← Growing Guide
Zone 9b · Northern Sacramento Valley
Los Molinos
Los Molinos sits on the Sacramento River south of Red Bluff with deep valley soils and the same hot, dry growing season as the rest of the upper valley.
Climate Reality
The honest picture
- Long, very hot summers — triple digits are normal in July and August
- Mild winters with light frost, but rarely a hard freeze
- Bone dry May through October — irrigation is not optional
- Spring is short and fast — the window before heat stress is narrow
- Fall is long and forgiving — some of the best growing is September through November
What Grows Well
Vegetables
TomatoesPeppersEggplantOkraCucumbersPumpkinsWatermelonSweet potatoesSquashBeansPeasBrassicas
Flowers
SunflowersZinniasCosmosMarigoldsCelosiaGomphrena
Fruit Trees
FigsPomegranatesPeachesPlums
Berries & Vines
BlackberriesStrawberriesGrapes
Herbs
BasilDillCilantroOreganoThymeRosemary
Cover Crops
CloverVetchField peasRyeBarley
Seeds To Stock
- Sunflowers
- Okra
- Cowpeas
- Bush beans
- Pole beans
- Cucumbers
- Watermelon
- Pumpkins
- Winter squash
- Zucchini
- Tomatoes
- Peppers
- Basil
- Zinnias
- Cosmos
- Marigolds
- Kale
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Lettuce
- Spinach
- Carrots
- Beets
- Radishes
- Peas
- Cilantro
- Dill
- Garlic
- Onion
- Cover crop mix
Direct Sow Now
- Sunflowers
- Okra
- Cowpeas
- Bush beans
- Cucumbers
- Zinnias
- Cosmos
- Marigolds
Start In Trays Now
- Broccoli (for fall)
- Cabbage (for fall)
- Cauliflower (for fall)
- Kale (for fall)
- Collards (for fall)
- Fall herbs
Transplants To Buy
- Basil
- Peppers
- Eggplant
- Heat-tolerant flowers
- Sweet potato slips
This Week's Tasks
- Water early before the heat builds
- Mulch any bare soil — exposed ground bakes and dries out fast
- Shade new transplants for the first week
- Check drip emitters — clogged lines stress plants
- Start fall brassicas in trays, even if it still feels too hot
- Pull weeds before they set seed
- Prep strawberry beds for September planting
- Plan the next succession of sunflowers
Prepare Next
- Fall garden beds — clear summer crops and add compost
- Garlic order — place it early
- Onion planning for winter starts
- Strawberry patch expansion
- Compost system — build or improve it
- Cover crops for empty beds
Heat Notes
- Heat is the main challenge here, not frost
- Deep, infrequent watering trains roots downward and beats daily shallow watering
- Fall crops need to start in trays while it still feels too hot — trust the timing
- 30–50% shade cloth makes a real difference for fall transplants going in during lingering heat
Frost Notes
- Frost is light and usually shows up November through February
- Hard freezes are rare but possible — watch the forecast in cold snaps
- Citrus and basil are the most vulnerable; cover them when frost is called
Irrigation Notes
- Drip irrigation is the backbone of a valley garden here
- Water deeply two to three times a week in peak summer rather than a little every day
- Mulch holds moisture and keeps soil temperature down
- Morning watering reduces evaporation loss
Common Local Challenges
What trips people up here
- Extreme summer heat stalling fruit set on tomatoes and peppers
- Sunscald on exposed fruit
- Spider mites in hot, dusty conditions
- Keeping fall starts alive through September heat
- Gophers and ground squirrels
Recommended Varieties
| Tomatoes | Heat-setting types like Heatmaster, Phoenix, Solar Fire, and Sun Gold for cherries |
|---|---|
| Peppers | Reliable producers like Shishito, Jimmy Nardello, and Big Bertha |
| Cucumbers | Armenian, Lemon, and Burpless hold up to heat better than standard slicers |
| Sunflowers | ProCut series for cut flowers, Mammoth for seed and height |
| Beans | Rattlesnake pole and Provider bush both handle the heat |
Monthly Planning
Current month is highlighted. Click any month to see the plan.
Los Molinos
JuneThis month
Plant Now
- Okra
- Cowpeas
- Armenian cucumbers
- Lemon cucumbers
- Beans (succession)
- Watermelon
- Sunflowers
- Zinnias
- Marigolds
Start In Trays
- Broccoli for fall
- Cabbage for fall
- Cauliflower for fall
Harvest
- Zucchini
- Beans
- Cucumbers
- Early tomatoes
- Herbs
- Beets
- Garlic (late month)
Prepare Next
- Start fall brassicas even though it's hot
- Order garlic for fall
- Plan the fall garden
- Switch to deep, infrequent watering
For the deepest version of this area's playbook — extreme heat strategy, watering, fall and winter gardens, and our family projects — see the Anderson / Redding / Red Bluff guide.