.Growing food year-round in USDA grow zones 9 through 11, particularly in areas with distinct seasonal changes in sunlight and temperature, presents unique challenges. If you live near the equator with consistent daylight, this guide may not apply. Here, I’ll share how we manage year-round food production on our small homestead in southeast San Diego, located in zone 10b.
Our Homestead Setup
Our half-acre homestead includes a house, driveway, a 3,300-square-foot food forest garden, and a raised bed garden with about 20 beds. Together, these produce approximately 2,200 pounds (1 metric ton) of vegetables, fruits, berries, herbs, nuts, and grains annually. This harvest sustains our family and feeds our ducks, chickens, and rabbits, which provide all our eggs and some meat.
I manage both gardens with occasional help during seasonal transitions. Contrary to common assumptions, I don’t spend all day gardening or in the kitchen. With strategic planning and a few time-saving techniques, I keep chores manageable and spread out.
Understanding Our Three Seasons
In zones 9 through 11, we experience three distinct seasons with varying temperatures, though specifics depend on your exact location within these zones:
• Cold Season (October/November to March): Daytime temperatures rarely drop below 36°F (2°C), with nighttime lows typically between 36°F and 40°F (2–4°C). Frost is rare but possible, especially in zone 10b and up, occurring perhaps once a decade. Some cooler nights may persist into April. Zones 10b and 11 also face a higher risk of extreme heat during other seasons, requiring careful plant protection.
• Warm Season (April to June): Temperatures range from 70°F (22°C) to the mid-90s°F (32°C), ideal for many plants.
• Hot Season (July to October): Daytime temperatures can reach 122°F (50°C) in direct sun, posing challenges for young or sensitive plants.
These temperature swings affect what we grow, when we plant, and how we protect our crops, especially perennials and young plants.
Seasonal Crop Selection
Our planting schedule aligns with these seasons to maximize productivity:
• Warm and Hot Seasons (April to October): We grow sun-loving crops like flowers, herbs, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, summer and winter squash, cucumbers, melons, peas, beans, tomatoes, corn, hibiscus, asparagus, rhubarb, and grains. Many perennials, such as fruit trees and berries, thrive but may need shade during the hottest months.
• Cold Season (October/November to March): We focus on cool-season crops like lettuce, mushrooms, collards, mustard, bok choy, Asian greens, brassicas (cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage), alliums (onions, leeks, chives, garlic), and root vegetables (carrots, parsnips, turnips, beets, radishes).
• Year-Round Crops: With proper shade during the hot season, we grow celery, collards, and certain herbs continuously.
Young perennials, like newly planted fruit trees or shrubs, require shade in the hot season and protection from cold snaps during the cold season to prevent damage, especially in zone 10b and up where occasional cooler temperatures can occur. Mature plants are more resilient but still need consistent watering year-round.
Logistics and Planning for Success
The overlap of planting and harvesting seasons can be overwhelming without a solid plan. Here’s how we manage:
1. Staggered Planting and Harvesting:
• We start annuals in an indoor nursery to control timing. For example, brassicas (e.g., broccoli, cauliflower) are started in mid-August and transplanted in early November for harvest around Thanksgiving or Christmas. Lettuce, which matures in about 60 days, is started in mid-September and October, with new batches sown every two weeks for a continuous supply.
• Root vegetables like carrots and parsnips are direct-seeded in October, while beets are started indoors and transplanted after sweet potato harvest around Thanksgiving.
• Radishes are tricky in our climate due to their tendency to bolt. To prevent this, we direct-seed them in October under a thick layer of straw mulch and a shade cloth, ensuring they develop roots rather than pods.
2. Crop Rotation and Bed Management:
• Our garden beds are in constant use, so soil health is critical. After harvesting, we top beds with compost mixed with rabbit manure (a slow-release fertilizer) and a thick layer of straw mulch. This suppresses weeds, retains moisture, regulates soil temperature, and nourishes soil organisms, reducing pest damage to seedlings.
• We test soil annually for mineral deficiencies and amend as needed. When planting, I make a hole through the straw and soil, place the seedling, and cover the base, adding more mulch later if necessary.
3. Planning Tools:
• A large whiteboard and the Seedtime website help us create detailed schedules for planting, harvesting, and bed preparation. These tools ensure we match harvest dates with transplanting times and rotate crops to maintain soil health.
• Saving past plans helps us refine crop rotations and avoid repeating mistakes.
Time-Saving Hacks
• Straw Mulch: A thick layer of straw mulch is a game-changer. It minimizes weeds, reduces watering needs, stabilizes soil temperature, and supports beneficial soil organisms.
• Indoor Nursery: Starting seeds indoors allows precise timing and protects seedlings from extreme weather.
• Perennial Selection: Choosing fruit trees and berries with staggered harvest times ensures year-round production. For example:
• Avocados: Hass avocados are harvested from March to October, while Fuerte varieties cover October to March, providing year-round fruit.
• Citrus: Varieties ripen from January to June.
• Berries and Other Fruits: Strawberries (some everbearing), mulberries (early spring), peaches (early summer), plums (late summer), sapote, cactus fruits, pomegranates, and persimmons (September to New Year) create a continuous supply.
• We also grow bananas and various berries to diversify harvests and support pollinators year-round.
Supporting a Healthy Ecosystem
Year-round blooms are essential for pollinators and predatory insects that control pests like aphids, worms, and whiteflies. By planting a mix of flowers, herbs, and fruit trees with staggered blooming and fruiting periods, we ensure a steady food source for beneficial insects, maintaining a balanced ecosystem.
Navigating Seasonal Transitions
Transition periods—when harvesting, preserving, bed preparation, and transplanting overlap—can be hectic. A detailed calendar is crucial to avoid planting too early or late and to manage produce preservation. For example, sweet potatoes harvested in November free up beds for beets, while brassicas transplanted in early November are timed to avoid bolting as days lengthen.
Final Thoughts
Year-round gardening in zones 9 through 11 requires careful planning, but the rewards are worth it. By choosing the right crops, staggering planting and harvest times, using time-saving techniques like straw mulch, and maintaining soil health, we produce a diverse, abundant harvest while keeping chores manageable. With a little foresight and the right tools, anyone in a similar climate can enjoy fresh, homegrown food all year long.
If you have any hacks or tips, or it’s different in your Growzone please post a reply so we can all learn together.
