Learning to Grow in Southern California

An area of localized atmospheric, geographic and geologic conditions that cause the weather in that particular area to differ from the greater surrounding area. For example, the temperature in Ocean Beach, a coastal town inside the city limits of San Diego is consistently lower than that of the temperature in North Park, two communities that are less than 5 miles away from each other. That being said, a variety of tomatoes that thrive in high heat will not do well in Ocean Beach. Learn more about the general concept of microclimates here. Learn about our local microclimates below.

Coastal or Zone 1:

Take special caution in these areas when experiencing mild weather. Cool temperatures year round can make growing heat loving vegetables like cucumber, tomatoes, melons and other summer crops difficult. Pick the sunniest south-facing part of your growing area and choose varieties suggested for coastal growing. Growers should also be aware of the damp conditions that can lead to powdery mildew/mold growth. In times of the year that cloudy days are persistent, take extra care to adjust water appropriately and avoid overhead watering. Instead, water directly at soil level. A great benefit of growing in coastal areas is the option of growing tender greens and root crops year round with ease.

Inland Zone 2:

Inland gardeners must pay close attention to the Farmers’ Almanac and learn their zone growing dates. Cool season crops can easily be grown in hotter times of the year. Simply plant cool crops in indirect sunlight and regular airflow, while planting warm season crops in direct sunlight areas that are south facing. Gardeners should choose cool season crops that resist bolting (or immature seed production), or seeds that are labeled “heat resistant”.

Mountains or Zone 3:

Mountain Zone growers must be aware of the shorter growing seasons. For these areas, gardeners want to choose seeds that do not take long periods to achieve maturity, or “short season crops”. This ensures that they can be harvested before the season change. In areas where snow falls, brassica crops such as Kale and Brussels Sprouts can grow through the cold and actually get sweeter as cool temperatures increase.

Desert or Zone 4: Gardeners growing in desert areas are limited to the cooler times of the year. Because of high heat conditions, growing should be reserved for the warm season. Shade cloths are very helpful to reduce the amount of direct sun a crop receives. Growers should choose seeds labeled “heat resistant” or “desert crop”, or if water access is available, crops that require high heat such as solanacae and cucurbits can be grown bountifully with ease.