Gardening in USDA Zone 12
Your complete guide to growing vegetables, herbs, and fruits in Zone 12. Find the best varieties for your climate and get zone-specific planting dates.
Last Frost
None
Safe to plant after
First Frost
None
Harvest before
Growing Season
365 days
Varieties
1356
across 21 categories
Growing Season
Plant after None · Harvest before None
Zone 12 Coverage
What to Grow in Zone 12
Best Alliums for Zone 12
44 varieties
Onions, garlic, leeks, shallots, and chives.
Best Beans & Legumes for Zone 12
84 varieties
Bush beans, pole beans, lentils, and more. Easy-to-grow protein for every garden.
Best Brassicas for Zone 12
79 varieties
Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, Brussels sprouts, and kohlrabi.
Best Corn for Zone 12
32 varieties
Sweet corn, popcorn, flour corn, and ornamental varieties.
Best Cucumbers for Zone 12
31 varieties
Slicing, pickling, and specialty cucumbers for every garden size.
Best Eggplants for Zone 12
29 varieties
Globe, Japanese, Thai, and specialty eggplant varieties.
Best Flowers for Zone 12
523 varieties
Annual, perennial, and cut flowers to beautify your garden year-round.
Best Grasses & Bamboo for Zone 12
1 variety
Ornamental grasses, lawn grasses, and bamboo varieties for structure and movement.
Best Ground Covers for Zone 12
1 variety
Low-growing plants that spread to cover soil, reduce weeds, and prevent erosion.
Best Lettuce & Salad Greens for Zone 12
110 varieties
Romaine, butterhead, looseleaf, and specialty salad greens for every season.
Best Melons for Zone 12
38 varieties
Watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, and specialty melons.
Best Microgreens for Zone 12
57 varieties
Nutrient-dense seedlings harvested in 7-14 days. The fastest crop you can grow.
Best Native Wildflowers for Zone 12
1 variety
Region-native wildflowers that support pollinators and require minimal maintenance.
Best Nut Trees for Zone 12
1 variety
Pecan, walnut, almond, hazelnut, and chestnut trees for home orchards.
Best Peas for Zone 12
35 varieties
Snap peas, snow peas, shelling peas, and pea shoots.
Best Peppers for Zone 12
73 varieties
Hot peppers, sweet peppers, and everything in between. Find your perfect heat level.
Best Root Vegetables for Zone 12
56 varieties
Carrots, beets, turnips, radishes, and other underground crops.
Best Squash & Cucumbers for Zone 12
60 varieties
Summer squash, winter squash, zucchini, and cucumbers.
Best Tomatoes for Zone 12
91 varieties
From heirloom beefsteaks to cherry varieties. Growing guides for every tomato type.
Best Tropical Plants for Zone 12
8 varieties
Exotic tropical plants including palms, gingers, hibiscus, and bird of paradise.
Best Vines & Climbers for Zone 12
2 varieties
Climbing plants for trellises, arbors, and walls. Clematis, wisteria, jasmine, and more.
Monthly Planting Guides — Zone 12
See what to start, transplant, sow, and harvest each month.