Took a class at Garden for the Environment here in SF and learned all about growing veggies in my neighborhood. Here's what they had to say.
You can grow tomatoes here through the end of November; tomatillos do better in our climate. It's time to start now with kale, swiss chard, lettuces, beets, carrots and broccoli. November is good for artichokes, rhubarb, tree collards (need clipping) and strawberries.
Also in Nov, plant garlic (from bulb, pointy side up) onions, leeks, peas. With garlic and onions, plants should "brown" in June, meaning a bulb is forming. Stop watering when this happens. If you plan them too early they will bolt before they brown. Alternate root veggies with lettuce or other surface leafy plants. Yarrow is great insect attractor (to eat aphids)
Supplies:
Free mulch at Bay View Green Waste
Free compost at Sonoma Composting and Sunset Scavenger, on certain days
American Soil for bagged soil, stone, and grapesee mulch, which evidently rocks
Tips:
Handpick snails from teh garden at night, and throw them in the city compost bin (put lid down). Check under ledges or in any dark, quiet place. Squish the eggs when you find them in the soil.
Fava beans are great for winter cover. When planting seeds, general rule of thumb is plant the seed 3x as wide as the seed is. Go for short number of days to maturity in this climate.
