunflowers

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Zone 12a?

Zone 12a is effectively frost-free, so you can garden year-round.

What can I grow in Zone 12a?

Nearly all common vegetables and herbs grow in Zone 12a; the difference is timing. Use the planting calendar above, calculated from Zone 12a frost dates.

How long is the growing season in Zone 12a?

Year-round (365 days).