For many gardeners in and around Sacramento, it’s time for the transition of the summer garden into the fall. Sacramento and its climate provide a rich environment for gardeners, from beginners to advanced, and a chance to grow fresh herbs, produce and flowers.
If you are looking for the best tips on what produce to start in your fall garden and when to plant then look no further.
Here’s what to know:
What should I know about starting a garden?
Gardening is about patience and understanding the environment. The Almanac provides a simple guide on how to get started and better understand the needs of certain plants.
Start Seeds Indoors — Begin seeds inside to get a head start on the season, especially in colder climates or for plants that need a longer growing period.Transplant Outdoors — Move your seedlings outside once the weather and soil have warmed. This applies whether you grew the seedlings yourself or bought starter plants from a nursery.Direct Sow — Plant seeds directly into the ground. Some plants grow best this way because they don’t like being moved once they sprout. This method is sometimes called “direct sowing.”Last Planting Date — This is the final-recommended date to plant for the season. Planting after this date may not leave enough time for the plant to mature before frost or cold weather.What are frost dates?
Whether you are planting beets or perennials, understanding frost dates can make a major difference in the growth of your plants.
Any planting schedule relies on frost dates to determine when it’s safest to plant outdoors since young plants are more vulnerable to a freeze, according to the Almanac.
The Almanac provides a 2026 Frost Dates Calculator to find the average date of the last spring frost and the first fall frost based on your zip code. Location determines a great deal for your plants including sun, rain and wind, you can find your location on the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.
According to the frost dates for Sacramento, the first fall frost is predicted to land on Thursday, Nov. 26.
The Sacramento area gardeners are encouraged to plant earlier than normal this year especially for broccoli and fennel, according to the Almanac.
What produce grows best in the fall?
Certain produce thrives in the transition from hot summer days to cooler fall weather. Here is a list of produce to start seeding and how many days it will take for it to reach maturity, according to the Almanac.
CarrotsStart seeds outdoors: Sept. 10 to the 17.Days to maturity: 70BeetsStart seeds outdoors: Sept. 3 to Oct. 1Days to maturity: 50BroccoliStart seeds outdoors: Aug. 27 to Sept. 3Days to maturity: 60ChivesStart seeds outdoors: Sept. 3 to Oct. 1Days to maturity: 70Green beansStart seeds outdoors: Sept. 10 to the 24.Days to maturity: 55What to know about planting flowers
Timing matters when it comes to flowers and understanding requirements from seed to bloom. Here are tips on a successful start:
Start seeds indoors weeks before your last frost dateTransplant hardy flowers before or at last frostPlant tender annuals after frost danger passesPlant spring bulbs in fall, summer bulbs in springWhich flowers are best to plant in the fall?
There are flowers for every season and whether you are looking for something simple or with brilliant color there are plenty to choose from. Here are the best bulbs to plant in the fall:
AlliumAnemoneBluebellCrocusDaffodilGlory-of-the-SnowGrape HyacinthHyacinthIrisSnowdropSquillTulip
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Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado is a service journalism reporter at The Sacramento Bee. She previously worked at the Star Democrat in Annapolis, Maryland. Veronica graduated from Georgetown University with a master’s degree in journalism.