Seasonal Guide · Southern California

Planting
calendar

Southern California's mild winters and warm summers shape a unique growing calendar. Most cool-season Asian greens (shungiku, tatsoi, mizuna, komatsuna) peak October through March. Warm-season crops (Thai basil, water spinach, lemongrass) shine April through September. Aquaponics buffers temperature extremes — the water mass stabilises root zones and extends seasons compared to outdoor soil growing.

Sow / transplant
Harvest window
Peak season
Rest / avoid

Year at a glance — Southern California aquaponics

JanFebMar AprMayJun JulAugSep OctNovDec Thai basil Shiso 紫蘇 Shungiku 春菊 Bok choy 白菜 Water spinach Tatsoi 塌菜 Komatsuna 小松菜 Mizuna 水菜 Rau răm Lemongrass
January一月
Bok choy 白菜
Komatsuna 小松菜
Shungiku 春菊
Tatsoi 塌菜 · Mizuna
Thai basil (dormant)
February二月
Bok choy · Komatsuna
Shungiku peak 春菊
Mizuna 水菜
Start Thai basil indoors
March三月
Sow Thai basil
Sow lemongrass
Bok choy · Tatsoi
Shungiku bolting risk
April四月
Transplant Thai basil
Sow shiso 紫蘇
Sow water spinach 空心菜
Rau răm cuttings
May五月
Thai basil taking off
Sow more shiso
Bok choy continues
Lemongrass young shoots
June六月
Thai basil peak
Shiso peak begins
Water spinach 空心菜
Rau răm
Cool greens bolt risk
July七月
Thai basil · Shiso peak
Water spinach peak
Rau răm · Lemongrass
Add shade cloth if needed
August八月
Thai basil · Shiso
Water spinach peak
Sow tatsoi (early)
Lemongrass
September九月
Sow shungiku 春菊
Sow komatsuna 小松菜
Sow tatsoi 塌菜
Thai basil winding down
October十月
Shungiku peak begins
Komatsuna · Tatsoi
Sow mizuna 水菜
Shiso final harvest
November十一月
Shungiku 春菊 peak
Komatsuna 小松菜 peak
Tatsoi · Mizuna
Bok choy resumes
December十二月
Shungiku · Komatsuna peak
Bok choy · Tatsoi
Mizuna 水菜
Thai basil dormant
Plan spring sowing

Microgreens: year-round, 7–18 day cycles

Daikon, bok choy, pea shoots (dou miao 豆苗), shiso, and amaranth microgreens grow on shelving alongside your system regardless of season. Succession-sow a new tray every 1–2 weeks for continuous harvest. See the microgreens guide →