Zone 7a · Southern Cascades
Yreka
Yreka sits in the Shasta Valley near the Oregon border. Cold winters and a short but real summer make for a classic intermountain garden: cool-season crops do well, and warm-season crops need protection and a head start.
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.
Yreka
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 most detailed version of this area's playbook — see the Shaggy Ink Farms guide or the Anderson / Redding / Red Bluff guide.
What To Do Next
Stay on top of this local growing season.
The local guide gives the timing. The planner helps with crop counts, and the local updates list keeps the season moving.
Tool
Open the Garden Planner
Size your garden around this local guide instead of relying on generic national advice.
Open the Garden PlannerEmail Capture
Get Anderson Area Growing Updates
Join the local list for planting reminders and hyperlocal seasonal notes.
Farm Link
Fresh Eggs
If you are close enough for local growing notes, you may also want the local egg list.
Visit Fresh Eggs