SproutSmart
SproutSmart™ Intelligent Garden Sowing

Zone 12a Planting Schedule

All Zones Zone 12a Save Garden
Last spring frost: Jan 1st
First fall frost: Dec 31st
Growing season: 365 days

Action Plan: May in Zone 12a

Expert Note

In May, keep soil evenly moist and mulch to reduce heat stress. Watch for aphids, whiteflies, and hornworms on peppers and tomatoes; inspect undersides weekly. Feed with a balanced fertilizer every 2–3 weeks if growth slows, and ensure good airflow to prevent leaf diseases.

Seed & Soil

Direct sow or transplant warm-season favorites like Tomato and Bell Pepper while nights stay warm. Add quick, high-yield crops such as Basil and Zucchini for steady harvests. If you have space, start Cucumber on a trellis to save room and improve airflow.

The Harvest

Start harvesting Tomato and Bell Pepper as they ripen, picking regularly to keep plants producing. Harvest Zucchini and Cucumber frequently for best size and flavor. Snip Basil often to encourage bushy growth and prevent flowering.

Planting Schedule

Add crops from the list below to build your planting schedule.
Crop Indoor Start Transplant / Direct Sow Harvest Window 🌿
German Extra Hardy Direct Sow Sep 25th May 23rd – Dec 31st
Green Sleeves Oct 9th Feb 12th May 13th – Dec 31st
Kojak Oct 9th Dec 18th Apr 17th – Dec 31st
Alabaster Oct 23rd Dec 25th Apr 24th – Dec 31st
Amsterdam Oct 23rd Feb 26th May 22nd – Dec 31st
Balder Oct 23rd Dec 25th Mar 25th – Dec 31st
Beijing White Oct 23rd Dec 25th Mar 15th – Dec 31st
Brilliant Oct 23rd Dec 25th Apr 14th – Dec 31st
Candy Oct 23rd Jan 1st Apr 21st – Dec 31st
Celebration Oct 23rd Dec 18th Mar 8th – Dec 31st
Chesnok Red Direct Sow Oct 23rd Apr 21st – Dec 31st
Conquistador Oct 23rd Dec 25th Mar 20th – Dec 31st
Copra Oct 23rd Dec 18th Mar 28th – Dec 31st
Cora Oct 23rd Dec 25th Apr 4th – Dec 31st
Darklet Oct 23rd Dec 25th Apr 24th – Dec 31st
Florimart Oct 23rd Dec 25th Mar 20th – Dec 31st
French Dinant Oct 23rd Dec 25th Mar 10th – Dec 31st
German White Direct Sow Oct 23rd May 21st – Dec 31st
Giant Pascal Oct 23rd Jan 1st Mar 27th – Dec 31st
Giant Prague Oct 23rd Dec 25th Apr 24th – Dec 31st
Giant Red Oct 23rd Dec 25th Mar 15th – Dec 31st
Gobbo di Nizza Oct 23rd Jan 15th May 5th – Dec 31st
Golden Self Blanching Oct 23rd Dec 25th Mar 10th – Dec 31st
Ilona Oct 23rd Dec 25th Apr 9th – Dec 31st
Kelvin Oct 23rd Dec 25th Mar 25th – Dec 31st
Lancelot Oct 23rd Dec 18th Apr 7th – Dec 31st
Lathom Self Blanching Oct 23rd Jan 1st Mar 27th – Dec 31st
Mars Oct 23rd Dec 25th Apr 14th – Dec 31st
Mentor Oct 23rd Dec 25th Mar 30th – Dec 31st
Merengo Oct 23rd Dec 25th Apr 24th – Dec 31st
Monarch Oct 23rd Dec 18th Apr 2nd – Dec 31st
Monterey Oct 23rd Dec 25th Mar 20th – Dec 31st
Moreno Oct 23rd Dec 25th Mar 25th – Dec 31st
Munstead Oct 23rd Jan 1st Jan 1st – Dec 31st
Pascal Oct 23rd Dec 18th Mar 28th – Dec 31st
Patterson Oct 23rd Dec 25th Apr 14th – Dec 31st
Patterson F1 Oct 23rd Dec 25th Apr 14th – Dec 31st
Peppermint Stick Oct 23rd Dec 18th Mar 13th – Dec 31st
President Oct 23rd Dec 25th Mar 30th – Dec 31st
