Sacramento Vegetable Planting Schedule & Apple Shortcut
Knowing what and when to start seeds, direct sow them, or transplant seedlings can make the difference between a productive crop and plants that struggle with Sacramento’s heat or cold.
The UC Cooperative Extension Sacramento County Master Gardeners publish a useful Sacramento Vegetable Planting Schedule showing the recommended planting windows for vegetables throughout the year.
To make that information easier for me to use, I converted the schedule into a free Apple Shortcut that shows what you can plant on any selected date.
This Shortcut requires a compatible Apple device and Apple’s free Shortcuts app.
See How the Shortcut Works
Select a date, and the Shortcut displays what can be started, direct seeded, or transplanted during that planting window.
After adding it to the Shortcuts app, you can run the Shortcut whenever you are planning your garden. Select the date and it displays the vegetables that fall within their recommended planting windows.
What the Shortcut Shows
The results are divided into the same three planting methods used in the Master Gardeners schedule:
Start in a sheltered area
Seeds that can be started indoors, in a greenhouse, or in another protected location.
Direct seed in the garden
Seeds that can be planted directly in the garden.
Set out plants or transplants
Established seedlings or young plants that can be planted in the garden.
A vegetable may appear under more than one heading. For example, the schedule may indicate that you can direct sow a vegetable while also setting out transplants during the same period.
About the Sacramento Vegetable Planting Schedule
The Sacramento Vegetable Planting Schedule is published by the University of California Cooperative Extension Sacramento County. It is based on information from the UC Davis Vegetable Research and Information Center and the UCCE Sacramento County Master Gardeners.
The two page chart covers vegetables ranging from asparagus, beans and tomatoes to leafy greens, root vegetables, melons and winter crops. Planting windows are shown across the entire calendar year, making the schedule especially useful for Sacramento gardeners who grow during more than just the traditional spring and summer season.
You can view the original schedule here:
Sacramento Vegetable Planting Schedule from the UC Master Gardeners
Why This Shortcut Exists
The original chart contains a lot of helpful information, but reading across the rows and interpreting the different markings can take some time, especially on a phone.
The Shortcut converts the chart’s planting windows into daily information that can be looked up automatically. Instead of searching through the chart, select a date to immediately see which planting activities are recommended.
The Shortcut does not replace the original schedule. It simply provides a more convenient way to access the information.
A Few Things to Keep in Mind
Planting schedules are a good starting point, but conditions can vary depending on your neighborhood, garden exposure, soil, weather, vegetable variety and whether you are using protection such as shade cloth, frost cloth or a greenhouse. The Shortcut is my interpretation of the planting windows shown on the Master Gardeners chart. When in doubt, consult the original schedule and adjust based on the conditions in your own garden.
Have a question about the Shortcut, notice something that needs correcting, or have an idea that could make it more useful?
Contact me at info@sacgardentrellis.com