Annual Planting Schedule

Elizabeth Shin
UC Davis undergraduate,  4th year
Major: Landscape Architecture​

In our third week, Dalia and I tackled creating an annual planting schedule. A planting calendar
is a guide that informs the user when the best planting time is for vegetables, flowers, or plants. Using the first and last frost dates (the first and last day when temperatures fall to 32 degrees or lower), the calendar maps out the optimal times to start seeds and plant. To find Davis’ frost dates, we used the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map to determine which plants will survive and thrive in our garden! Because Davis is in Zone 9b, the last frost date is usually around March 1st, and the first frost date is usually around December 15th. Knowing these dates will allow us to prepare for the frost ahead of time by bringing sensitive plants indoors and harvesting remaining fruits/vegetables.

With these dates in mind, Dalia and I curated a list of over 100 vegetables, herbs, fruits, and plants that will be able to withstand the heat of the summer and cold of the winter. We used color blocks to represent when we should start seeds indoor, transplant seedlings, and harvest, and also noted sunlight needs, planting methods, watering needs, and any specific notes for the plant. It was a very meticulous process, but will definitely come in handy when we start planting!