Zone 12b planting calendar
Hot tropical climate; favour heat-tolerant crops and time tender greens for the cooler season.
Coldest temps55 to 60°F
Avg. last spring frostJan 1
Avg. first fall frostDec 31
Open the interactive calendar for Zone 12b →
The growing season in Zone 12b
Zone 12b has a coldest-winter range of 55 to 60°F and an average frost-free growing season of roughly 364 days — from the last spring frost around Jan 1 to the first fall frost around Dec 31. That is a very long, near year-round season — heat, not frost, is usually the limiting factor here, so time cool-season crops for the milder shoulders of the year.
The practical rhythm here is simple. Cool-season crops — peas, spinach, lettuce, radishes, and the brassicas — can go out around the last-frost date and again for a fall crop. Frost-tender crops like tomatoes, peppers, squash, and basil wait until after Jan 1, and the longer-season ones among them (melons, winter squash, full-size tomatoes) are the plants to watch against the 364-day window. Start those indoors on the schedule below so they have time to finish before fall frost returns.
What to plant in Zone 12b
Every crop below is timed to Zone 12b's frost dates. Follow a crop link for its full growing profile across all zones, or open the interactive calendar for the month-by-month view.
| Crop | When to plant |
|---|---|
| Tomato | Start seeds indoors Nov 13–Nov 27 Transplant outdoors Jan 8–Jan 15 |
| Pepper | Start seeds indoors Oct 30–Nov 13 Transplant outdoors Jan 15–Jan 22 |
| Lettuce | Direct sow outdoors Dec 4–Jan 1 Direct sow outdoors Nov 5–Nov 19 |
| Carrot | Direct sow outdoors Dec 11–Jan 15 Direct sow outdoors Oct 22–Nov 5 |
| Bush Bean | Direct sow outdoors Jan 1–Jan 29 |
| Cucumber | Start seeds indoors Dec 11–Dec 18 Transplant outdoors Jan 8–Jan 15 Direct sow outdoors Jan 8–Jan 22 |
| Zucchini | Direct sow outdoors Jan 1–Jan 22 |
| Spinach | Direct sow outdoors Nov 20–Dec 18 Direct sow outdoors Nov 5–Nov 26 |
| Kale | Start seeds indoors Nov 20–Dec 4 Transplant outdoors Dec 18–Jan 1 Direct sow outdoors Dec 18–Jan 15 Direct sow outdoors Oct 8–Nov 5 |
| Pea | Direct sow outdoors Nov 20–Dec 11 |
| Basil | Start seeds indoors Nov 20–Dec 4 Transplant outdoors Jan 8–Jan 22 |
| Cilantro | Direct sow outdoors Dec 11–Jan 8 Direct sow outdoors Nov 5–Nov 26 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors Nov 13–Nov 27 Transplant outdoors Dec 18–Jan 1 Direct sow outdoors Sep 24–Oct 15 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors Nov 6–Nov 20 Transplant outdoors Dec 18–Jan 1 |
| Cauliflower | Start seeds indoors Nov 13–Nov 27 Transplant outdoors Dec 18–Jan 1 |
| Brussels Sprouts | Start seeds indoors Nov 20–Dec 4 Transplant outdoors Dec 25–Jan 8 |
| Onion | Start seeds indoors Oct 23–Nov 6 Transplant outdoors Dec 4–Dec 18 |
| Garlic | Direct sow outdoors Dec 3–Dec 17 |
| Beet | Direct sow outdoors Dec 4–Jan 1 Direct sow outdoors Oct 22–Nov 5 |
| Radish | Direct sow outdoors Dec 4–Jan 15 Direct sow outdoors Nov 5–Dec 3 |
| Swiss Chard | Direct sow outdoors Dec 18–Jan 15 |
| Potato | Direct sow outdoors Dec 18–Jan 15 |
| Sweet Corn | Direct sow outdoors Jan 1–Jan 22 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors Nov 6–Nov 20 Transplant outdoors Jan 15–Jan 22 |
| Pumpkin | Direct sow outdoors Jan 1–Jan 22 |
| Winter Squash | Direct sow outdoors Jan 1–Jan 22 |
| Arugula | Direct sow outdoors Dec 4–Jan 1 Direct sow outdoors Nov 5–Dec 3 |
| Leek | Start seeds indoors Oct 23–Nov 6 Transplant outdoors Dec 4–Dec 18 |