Prinz Oct 23rd Jan 1st Apr 1st – Dec 31st
Provence Oct 23rd Dec 25th Dec 25th – Dec 31st
Red Amposta Oct 23rd Jan 1st Apr 6th – Dec 31st
Red Venture Oct 23rd Jan 1st Mar 27th – Dec 31st
Rex Oct 23rd Dec 25th Apr 14th – Dec 31st
Rowena Oct 23rd Dec 25th Mar 25th – Dec 31st
Safir Oct 23rd Jan 1st Mar 12th – Dec 31st
Snow White Oct 23rd Dec 25th Apr 14th – Dec 31st
Starlet Oct 23rd Jan 1st Apr 21st – Dec 31st
Tall Utah Oct 23rd Jan 1st Apr 1st – Dec 31st
Tall Utah 52-70 Oct 23rd Dec 18th Mar 13th – Dec 31st
Tango Tendercrisp Oct 23rd Jan 1st Mar 27th – Dec 31st
Utah 52-70 Oct 23rd Dec 25th Mar 25th – Dec 31st
Utah 52-70 Improved Oct 23rd Dec 25th Mar 20th – Dec 31st
Ventura Oct 23rd Dec 25th Mar 20th – Dec 31st
Victoria Oct 23rd Dec 18th Mar 13th – Dec 31st
West Indian Oct 23rd Jan 15th Apr 15th – Dec 31st
Westlandia Oct 23rd Dec 18th Apr 17th – Dec 31st
White Grano Oct 23rd Dec 18th Mar 23rd – Dec 31st
White Sweet Spanish Oct 23rd Jan 1st Apr 16th – Dec 31st
Yellow Granex Oct 23rd Dec 25th Mar 25th – Dec 31st
Chinese Amethyst Oct 30th Dec 25th Mar 10th – Dec 31st
Aji Charapita Nov 6th Feb 26th May 27th – Dec 31st
Aji Dulce Nov 6th Feb 26th May 12th – Dec 31st
Aji Ricoto Nov 6th Feb 26th May 17th – Dec 31st
Arp Nov 6th Jan 1st Apr 1st – Dec 31st
Aunt Ruby's German Green Nov 6th Feb 26th May 27th – Dec 31st
Beefmaster Nov 6th Feb 26th May 27th – Dec 31st
Bhut Jolokia Nov 6th Feb 26th Jun 6th – Dec 31st
Bhut Jolokia Chocolate Nov 6th Feb 26th Jun 26th – Dec 31st
Bhut Jolokia Orange Nov 6th Feb 26th Jun 16th – Dec 31st
Bhut Jolokia Peach Nov 6th Feb 26th Jun 1st – Dec 31st
Bhut Jolokia Red Nov 6th Feb 26th Jun 16th – Dec 31st
Bhut Jolokia Yellow Nov 6th Feb 26th Jun 16th – Dec 31st
Big Beef Nov 6th Feb 26th May 27th – Dec 31st
Big Bertha Nov 6th Feb 26th Jun 1st – Dec 31st
Big Rainbow Nov 6th Feb 26th May 27th – Dec 31st
Black Adder Nov 6th Jan 1st Mar 12th – Dec 31st
Black Pearl Nov 6th Feb 26th May 12th – Dec 31st
Blue Jubilee Gem Nov 6th Jan 1st Mar 12th – Dec 31st
Brandywine Nov 6th Feb 26th May 27th – Dec 31st
Brandywine Pink Nov 6th Feb 26th May 27th – Dec 31st
California Wonder Nov 6th Feb 26th May 12th – Dec 31st
California Wonder 300 Nov 6th Feb 26th May 12th – Dec 31st
Carolina Reaper Nov 6th Feb 26th Jul 26th – Dec 31st
Chiltepin Nov 6th Feb 26th May 27th – Dec 31st
Chocolate Beauty Nov 6th Feb 26th May 12th – Dec 31st
Chocolate Bhut Jolokia Nov 6th Feb 26th Jun 1st – Dec 31st
Chocolate Ghost Nov 6th Feb 26th Jun 16th – Dec 31st
Chocolate Pear Nov 6th Feb 26th Apr 27th – Dec 31st
Chocolate Reaper Nov 6th Feb 26th Jun 16th – Dec 31st
Clear Dawn Nov 6th Dec 25th Mar 25th – Dec 31st
Colorado Red Star Nov 6th Feb 12th Jun 12th – Dec 31st
Common Thyme Nov 6th Jan 1st Mar 2nd – Dec 31st
Cortland Nov 6th Jan 1st Apr 1st – Dec 31st
Delicious Nov 6th Feb 26th May 27th – Dec 31st
Diamant Nov 6th Dec 25th Apr 19th – Dec 31st
French Thyme Nov 6th Jan 1st Mar 2nd – Dec 31st
German Johnson Nov 6th Feb 26th May 27th – Dec 31st
German Pink Nov 6th Feb 26th May 27th – Dec 31st
Giant California Wonder Nov 6th Feb 26th May 12th – Dec 31st