Brassicas planting in California.
Brassicas planting in California is shaped by the state's 9a dominant hardiness zone, last frost date around March 1, and a 270-day growing season. Brassicas is grown in California but is not a dominant crop — works for home gardens, food plots, and some commercial production.
Planting dates on this page are climatological estimates from USDA frost-date norms and zone-typical planting offsets. Verify against University of California Cooperative Extension for variety- and county-specific guidance.
Planting calendar — 2026
Planting windows shift earlier in southern parts of the state and later in northern parts. Use last frost date in your specific county as the reference.
Planting windows
Fall planting
BrassicasHarvest window
Harvest timing varies with planting date and seasonal weather — these dates are typical for the ideal planting window.
Growing notes
Brassicas can be successfully grown in California with attention to variety selection. The state's 270-day growing season requires choosing varieties appropriate for the growing window.
Brassicas is grown in California but is not a dominant crop — works for home gardens, food plots, and some commercial production.
Agronomy reference
Late summer / early fall planting timing is critical for food plots — plants need 60-90 days of growth before first hard frost to reach peak forage value.
Common pests to watch
- Diamondback moth
- Cabbage worms
- Flea beetles
Pest pressure varies by region and year. Confirm current outbreaks with University of California Cooperative Extension.
Common diseases
- Black rot
- Clubroot
- Alternaria leaf spot
Resistance varieties shift each year. Check the current variety trial report for your state.
Variety selection
Brassicas varieties for California live with your extension service.
Variety performance is micro-regional and changes with each year’s trial cycle. We don’t republish variety lists — instead, we point directly at the source.
Search the extension site for “brassicasvariety trial” or “recommended brassicas varieties” to find the current report.
Yield varies significantly by variety, soil, fertility, and management. Consult your state extension service for variety performance trials in your region.
Beyond the harvest
Brassicas as a hunting food plot.
Brassicas are the late-season deer food plot species. Tubers and tops sweeten after frost and become primary attraction during the rut and post-rut. Time planting 60-90 days before first hard frost.
Brassicas timing. Live alerts.
Bield: Farm ties weather and soil-temperature stations in your county to crop planting thresholds — get notified the day soil temp clears your target window.