| Turnip | Direct sow outdoors Dec 4–Jan 1 Direct sow outdoors Nov 5–Nov 19 |
| Kohlrabi | Direct sow outdoors Dec 4–Jan 1 Direct sow outdoors Nov 5–Nov 19 |
| Okra | Start seeds indoors Dec 4–Dec 18 Direct sow outdoors Jan 8–Jan 22 |
| Celery | Start seeds indoors Oct 23–Nov 6 Transplant outdoors Dec 25–Jan 8 |
| Collard Greens | Start seeds indoors Nov 20–Dec 4 Transplant outdoors Dec 18–Jan 1 Direct sow outdoors Oct 8–Nov 5 |
| Mustard Greens | Direct sow outdoors Dec 4–Jan 1 Direct sow outdoors Nov 5–Nov 26 |
| Bok Choy | Direct sow outdoors Dec 11–Jan 1 Direct sow outdoors Nov 5–Nov 26 |
| Fennel | Direct sow outdoors Dec 18–Jan 15 Direct sow outdoors Oct 22–Nov 5 |
| Sweet Potato | Transplant outdoors Jan 15–Jan 29 |
| Parsnip | Direct sow outdoors Dec 18–Jan 15 |
| Asparagus | Transplant outdoors Dec 4–Dec 18 |
| Parsley | Start seeds indoors Nov 6–Nov 20 Transplant outdoors Dec 18–Jan 1 Direct sow outdoors Dec 18–Jan 15 |
| Dill | Direct sow outdoors Dec 18–Jan 15 Direct sow outdoors Nov 5–Nov 19 |
| Chives | Start seeds indoors Nov 6–Nov 20 Transplant outdoors Dec 18–Jan 1 |
| Thyme | Start seeds indoors Nov 6–Nov 20 Transplant outdoors Jan 1–Jan 15 |
| Oregano | Start seeds indoors Nov 6–Nov 20 Transplant outdoors Jan 1–Jan 15 |
| Sage | Start seeds indoors Nov 6–Nov 20 Transplant outdoors Jan 1–Jan 15 |
| Rosemary | Start seeds indoors Oct 23–Nov 6 Transplant outdoors Jan 15–Jan 29 |
| Mint | Transplant outdoors Jan 1–Jan 15 |
| Lavender | Start seeds indoors Oct 23–Nov 6 Transplant outdoors Jan 1–Jan 15 |
| Chamomile | Direct sow outdoors Dec 18–Jan 15 |
| Lemon Balm | Start seeds indoors Nov 6–Nov 20 Transplant outdoors Jan 1–Jan 15 |
| Tarragon | Transplant outdoors Jan 1–Jan 15 |
| Strawberry | Transplant outdoors Dec 4–Dec 18 |
| Watermelon | Start seeds indoors Dec 4–Dec 18 Transplant outdoors Jan 15–Jan 22 Direct sow outdoors Jan 8–Jan 22 |
| Cantaloupe | Start seeds indoors Dec 4–Dec 18 Transplant outdoors Jan 15–Jan 22 Direct sow outdoors Jan 8–Jan 22 |
| Ground Cherry | Start seeds indoors Nov 13–Nov 27 Transplant outdoors Jan 8–Jan 15 |
| Blueberry | Transplant outdoors Dec 4–Dec 18 |
| Raspberry | Transplant outdoors Nov 27–Dec 11 |
| Blackberry | Transplant outdoors Nov 27–Dec 11 |
| Rhubarb | Transplant outdoors Nov 27–Dec 11 |
| Currant | Transplant outdoors Nov 20–Dec 11 |
| Gooseberry | Transplant outdoors Nov 20–Dec 11 |
| Marigold | Start seeds indoors Nov 20–Dec 4 Transplant outdoors Jan 8–Jan 15 Direct sow outdoors Jan 1–Jan 15 |
| Zinnia | Start seeds indoors Dec 4–Dec 18 Transplant outdoors Jan 8–Jan 15 Direct sow outdoors Jan 1–Jan 15 |
| Sunflower | Direct sow outdoors Jan 1–Jan 22 |
| Cosmos | Direct sow outdoors Jan 1–Jan 15 |
| Nasturtium | Direct sow outdoors Jan 1–Jan 15 |
| Sweet Pea | Direct sow outdoors Nov 20–Dec 11 |
| Snapdragon | Start seeds indoors Nov 6–Nov 20 Transplant outdoors Dec 18–Jan 1 |
| Pansy | Start seeds indoors Oct 23–Nov 6 Transplant outdoors Dec 4–Dec 18 |
| Dahlia | Start seeds indoors Dec 4–Dec 18 Transplant outdoors Jan 8–Jan 15 |
| Calendula | Direct sow outdoors Dec 18–Jan 15 Direct sow outdoors Nov 5–Nov 19 |
| Poppy | Direct sow outdoors Nov 20–Dec 18 |
| Cornflower | Direct sow outdoors Dec 4–Dec 25 Direct sow outdoors Nov 5–Nov 19 |
| Aster | Start seeds indoors Nov 20–Dec 4 Transplant outdoors Jan 1–Jan 15 |
| Celosia | Start seeds indoors Nov 20–Dec 4 Transplant outdoors Jan 8–Jan 15 |
| Sweet Alyssum | Direct sow outdoors Dec 18–Jan 15 |
| Morning Glory | Direct sow outdoors Jan 1–Jan 15 |