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

November flips the Bay Area into true cool-season mode: short days, the first meaningful rains, and soils that swing between soaked and...

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

Carrots want cool soil, consistent surface moisture, and loose, stone-free beds. In USDA 9–10 you’ll get best roots from fall and...

Peas shine in cool, bright conditions with steady moisture. The Bay’s patchwork means Sunset zones matter: coastal 16–17 can sow for...

Broccoli rewards Bay Area growers when timing matches microclimate. We pair USDA 9–10 (hardiness) with Sunset 14–17 for local precision —...

Broccoli is a cool-season crop that loves the Bay’s mild winters. Success = plant at the right time, keep growth steady, and harvest firm...

Pest Management — Bay Area (Sunset 14–17; USDA 9–10) Integrated Pest Management in one page (how we work) Prevent first: healthy soil,...

Swiss Chard — Bay Area (Sunset 14–17; USDA 9–10) Swiss chard thrives across the Bay Area, but the how depends on microclimate. We combine...

Peas prefer cool weather and steady moisture. In most Bay Area microclimates, fall sowings produce winter–spring harvests; early spring...

Swiss chard is a cool‑season, cut‑and‑come‑again staple that tolerates light heat and mild frost. Aim for quick, steady growth: fertile...

Kale is a cool‑season workhorse in the Bay Area. To get tender leaves and steady harvests, match sowing and transplant timing to your...

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...

Root crops love the Bay Area’s cool nights and mild days—especially as we roll from late summer into fall. This masterclass bundles three...

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...

What companion planting really is It’s not plant “friendships.” It’s smart mixing of vegetables, herbs, and flowers so you: Attract and...