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Planting Calendar for Mill Valley, 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-season 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 Fall

On average, your first fall frost occurs on December 8 (at KENTFIELD, CA climate station).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds OutdoorsTransplantAverage Days to MaturityFrost Tolerance
ArugulaFrost Oct 20-Nov 24
Moon Nov 1-3, Nov 4-15
N/A40Frost-hardy
BeetsFrost Sep 15-Oct 13
Moon Sep 18-Oct 1
N/A50Frost-tolerant
Bok ChoyFrost Sep 29-Oct 20
Moon Oct 2-17
N/A50Frost-tolerant
BroccoliFrost Sep 8-15
Moon Sep 8-15
Frost Sep 29-Oct 13
Moon Oct 2-13
60Frost-tolerant
Brussels SproutsFrost Aug 18-Sep 1
Moon Aug 18-19
N/A100Frost-hardy
CabbageFrost Sep 8-15
Moon Sep 8-15
Frost Sep 29-Oct 6
Moon Oct 2-6
90Frost-tolerant
CarrotsFrost Sep 22-29
Moon Sep 22-29
N/A70Frost-tolerant
CauliflowerFrost Sep 1-8
Moon Sep 2-8
Frost Sep 15-22
Moon Sep 15-17
75Frost-tolerant
ChivesFrost Sep 15-Oct 13
Moon Sep 15-17, Oct 2-13
N/A70Frost-tolerant
FennelFrost Sep 8-22
Moon Sep 8-17
N/A80Tender
GarlicFrost Dec 22-Jan 5
Moon Dec 22-29
N/A120Frost-hardy
Green BeansFrost Sep 22-Oct 6
Moon Oct 2-6
N/A55Tender
KaleFrost Sep 29-Oct 13
Moon Oct 2-13
N/A60Frost-hardy
KohlrabiFrost Oct 6-27
Moon Oct 6-17
N/A45Frost-tolerant
LettuceFrost Sep 29-Oct 13
Moon Oct 2-13
N/A60Frost-tolerant
Mustard GreensFrost Oct 6-27
Moon Oct 6-17
N/A45Tender
PeasFrost Sep 29-Oct 13
Moon Oct 2-13
N/A55Tender
RadishesFrost Oct 27-Nov 10
Moon Oct 27-31
N/A25Frost-tolerant
SpinachFrost Oct 20-Nov 10
Moon Nov 1-3, Nov 4-10
N/A30Frost-hardy
Swiss ChardFrost Sep 29-Oct 13
Moon Oct 2-13
N/A60Frost-tolerant
TurnipsFrost Oct 6-20
Moon Oct 18-20
N/A50Frost-tolerant

Planting Dates for Spring

On average, your last spring frost occurs on March 1 (at KENTFIELD, CA climate station, elevation 144 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 10
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
Oct 27
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/ASep 15
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 6
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 1
CabbageFrost Jan 5-19
Moon Jan 11-19
Frost Feb 16-Mar 1
Moon Feb 16-24
Frost Feb 2-9
Moon Feb 9
Mar 8
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 1
CarrotsN/AN/AFrost Feb 2-16
Moon Feb 2-8
Sep 29
CauliflowerFrost Jan 19-Feb 2
Moon Jan 19-25
Frost Feb 23-Mar 8
Moon Feb 23-24
N/ASep 22
CeleryFrost Dec 8-22
Moon Dec 12-22
Frost Mar 8-22
Moon Mar 10-22
Frost Mar 1
Sep 29
ChivesFrost Jan 5-19
Moon Jan 11-19
Frost Feb 9-16
Moon Feb 9-16
Frost Feb 9-16
Moon Feb 9-16
Oct 13
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
Sep 29
CucumbersFrost Feb 9-16
Moon Feb 9-16
Frost Mar 8-22
Moon Mar 10-22
Frost Mar 15-22
Moon Mar 15-22
Sep 29
DillN/AN/AFrost Feb 23-Mar 15
Moon Feb 23-24, Mar 10-15
Oct 13
Dry BeansN/AN/AFrost Mar 15-22
Moon Mar 15-22
Sep 1
EggplantsFrost Jan 5-19
Moon Jan 11-19
Frost Mar 15-22
Moon Mar 15-22
N/ASep 29
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
Sep 22
GarlicN/AN/AN/A
Green BeansN/AN/AFrost Mar 8-29
Moon Mar 10-25
Sep 29
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 8
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/AAug 25
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
MicrogreensN/AN/AN/A
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
Sep 29
OnionsN/AFrost Feb 2-16
Moon Feb 2-8
N/ASep 1
OreganoFrost Dec 22-Jan 19
Moon Dec 22-26, Jan 11-19
Frost Mar 8-22
Moon Mar 10-22
N/ASep 29
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
Sep 22
ParsnipsN/AN/AFrost Feb 2-9
Moon Feb 2-8
Sep 1
PeanutsN/AN/AFrost Mar 22-Apr 5
Moon Mar 26-Apr 5
PeasN/AN/AFrost Feb 2-9
Moon Feb 9
Mar 15
PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Feb 2-16
Moon Feb 2-8
Sep 29
PumpkinsFrost Feb 9-23
Moon Feb 9-23
Frost Mar 15-22
Moon Mar 15-22
Frost Mar 15-22
Moon Mar 15-22
Aug 25
RadishesN/AN/AFrost Feb 2-9
Moon Feb 2-8
Oct 13
RosemaryFrost Dec 8-22
Moon Dec 12-22
Frost Mar 15-22
Moon Mar 15-22
N/AOct 13
SageFrost Jan 5-19
Moon Jan 11-19
Frost Mar 8-22
Moon Mar 10-22
N/ASep 22
SalsifyN/AN/AFrost Feb 2-16
Moon Feb 2-8
Sep 1
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
Sep 22
Sweet PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Mar 15-29
Moon Mar 26-29
Aug 25
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/ASep 15
TomatillosFrost Jan 19-Feb 2
Moon Jan 19-25
Frost Mar 15-29
Moon Mar 15-25
N/ASep 22
TomatoesFrost Jan 5-19
Moon Jan 11-19
Frost Mar 15-22
Moon Mar 15-22
N/ASep 8
TurnipsN/AN/AFrost Feb 2-9
Moon Feb 2-8
Nov 10
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 8
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
Aug 18
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 6
The Old Farmer's Store