Bay Area Monthly Planting Guides

January Masterclass Bay Area Gardening Deep Dive (Sunset + USDA Zones) January is not a “do nothing” month in the Bay Area. It is a foundation month. What you plant, prepare, and protect now directly determines spring success, pest pressure, and crop timing across the entire year. This Masterclass goes beyond basic planting lists. It explains why January works the way it does in the Bay Area, how to adjust for microclimates, and how experienced gardeners use this month to qui

January Growing Guide January is a quiet but important month in the Bay Area garden. Cool temperatures, shorter days, and winter rain slow growth above ground, but this is prime time for root development, leafy greens, and long-season planning. Many crops thrive now with minimal effort, especially if you match planting methods to your microclimate. This guide focuses on what you can plant right now in January, whether you are sowing outdoors, starting seeds indoors, or mainta

Why November matters First rains, shorter days, and cooler nights flip beds to winter mode. November is still productive if you lean into...

Growing Guide: Kale — Bay Area (USDA Zones 9–10) Overview Kale thrives in cool weather and sweetens after a chill. In much of the Bay...

Spinach is one of the most reliable cool‑season crops in the Bay Area — but dialing timing to your microclimate makes all the difference....

Growing Guide: Spinach — Bay Area (USDA Zones 9–10) Overview Spinach is a cool‑season staple for Bay Area beds and containers. Aim for...

September Planting Masterclass (Bay Area) September is the Bay Area hand-off from warm-season to cool-season crops. The trick is matching...

Masterclass: Tomato — Bay Area (Sunset 14–17; USDA 9–10) Tomatoes thrive in the Bay Area when you match variety + timing to your...

Growing Guide: September in the Bay Area (USDA Zones 9–10) September is the Bay Area hand-off from summer to cool-season veggies. Clear...

Hey gardeners! August in the Bay Area might feel like peak summer, but it’s actually a great time to get a fall garden going. Whether...