How much and what to plant?
Plant enough of each vegetable crop to meet your family’s needs for fresh, stored, and preserved supplies. For most vegetables, there are a number of varieties (cultivars) from which to choose. When choosing vegetable varieties, consider such factors as disease resistance, maturity date, flavor, compactness of plant and the size, shape, and color of the vegetable desired.
Keep in mind past experiences with a given variety and compare new varieties with your favorites. Whether purchasing seed or transplants, always note the specific crop variety. Avoid generic or unlabeled transplants, since characteristics can vary widely with different varieties of the same crop.
The California Master Gardener Handbook provides great recommendations on when and when to plant by seed (row) or young transplants (plants) and how much to plant for a family of four:
| Vegetables | Recommended planting dates by location in California | Crop type | Amount to plant (4-persons) |
| artichoke |
North and north coast: Aug-Dec |
cool | 3-4 plants |
| asparagus | North and north coast: Jan-March South coast: Jan-Feb Interior Valley: Jan-Feb Desert Valley: Feb-April |
cool | 30-40 plants |
| beets | North and north coast: Feb-Aug South coast: Jan-Sept Interior Valley: Feb-April; Aug Desert Valley: Sept-Jan |
cool | 10-15 ft row |
| broccoli | North and north coast: Feb-Aug; Aug-Sept South coast: June-July; Jan-Feb Interior Valley: Dec-Feb; July Desert Valley: Sept |
cool | 15-20 ft row |
| cabbage | North and north coast: Jan-April; July-Sept South coast: Aug-Feb Interior Valley: July;Feb Desert Valley: Sept-Nov |
cool | 10-15 plants |
| carrots | North and north coast: Jan-May; July-Aug South coast: Jan-Sept Interior Valley: Aug-Sept; Feb-April Desert Valley: Sept-Dec |
cool | 20-30 ft row |
| cauliflower | North and north coast: June-July ; Jan-Feb South coast: July-Oct; Feb Interior Valley: July-Aug Desert Valley: Aug-Sept |
cool | 10-15 plants |
| cucumbers | North and north coast: April-June South coast: April-June Interior Valley: April-July Desert Valley: Feb-May; Aug |
warm | 6 plants |
| eggplant | North and north coast: May South coast: April-May Interior Valley: April-May Desert Valley: Feb-April |
warm | 4-6 plants |
| kale | North and north coast: Feb-April South coast: Aug-Oct Interior Valley: Aug-Sept Desert Valley: Sept-Nov |
cool | 10 ft row |
| lettuce | North and north coast: Feb-Aug South coast: Aug-April Interior Valley: Aug; Nov-March Desert Valley: Sept-Dec |
cool | 10-15 ft row |
| peppers | North and north coast: May South coast: April-May Interior Valley: May Desert Valley: March |
warm | 5-10 plants |
| pumpkins | North and north coast: May South coast: May-June Interior Valley: April-June Desert Valley: March-July |
warm | 1-3 plants |
| squash, summer | North and north coast: May-July South coast: April-June Interior Valley: April-July Desert Valley: Feb-March |
warm | 2-4 plants |
| squash, winter | North and north coast: May South coast: April-June Interior Valley: April-June Desert Valley: Feb-March; Aug |
warm | 2-4 plants |
| tomatoes | North and north coast: May South coast: April-June Interior Valley: April-May Desert Valley: Dec-March |
warm | 10-20 plants |
| watermelons | North and north coast: May-June South coast: April-June Interior Valley: April-June Desert Valley: Jan-March |
warm | 6 plants |
North and north coast: Monterey County north, South coast: San Luis Obispo County south, Interior Valley: Sacramento, San Joaquin, and similar valleys, Desert Valley: Imperial and CoachellaValleys.