CA Zone 1: Cold Mountain Areas
The coldest high-elevation areas in California with a short growing season and winter temperatures that may drop to well below zero Fahrenheit. Lake Tahoe is the most densely populated area in this zone.
Popular Plants
Raphanus sativus
Radishes are annual or biennial, cold-season cruciferous vegetables in the Brassica family (Brassicaceae), related to turnips, arugula, broccoli, and cabbage....
Pisum sativum
Snap peas (Pisum sativum var. macrocarpum) and snow peas (Pisum sativum var. saccharatum) are annual, cool-season legumes. Their taxonomic...
Rosaceae
How many plant enthusiasts and gardeners remember a parent's or grandparent's love of roses? At GardenZeus, we are in agreement with those who consider the rose...
Related Posts
July 20, 2015
– Container plants are more sensitive to drying soil, especially at warm-and-hot temperatures, which can reduce harvest quality and quantity, shorten the harvest period, and lead to premature bolting. Soils may dry rapidly in containers, so monitoring and regular watering of vegetables and herbs in containers is important. Pay close attention to soil moisture and […]
August 31, 2017
Arugula is available in a surprising range of appearance, degree of spiciness, flavor, texture, and other characteristics. It is an ideal vegetable for the cool season Mediterranean Garden. Generally “common” or “salad” strains are milder in flavor with rounded and paler leaves; while “wild” strains are often spicier with longer, thinner, deeply lobed leaves that […]
February 15, 2014
Western culture and society has bequeathed many of us as gardeners with the unfortunate gardening baggage of viewing soil as a uniform, uninteresting, dead mass. I had a volunteer Master Gardener at a workshop a few years ago who explained to me that she faced an uphill battle trying to teach local grade-school children about […]
CA Zone 2: Cold Winters, Northern or Wetter
High-rainfall areas with cool-to-hot summers and generally mild but unpredictable winters with temperatures dropping at times to well below freezing. Includes many Northern foothill and mountain areas such as Auburn and Nevada City, along with scattered areas and odd pockets as far south as the southern end of the Sierra Nevadas.
Popular Plants
Solanum lycopersicum
What more beautiful sight is there in the home vegetable garden than a large heirloom tomato coming into ripeness and full color, waiting to be harvested, ribbed...
Allium sativum
Garlic is a cool-season perennial grown as an annual; part of the Amaryllidaceae family, closely related to onions, chives, leeks, and many ornamental plants including...
Rosaceae
How many plant enthusiasts and gardeners remember a parent's or grandparent's love of roses? At GardenZeus, we are in agreement with those who consider the rose...
Related Posts
September 5, 2015
With the hundreds of wonderful and reliable tomato varieties that are known to do well in your zone, in an astonishing diversity of colors, sizes, shapes and uses, it may take time and research to select varieties that best meet your needs. Do you prefer a simple roadmap to good tomato varieties for your climate […]
July 20, 2015
– Container plants are more sensitive to drying soil, especially at warm-and-hot temperatures, which can reduce harvest quality and quantity, shorten the harvest period, and lead to premature bolting. Soils may dry rapidly in containers, so monitoring and regular watering of vegetables and herbs in containers is important. Pay close attention to soil moisture and […]
August 6, 2017
GardenZeus receives commissions for purchases made through links in this post. There is no additional cost to you. Down and Dirty Southern California Gardening A weekly GardenZeus article series to help gardeners succeed in Southern California’s unique climates and growing conditions. This is the first of two articles dealing with watering gardens in urban landscapes. […]
CA Zone 3: Northern Inland, More Extreme
Northern areas with moderate winters that may include frequent, mild overnight frosts; and generally hot-to-very-hot summers. Includes most areas in Northern California where summer temperatures normally exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit such as Sacramento and Concord.
Popular Plants
Solanum lycopersicum
What more beautiful sight is there in the home vegetable garden than a large heirloom tomato coming into ripeness and full color, waiting to be harvested, ribbed...
Zea mays
The old garden saying, "Harvest corn after the cookpot is boiling," hints at the pleasures at eating corn from the home garden. Because sugars in corn kernels turn...
