When to Plant Garlic in California: Counting Back From the First Frost
NOAA records show Los Angeles almost never freezes, so California’s garlic planting date depends entirely on which region you actually garden in.
Gardening in California
Everything we have worked out for California: what to plant and when, which varieties finish in time, the pests that actually turn up here, and the jobs that pay off month by month. We also cover the rest of the property, from lawns and soil to home care and energy, because a garden rarely stops at the vegetable bed.
The numbers first, because everything else follows from them. Measured at the weather station in Los Angeles, the last spring freeze falls around no freeze occurs in an average year and the first fall freeze falls around no freeze occurs in an average year, USDA zones 5a-11a, 4,719 growing degree days in the year.
Garlic is the awkward one: only 0 weeks below 40 °F, where it needs six to split into cloves. Chill the cloves before planting, or grow a softneck type.
Elsewhere on the property in California: the pests that turn up here.
Figures from NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals. A state is not one climate: elevation, a large lake or the coast can move these dates by two weeks either way, so check your own county with the extension service before you spend money.
Garlic Varieties That Suit California Winters
NOAA’s frost-free data for Los Angeles explains why softneck garlic outperforms hardneck varieties across most of coastal and Southern California.
Growing Garlic in California: Planting Dates, Varieties and Winter Cold
California garlic growers face two different climates: a frost-free coast that needs help vernalizing cloves, and a cold interior that does the job on its own.
Tomato Pests in California: Which Ones Actually Show Up Here
A season-by-season rundown of the tomato pests confirmed in California, with identification details and control notes for each one.
Tomato Varieties That Ripen in Time in California
California’s frost-free coast and short-season interior need different tomatoes, and this guide names fourteen catalogue varieties by days to maturity and season fit.
Tomato Planting Dates in California: Counting Back From Your Frost Window
Learn the actual method for timing tomato transplants in California, since coastal areas skip frost entirely while inland regions still need a real countdown.
Growing Tomatoes in California: Planting Dates, Varieties and Local Pests
California tomato planting depends on where you garden: frost-free Los Angeles plans around heat, while inland valleys and the Sierra still plant around a real frost date.