What to plant this week in Sacramento, CA
Sacramento gardeners in Zone 9b are currently navigating the tail end of the mild winter window before temperatures climb, with the last frost officially averaging January 30th but cooling air still possible. This week is prime time to harvest your summer squash and melons while simultaneously sowing Daikon radishes for a quick fall crop that thrives in our local microclimates.
The next 7 days
Sacramento, CAGrowing in Sacramento right now
- Take advantage of Sacramento's valley fog by mulching heavily now to retain soil moisture as the sun becomes more intense later this week.
- Our clay-heavy soils near the American River can bake out quickly; water deeply in the morning rather than evening to prevent root rot on your squash family.
- Do not transplant anything new into open ground yet; wait until next week when our typical late-spring heat wave begins, as tender seedlings burn easily in our urban heat islands.
- Focus your energy on harvesting cold-tender crops like basil and bush beans before the overnight lows drop below 50 degrees.
Sow this week
1 crops- Daikon Radish
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
44 crops- Acorn Squash
- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Butternut Squash
- Cantaloupe
- Celosia (Cockscomb)
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Delicata Squash
- Edamame
- Fennel
- Flour Corn
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Garlic
- Gomphrena (Globe Amaranth)
- Gourd (Ornamental/Bottle)
- Honeydew Melon
- Lima Bean
- Loofah (Luffa)
- Malabar Spinach
- Morning Glory
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Pole Bean
- Pumpkin
- Purslane
- Roselle (Cranberry Hibiscus)
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Spaghetti Squash
- Summer Savory
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Watermelon
- Winter Squash
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Seasonal tips
- Start succession planting cool-season greens now that the ground has warmed up slightly after the last frost date.
- Apply a light layer of mulch around established squash and melons to retain moisture as summer heat approaches.
- Divide and transplant perennials like borage and verbena while they are still dormant or just starting to grow.
Pest & disease watch
- Watch for aphid swarms clustering on the undersides of your zinnias and cosmos just as they enter their rapid growth phase.
- Monitor your okra and morning glory vines for spider mites, which thrive in Sacramento's dry air when humidity drops.
- Check garlic plants for bulb flies, as our mild winters often fail to kill off overwintering larvae before planting season.
Watering this week
Water deeply in the early morning to conserve heat and reduce evaporation during these mild days.
Harvest your acorn and butternut squash soon while the skin is still hardening to ensure long-term storage success.
Sacramento gardening questions
3Can I still plant flowers now or is it too late?
While most annuals wait until the heat arrives, Daikon radishes are specifically sowable this week for a fall harvest that will mature as temperatures cool.
My acorn and butternut squash are ripening; how do I store them?
Once the rinds on your harvested squash feel hard and they detach easily from the vine, cure them in a warm, dry spot for about two weeks.
Is it safe to use pesticides on my edible crops right now?
Since you are actively harvesting items like basil and beans this week, avoid spraying chemicals for at least three days before picking.
Other cities in zone 9b
10See the full zone 9b guide → · Plan your Sacramento garden in SproutGuide →