Rosaceae
How many plant enthusiasts and gardeners remember a parent's or grandparent's love of roses? At GardenZeus, we are in agreement with those who consider the rose...
Related Posts
September 5, 2015
With the hundreds of wonderful and reliable tomato varieties that are known to do well in your zone, in an astonishing diversity of colors, sizes, shapes and uses, it may take time and research to select varieties that best meet your needs. Do you prefer a simple roadmap to good tomato varieties for your climate […]
June 14, 2017
Onion tears are caused by a gas that combines with water in your eyes to produce an acid. GardenZeus expert Darren Butler’s preferred solution to onion tears is to wear airtight goggles, which may also serve pleasingly to contribute to one’s reputation as a nonconformist and freethinking gardener and cook, particularly with friends of teen-aged […]
February 15, 2014
Western culture and society has bequeathed many of us as gardeners with the unfortunate gardening baggage of viewing soil as a uniform, uninteresting, dead mass. I had a volunteer Master Gardener at a workshop a few years ago who explained to me that she faced an uphill battle trying to teach local grade-school children about […]
CA Zone 4: Northern Inland, Less Extreme
Northern areas with warm-to-hot summers and warm winters that may include mild overnight frosts. Examples include San Jose and San Rafael.
Popular Plants
Solanum lycopersicum
What more beautiful sight is there in the home vegetable garden than a large heirloom tomato coming into ripeness and full color, waiting to be harvested, ribbed...
Beta vulgaris var. cicla
Chard is a relatively easy vegetable that offers abundant yields, and is one of the most consistently productive greens during warm weather. A potentially long-lived...
Rosaceae
How many plant enthusiasts and gardeners remember a parent's or grandparent's love of roses? At GardenZeus, we are in agreement with those who consider the rose...
Related Posts
September 5, 2015
With the hundreds of wonderful and reliable tomato varieties that are known to do well in your zone, in an astonishing diversity of colors, sizes, shapes and uses, it may take time and research to select varieties that best meet your needs. Do you prefer a simple roadmap to good tomato varieties for your climate […]
March 15, 2017
The Three Sisters is a traditional Native American agricultural grouping or companion-planting combination that includes corn, beans, and squash, with corn providing a natural trellis for beans and vining squash, beans fixing soil nitrogen theoretically to the benefit of all three crops, and squash providing a living mulch with large leaves that cool the soil and discourage […]
September 29, 2016
Provided that a few important cultural needs are met, summer squash and zucchini can be among the most rewarding of garden vegetables. When harvested religiously while fruits are small, zucchini can be so productive over such a long period of time that when faced with yet another round of new fruits for harvest, some gardeners […]
CA Zone 5: Northern Strong Coastal Influence
Mild Northern areas, generally without frost, and with mild summers that rarely exceed 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Includes Santa Cruz and nearby areas, much of the San Francisco Peninsula such as Palo Alto, and portions of the East Bay.
Popular Plants
Solanum lycopersicum
What more beautiful sight is there in the home vegetable garden than a large heirloom tomato coming into ripeness and full color, waiting to be harvested, ribbed...
Eschscholzia californica
California Poppy is the iconic state flower of California, a perennial often grown as an annual, and part of the poppy family (Papaveraceae). It’s known for its...
Rosaceae
How many plant enthusiasts and gardeners remember a parent's or grandparent's love of roses? At GardenZeus, we are in agreement with those who consider the rose...
Related Posts
August 6, 2017
GardenZeus receives commissions for purchases made through links in this post. There is no additional cost to you. Down and Dirty Southern California Gardening A weekly GardenZeus article series to help gardeners succeed in Southern California’s unique climates and growing conditions. This is the first of two articles dealing with watering gardens in urban landscapes. […]
September 29, 2016
Provided that a few important cultural needs are met, summer squash and zucchini can be among the most rewarding of garden vegetables. When harvested religiously while fruits are small, zucchini can be so productive over such a long period of time that when faced with yet another round of new fruits for harvest, some gardeners […]
February 15, 2014
Western culture and society has bequeathed many of us as gardeners with the unfortunate gardening baggage of viewing soil as a uniform, uninteresting, dead mass. I had a volunteer Master Gardener at a workshop a few years ago who explained to me that she faced an uphill battle trying to teach local grade-school children about […]
CA Zone 6: Northern Coastal
Northern areas with mild, frost-free winters and cool-to-warm summers. Cloudiness, overcast skies, and/or fog may occur year-round but more persistently during summer. Includes coastal cities such as San Francisco, Monterey, and Carmel.
