I live in zone 5. I was thinking of yanking my eggplant plants. Those poor things haven't grown a bit since I put them in the ground. Anyway, I just planted peas and beets. I still need to plant more beans. It's just too wet and the seeds rot. So here's the list of what can still be planted: Arugula Asian greens (kamatsuna, pok choi, etc) Bush beans Beets Broccoli (from seedlings, maybe from seed if started now) Carrots Cauliflower (from seedlings) Cilantro Cucumbers Greens (kale, mustard, spinach, Swiss chard, etc) Kohlrabi Lettuce Peas Radishes Summer squashes Turnips Winter squash (acorn types, others from seedlings)

This is the time to plant warm weather vegetables, such as tomatoes, squash, beans, cucumbers, eggplant, peppers, sweet basil. Cool weather vegies are planted in the fall: peas, lettuce, cilantro, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, radishes, carrots, etc. Swiss chard is planted in the fall and lasts through the summer. Garlic is planted in the fall and takes months to mature. The Sunset Western Garden Book is full of information on planting in our climate.

Climate information is normally given by USDA Growing Zones of 1-10. California has more detailed zone information called Sunset Zones. There are 24 Sunset Zones which are used in California and other western states to further give climate information. Sunset Zone Map for California I am guessing Sunset Zone 23, or USDA Zone 9a, which is similar to Houston, TX. You may find my Houston Planting Dates chart helpful. As always, I appreciate any comments, concerns, complaints, etc. about it. Right now, you can plant Cauliflower, Broccoli, and Brussels Sprouts transplants, Carrots, Parsnips, Turnips, and Rutabagas from seed, and onion sets (transplants). You're a bit late for green/wax/pole beans but you can probably still do so. You could conceivably plant potatoes if you have access to good seed potatoes. You're too late for tomatoes and peppers unless you can find large transplants of small-fruited varieties like cherries approx 2 feet tall in a 1 gallon pot. Mid-October is time to start seeding or planting lettuce, cabbage, spinach, and strawberry crowns/starts. Save English peas, snow peas, and sugar snap peas for December. Start tomato and pepper seeds in late December early January for March plant-out.

I know everyone's soil/region is different. I am so disgusted with my soil this year. Nothing but rock-hard red clay that practically bakes into Terra Cotta in the sun. Even the topsoil we used for some of the raised beds crusts over pretty hard on top and needs some work. A local daylily grower/seller in Georgia who also used to grow them in Florida's almost 100% sandy soil told me the best thing I could do for my daylilies in this area is mix in as much sand as possible with the soil that's there and be sure and break up all the large dirt chunks. Pretty labor intensive but sand is cheap and I figured it's worth a shot. Supposedly easier for the roots to grow through it if it's sandier. I may have to water more frequently but each time you water it's actually getting where it needs to go unlike my hard clay where it just runs off right now and isn't really soaking down to the roots. He's successfully grown and had a buisness for years so I figure he knows what he's talking about. Of course that black mid-western/northern soil would be wonderful too but would cost a pretty penny here. Good luck with your clumps! Danielle