Sacramento's long growing season gives us two major planting seasons-- spring and  fall. In late winter- early spring, you'll plant warm-season vegetables like tomatoes, melons, corn  and beans. By mid to late summer, you'll be knocking on neighbors' doors with surplus veggies.

In late summer-early fall, our second crop, the cool-season crop, goes in the ground. Your choices include lettuce, spinach, broccoli, peas and more. Repeat plantings and your unique microclimate allow you to extend the two main growing periods.

Remember, crop rotation helps discourage diseases
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Ambitious gardeners can start vegetables from seed. Convenience-driven gardeners can wait for small, ready-to-plant vegetable seedlings to show up in nurseries.