Popular Plants
Beta vulgaris var. cicla
Chard is a relatively easy vegetable that offers abundant yields, and is one of the most consistently productive greens during warm weather. A potentially long-lived...
Lactuca sativa
Looseleaf or loose leaf lettuce is the most common lettuce grown in California home gardens. Its name results from its loosely bunched leaves, as opposed to the...
Eschscholzia californica
California Poppy is the iconic state flower of California, a perennial often grown as an annual, and part of the poppy family (Papaveraceae). It’s known for its...
Related Posts
March 25, 2014
Just like people, helpful soil bacteria and fungi need air to breathe, space to live, food, and water. In new gardens, especially in clay California soils, decompacting or loosening soil prior to planting will provide necessary oxygen and pore space for microbe habitat. Food can be supplied in the form of composted manures or other […]
July 29, 2017
Rats in the California Home Garden Part 1: Norway Rats and Roof Rats By any measurement, rats take first place as the most generally destructive and harmful mammalian pests in California urban areas. They are ideally evolved to coexist with humans in our cities, homes, and landscapes. In many California cities and urban areas, infestations […]
August 6, 2017
GardenZeus receives commissions for purchases made through links in this post. There is no additional cost to you. Down and Dirty Southern California Gardening A weekly GardenZeus article series to help gardeners succeed in Southern California’s unique climates and growing conditions. This is the first of two articles dealing with watering gardens in urban landscapes. […]
CA Zone 7: Northern Mild Summers, Wet Winters
Northern areas with high-to-very-high rainfall; cool-to-cold year-round temperatures; and occasional cold snaps during winter with temperatures below freezing. Cloudiness, overcast skies, and/or fog may occur year-round, sometimes persisting for long periods. Examples include coastal areas such as Crescent City and Eureka, and the San Lorenzo Valley.
Popular Plants
Solanum lycopersicum
What more beautiful sight is there in the home vegetable garden than a large heirloom tomato coming into ripeness and full color, waiting to be harvested, ribbed...
Beta vulgaris var. cicla
Chard is a relatively easy vegetable that offers abundant yields, and is one of the most consistently productive greens during warm weather. A potentially long-lived...
Rosaceae
How many plant enthusiasts and gardeners remember a parent's or grandparent's love of roses? At GardenZeus, we are in agreement with those who consider the rose...
Related Posts
March 25, 2014
Just like people, helpful soil bacteria and fungi need air to breathe, space to live, food, and water. In new gardens, especially in clay California soils, decompacting or loosening soil prior to planting will provide necessary oxygen and pore space for microbe habitat. Food can be supplied in the form of composted manures or other […]
June 14, 2017
Onion tears are caused by a gas that combines with water in your eyes to produce an acid. GardenZeus expert Darren Butler’s preferred solution to onion tears is to wear airtight goggles, which may also serve pleasingly to contribute to one’s reputation as a nonconformist and freethinking gardener and cook, particularly with friends of teen-aged […]
September 29, 2016
Provided that a few important cultural needs are met, summer squash and zucchini can be among the most rewarding of garden vegetables. When harvested religiously while fruits are small, zucchini can be so productive over such a long period of time that when faced with yet another round of new fruits for harvest, some gardeners […]
CA Zone 8: Hot Central Valley
The warmest areas in California's Central Valley and similar inland areas, with very hot summers and cold winters that may include frosts and cold snaps to well below freezing. Includes Fresno and Bakersfield.
Popular Plants
Solanum lycopersicum
What more beautiful sight is there in the home vegetable garden than a large heirloom tomato coming into ripeness and full color, waiting to be harvested, ribbed...
