Zone 6b · Intermountain Plateau
Susanville
Susanville sits high in the northeastern corner at around 4,200 feet, where the climate turns toward the Great Basin. Cold winters, a short summer, and big day-night swings make for demanding mountain gardening focused on cool-season and short-season crops.
Climate Reality
The honest picture
- Short, cool summers — the warm-season window is narrow
- Cold winters with real freezes and snow
- Last frost is often late May or June; first frost can come in September
- Big day-to-night temperature swings, even in summer
- Cool-season crops are the strength of this climate
What Grows Well
Vegetables
Flowers
Fruit Trees
Berries & Vines
Herbs
Cover Crops
Seeds To Stock
- Kale
- Chard
- Lettuce
- Spinach
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Peas
- Beans (short-season)
- Beets
- Carrots
- Potatoes
- Onions
- Garlic
- Radishes
- Turnips
- Sunflowers
- Zinnias
- Calendula
- Cover crop mix
Direct Sow Now
- Peas
- Spinach
- Lettuce
- Radishes
- Kale
- Beets
- Carrots
Start In Trays Now
- Tomatoes (short-season)
- Peppers
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Onions
Transplants To Buy
- Short-season tomatoes
- Peppers
- Broccoli and cabbage starts
- Cold-hardy herbs
This Week's Tasks
- Check the frost forecast before planting anything tender
- Use row cover or cloches to warm soil and protect starts
- Start warm-season crops indoors — the outdoor window is short
- Thin direct-sown greens and roots
- Watch drainage — cold, soggy soil rots seed
- Plan the fall harvest before the first freeze
Prepare Next
- Overwintering crops — plant in late summer
- Garlic, planted September through October
- Cover crops before snow
- Cold frame or low tunnel construction
- Compost system
Heat Notes
- Heat is rarely the limiting factor — the short season is
- Brief summer heat spikes can still scorch tender starts; have shade cloth ready
- Warm soil with black plastic or cloches to speed early growth
Frost Notes
- Frost is the defining challenge — possible September through June
- Last spring frost is often late May or June
- Row cover and cloches extend the season on both ends
- Choose short-season varieties (65 days or fewer) for reliability
Irrigation Notes
- Drier summers still need irrigation, but less than the valley floor
- Cold mountain water can shock warm-season seedlings — let it warm first
- Good drainage matters more than volume in spring
Common Local Challenges
What trips people up here
- Short frost-free window
- Late spring and early fall frosts
- Cold soil delaying germination
- Deer and other wildlife pressure
Recommended Varieties
| Tomatoes | Short-season types like Stupice, Glacier, Early Girl, and Sungold |
|---|---|
| Peppers | Early, compact types like Ace and King of the North |
| Beans | Provider and Maxibel mature fast enough for the short season |
| Squash | Bush summer squash and short-season winter squash like Sweet Dumpling |
| Greens | Cold-hardy kale (Winterbor, Red Russian) and spinach for shoulder seasons |
Monthly Planning
Current month is highlighted. Click any month to see the plan.
Susanville
JuneThis month
Plant Now
- Beans (after last frost)
- Summer squash
- Cucumbers
- Corn (short-season)
- Sunflowers
- Zinnias
Start In Trays
Nothing this month.
Harvest
- Peas
- Lettuce
- Spinach
- Radishes
- Early greens
Prepare Next
- Transplant tomatoes and peppers now, with protection
- Succession-sow lettuce and greens
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.