Winter Vegetable Gardening in San Jose, CA (Zone 9b)

Cool-Season Crops for Mild Winters

With winter lows in the 40s–60s°F and no hard frost, you can grow many vegetables through winter:

Excellent Choices (Plant Now)

• Leafy greens: lettuce, spinach, chard, kale, arugula
• Root crops: beets, carrots, radishes, turnips
• Brassicas: broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kohlrabi
• Alliums: onions, garlic, leeks, shallots
• Peas and fava beans

Avoid Until Spring

• Heat-lovers: tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, corn, cucumbers, squash, melons
• Bush beans (need warmer soil)

Tips for Success

• Amend beds with compost before planting.
• Use row covers for occasional cold snaps.
• Succession plant every 2–3 weeks for continuous harvest.
• Water deeply but less frequently than summer.

Your climate allows near-year-round gardening—take advantage!