Capsicum annum et al
Hot peppers are perennial plants in the Solanaceae family, which has 90 genera, and between 2,000-3000 species. Most of the plants in this family originate from...
Eschscholzia californica
California Poppy is the iconic state flower of California, a perennial often grown as an annual, and part of the poppy family (Papaveraceae). It’s known for its...
Related Posts
September 5, 2015
With the hundreds of wonderful and reliable tomato varieties that are known to do well in your zone, in an astonishing diversity of colors, sizes, shapes and uses, it may take time and research to select varieties that best meet your needs. Do you prefer a simple roadmap to good tomato varieties for your climate […]
July 20, 2015
– Container plants are more sensitive to drying soil, especially at warm-and-hot temperatures, which can reduce harvest quality and quantity, shorten the harvest period, and lead to premature bolting. Soils may dry rapidly in containers, so monitoring and regular watering of vegetables and herbs in containers is important. Pay close attention to soil moisture and […]
June 23, 2017
Down and Dirty Southern California Gardening A weekly GardenZeus article series to help gardeners succeed in Southern California’s unique climates and growing conditions. Post 9: Insect Pests and Diseases Usually Aren’t the Problem When your garden or landscape plants are diseased or infested with insect pests, obviously you need to deal with the diseases or […]
CA Zone 9: Cold Winters, Southern or Drier
Southern and lower-rainfall areas with warm-to-hot summers and generally mild but unpredictable winters that can drop to well below freezing. Includes parts of Agoura Hills and Topanga, canyons near Malibu, and Lake Arrowhead.
Popular Plants
Solanum lycopersicum
What more beautiful sight is there in the home vegetable garden than a large heirloom tomato coming into ripeness and full color, waiting to be harvested, ribbed...
Beta vulgaris var. cicla
Chard is a relatively easy vegetable that offers abundant yields, and is one of the most consistently productive greens during warm weather. A potentially long-lived...
Rosaceae
How many plant enthusiasts and gardeners remember a parent's or grandparent's love of roses? At GardenZeus, we are in agreement with those who consider the rose...
Related Posts
September 5, 2015
With the hundreds of wonderful and reliable tomato varieties that are known to do well in your zone, in an astonishing diversity of colors, sizes, shapes and uses, it may take time and research to select varieties that best meet your needs. Do you prefer a simple roadmap to good tomato varieties for your climate […]
July 20, 2015
– Container plants are more sensitive to drying soil, especially at warm-and-hot temperatures, which can reduce harvest quality and quantity, shorten the harvest period, and lead to premature bolting. Soils may dry rapidly in containers, so monitoring and regular watering of vegetables and herbs in containers is important. Pay close attention to soil moisture and […]
September 29, 2016
Provided that a few important cultural needs are met, summer squash and zucchini can be among the most rewarding of garden vegetables. When harvested religiously while fruits are small, zucchini can be so productive over such a long period of time that when faced with yet another round of new fruits for harvest, some gardeners […]
CA Zone 10: High Desert
Desert areas generally several hundred feet and higher in elevation with low annual rainfall, hot summers, and mild winters that may have cold snaps to well below freezing. Examples include Lancaster, Palmdale, and the Owens Valley.
Popular Plants
Solanum lycopersicum
What more beautiful sight is there in the home vegetable garden than a large heirloom tomato coming into ripeness and full color, waiting to be harvested, ribbed...
Beta vulgaris var. cicla
Chard is a relatively easy vegetable that offers abundant yields, and is one of the most consistently productive greens during warm weather. A potentially long-lived...
Rosaceae
How many plant enthusiasts and gardeners remember a parent's or grandparent's love of roses? At GardenZeus, we are in agreement with those who consider the rose...
Related Posts
September 5, 2015
With the hundreds of wonderful and reliable tomato varieties that are known to do well in your zone, in an astonishing diversity of colors, sizes, shapes and uses, it may take time and research to select varieties that best meet your needs. Do you prefer a simple roadmap to good tomato varieties for your climate […]
July 20, 2015
– Container plants are more sensitive to drying soil, especially at warm-and-hot temperatures, which can reduce harvest quality and quantity, shorten the harvest period, and lead to premature bolting. Soils may dry rapidly in containers, so monitoring and regular watering of vegetables and herbs in containers is important. Pay close attention to soil moisture and […]
February 15, 2014
Western culture and society has bequeathed many of us as gardeners with the unfortunate gardening baggage of viewing soil as a uniform, uninteresting, dead mass. I had a volunteer Master Gardener at a workshop a few years ago who explained to me that she faced an uphill battle trying to teach local grade-school children about […]
CA Zone 11: Low Desert
California portions of the Colorado Desert and Mojave Desert with very hot summers and generally mild winters that may drop to below freezing. Examples include the Coachella Valley, Palm Springs, and the Imperial Valley.
Popular Plants
Solanum lycopersicum
What more beautiful sight is there in the home vegetable garden than a large heirloom tomato coming into ripeness and full color, waiting to be harvested, ribbed...
Beta vulgaris var. cicla
Chard is a relatively easy vegetable that offers abundant yields, and is one of the most consistently productive greens during warm weather. A potentially long-lived...
Rosaceae
How many plant enthusiasts and gardeners remember a parent's or grandparent's love of roses? At GardenZeus, we are in agreement with those who consider the rose...
Related Posts
September 5, 2015
With the hundreds of wonderful and reliable tomato varieties that are known to do well in your zone, in an astonishing diversity of colors, sizes, shapes and uses, it may take time and research to select varieties that best meet your needs. Do you prefer a simple roadmap to good tomato varieties for your climate […]
July 20, 2015
– Container plants are more sensitive to drying soil, especially at warm-and-hot temperatures, which can reduce harvest quality and quantity, shorten the harvest period, and lead to premature bolting. Soils may dry rapidly in containers, so monitoring and regular watering of vegetables and herbs in containers is important. Pay close attention to soil moisture and […]
June 23, 2017
Down and Dirty Southern California Gardening A weekly GardenZeus article series to help gardeners succeed in Southern California’s unique climates and growing conditions. Post 9: Insect Pests and Diseases Usually Aren’t the Problem When your garden or landscape plants are diseased or infested with insect pests, obviously you need to deal with the diseases or […]
CA Zone 12: Southern Inland, More Extreme
Southern areas with hot-to-very-hot summers and warm winters that may include mild overnight frosts. Includes substantially all of the San Fernando Valley, portions of most Southern inland valleys, and much of Riverside County and San Bernardino County.
Popular Plants
Solanum lycopersicum
What more beautiful sight is there in the home vegetable garden than a large heirloom tomato coming into ripeness and full color, waiting to be harvested, ribbed...
Related Posts
July 16, 2017
Down and Dirty Southern California Gardening A weekly GardenZeus article series to help gardeners succeed in Southern California’s unique climates and growing conditions. Post 12: Summer and “Summerer:” The 5th Season for Gardening in Southern California (Summerer Part 1) In Southern California we have five seasons for gardening: the same four that everyone knows, and […]
September 4, 2015
When selecting tomato varieties for your garden, consider your own needs and preferences, and the many aspects of the tomato variety and the tomatoes it produces, from plants’ growth and fruiting habits to cultural needs to fruit size and flavor. GardenZeus generally recommends organic, open-pollinated, and heirloom seed varieties, and we note specifically on our […]
July 10, 2016
Climbers are characterized by their growth habit, producing long arching canes that can be attached to fences, walls trellises and other structures. They come in a wide range of flower colors, sizes and other characteristics. All of the below are repeat blooming but differ in many other important respects. Gardeners should be aware that unlike […]
CA Zone 13: Southern Inland, Less Extreme
Southern areas with hot summers and occasional, mild overnight frosts, if any. Includes Whittier, many areas in and near downtown Los Angeles, and milder inland-valley areas.
Popular Plants
Solanum lycopersicum
What more beautiful sight is there in the home vegetable garden than a large heirloom tomato coming into ripeness and full color, waiting to be harvested, ribbed...
Related Posts
July 16, 2017
Down and Dirty Southern California Gardening A weekly GardenZeus article series to help gardeners succeed in Southern California’s unique climates and growing conditions. Post 12: Summer and “Summerer:” The 5th Season for Gardening in Southern California (Summerer Part 1) In Southern California we have five seasons for gardening: the same four that everyone knows, and […]
September 5, 2015
With the hundreds of wonderful and reliable tomato varieties that are known to do well in your zone, in an astonishing diversity of colors, sizes, shapes and uses, it may take time and research to select varieties that best meet your needs. Do you prefer a simple roadmap to good tomato varieties for your climate […]
June 28, 2016
Old garden roses, also known as “heritage roses” or “antique roses,” are a relatively unfamiliar but excellent choice for landscape plantings in your zone. By definition, old garden roses predate 1867 (the year that La France, the first Hybrid Tea rose, was introduced). They produce unequaled mass displays of beautiful and often fragrant […]
CA Zone 14: Southern Strong Coastal Influence
Southern areas with moderate-to-strong coastal influence, mild winters generally without frost, and warm summers. Includes many areas in West Los Angeles, many Orange County areas not directly on the coast, and large portions of San Diego County.
Popular Plants
Solanum lycopersicum
What more beautiful sight is there in the home vegetable garden than a large heirloom tomato coming into ripeness and full color, waiting to be harvested, ribbed...
Related Posts
September 6, 2015
Have you never grown tomatoes over winter? It is possible to enjoy tomato harvests from fall through spring many mild-winter California areas. Start by choosing cold-tolerant and/or short-season tomato varieties. Most varieties need temperatures between about 55° to 93°F for pollination and to set fruit; however, cold-tolerant varieties such as Siberian, Siletz, and Stupice set […]
June 23, 2017
Down and Dirty Southern California Gardening A weekly GardenZeus article series to help gardeners succeed in Southern California’s unique climates and growing conditions. Post 9: Insect Pests and Diseases Usually Aren’t the Problem When your garden or landscape plants are diseased or infested with insect pests, obviously you need to deal with the diseases or […]
June 28, 2016
Old garden roses, also known as “heritage roses” or “antique roses,” are a relatively unfamiliar but excellent choice for landscape plantings in your zone. By definition, old garden roses predate 1867 (the year that La France, the first Hybrid Tea rose, was introduced). They produce unequaled mass displays of beautiful and often fragrant blooms, and […]
CA Zone 15: Southern Coastal
Southern coastal areas generally within about 1 to 1.5 miles of the ocean, with moderate-to-cool year-round temperatures, mild winters, and cool-to-warm summers. Includes many beach cities such as Venice, coastal Santa Monica, Newport Beach, and coastal areas of San Diego County.
Popular Plants
Solanum lycopersicum
What more beautiful sight is there in the home vegetable garden than a large heirloom tomato coming into ripeness and full color, waiting to be harvested, ribbed...
Beta vulgaris var. cicla
Chard is a relatively easy vegetable that offers abundant yields, and is one of the most consistently productive greens during warm weather. A potentially long-lived...
Rosaceae
How many plant enthusiasts and gardeners remember a parent's or grandparent's love of roses? At GardenZeus, we are in agreement with those who consider the rose...
Related Posts
June 16, 2017
Want to plant tomatoes in June or July along the Southern California Coast but not sure the seasonal timing is right? This article gives tips and advice for succeeding with summer tomato planting in GardenZeus California Climate Zone 15: Southern Coastal. See customized advice and information for growing tomatoes in your Southern California zipcode Don’t […]
July 29, 2017
Rats in the California Home Garden Part 1: Norway Rats and Roof Rats By any measurement, rats take first place as the most generally destructive and harmful mammalian pests in California urban areas. They are ideally evolved to coexist with humans in our cities, homes, and landscapes. In many California cities and urban areas, infestations […]
June 23, 2017
Down and Dirty Southern California Gardening A weekly GardenZeus article series to help gardeners succeed in Southern California’s unique climates and growing conditions. Post 9: Insect Pests and Diseases Usually Aren’t the Problem When your garden or landscape plants are diseased or infested with insect pests, obviously you need to deal with the diseases or […]