January
Max 9°
Min 1°
Precipitation 9 days
While it's generally too cold and too dark outdoors in Shanghai for seeds to germinate and grow, January is a good time to get a head start on the new season by adding compost to the soil, planning the spring and even the summer growing seasons, and beginning to purchase your seeds.
February
Max 10°
Min 3°
Precipitation 9 days
Carrots when temperatures are consistently 10+ degrees
Lettuce
Spinach
Kolhrabi if started indoors or under cover
Arugula/Rocket
Mustard (with netting against insects)
Sweet peas (towards the end of the month)
March
Max 14°
Min 6°
Precipitation 12 days
Beets 10 to 25 degrees
Carrots when temperatures are consistently 10+ degrees
Chard/Swiss Chard, when temps are between 10 and 25 degrees
Lettuce
Onion when temps are between 10-25 degrees
Parsley when temps are between 10-25 degrees
Peas when temps are 10-25 degrees
Broadbeans when temps are 10-25 degrees
All radish
Spinach, in first half of the month before temperatures reach 15 degrees
Kolhrabi indoors or under cover
Arugula/Rocket
Leeks when temps are between 10-25 degrees
Jimaocai
Taro (towards the end of the month)
Potatoes
Transplant strawberries (towards the end of the month)
April
Max 20°
Min 12°
Precipitation 11 days
Beets 10 to 25 degrees
Carrots
Courgette/zucchini in the second half of the month or when temperatures are above 20 degrees
Chard/Swiss Chard, when temps are between 10 and 25 degrees
Leeks when temps are below 25 degrees
Sweetcorn when temperatures are over 15 degrees
Cucumber when temperatures are over 15 degrees
Lettuce
Onion when temps are between 10-25 degrees
Parsley when temps are between 10-25 degrees
Peas for shoots
Radish
Squash and Pumpkins 20-30 degrees
Tomato 15-25 degrees
Beans
Marigolds (towards the end of the month when temperatures reach 20 degrees)
Lemongrass (outdoors towards the end of the month when temperatures reach 20 degrees)
Nasturtium
Sunflowers
Taro
Transplant strawberries
Loofah
May
Max 25°
Min 17°
Precipitation 9 days
Eggplants 22-32 degrees celcius
Courgette/zucchini when temps are 20-25 degrees
Sweetcorn
Cucumber
Sweet peppers and chillies between 20-30 degrees
Squash and Pumpkins 20-30 degrees
Sweet potato slips mid May onwards
Basil
Tomato
Physalis (Husk tomatoes/ Chinese lantern plant)
Marigolds
Lemongrass
Sunflowers
Daikon
Turmeric (towards the end of the month)
Ginger (towards the end of the month)
Taro
Peanuts
June
Max 28°
Min 21°
Precipitation 14 days
Eggplants 22-32 degrees celcius
Sweet peppers and chillies between 20-30 degrees
Squash and Pumpkins 20-30 degrees
Basil
Tomato
Physalis (Husk tomatoes/ Chinese lantern plant)
Lemongrass
Peanuts
July
Max 33°
Min 26°
Precipitation 11 days
Chillies
Basil
Tomato
Physalis (Husk tomatoes/ Chinese lantern plant)
August
Max 32°
Min 26°
Precipitation 12 days
Chinese cabbage & Wawa Cai (with netting against insects)
Carrots (2nd half August) Keep moist during germination
Cauliflower (with netting against insects)
Cherry radish
Daikon radish
Beets
September
Max 28°
Min 21°
Precipitation 9 days
Carrots
Beets
Lettuce (out of direct sun/intense heat)
Chinese cabbages (with netting against insects)
Swiss Chard towards the cooler end of the month
Cauliflower
Bok choy (with netting against insects)
All radish
You Cai / Rapeseed
Taro
Nasturtiums
Leeks
Green beans
Coriander/cilantro
October
Max 23°
Min 16°
Precipitation 8 days
Broad beans in the second half of the month 10-21°C
Peas when temps are 10-25 degrees, usually towards the end of the month
Carrots
Chard/Swiss Chard, when temps are between 10 and 25 degrees
Lettuce
Peas when temps are 10-25 degrees
Spinach towards the end of the month if temperatures are below 20 degrees
Tomato for growing indoors over winter 15-25 degrees
Arugula/Rocket in the cooler second half of the month
Bok choy (with netting against insects)
Mustard (with netting against insects)
Kale (with netting against insects)
Garlic
All radish
You Cai / Rapeseed
Beets
Leeks
Big round cabbage
Turnip
Coriander/cilantro
Transplant blueberry bushes
November
Max 17°
Min 10°
Precipitation 7 days
Broad beans 10-21°C
Peas when temps are 10-25 degrees
Carrots as long as temperatures are consistently 10+ degrees
Chard/Swiss Chard, when temps are between 10 and 25 degrees
Lettuce
Snow peas when temps are 10-25 degrees
Spinach
Arugula/Rocket
Mustard (with netting against insects)
Kale (with netting against insects)
Radish
Bok choy (with netting against insects)
Kohlrabi
Beets
Coriander/cilantro
Onions
Big Round Cabbage
Transplant strawberries
Flower bulbs for spring: allium flowers and ranunculus
Flowers for winter: pansies, viola and sweet peas
December
Max 11°
Min 3°
Precipitation 7 days
Bok choy
Kale
Swiss chard
Snow peas
Mustard
Butterhead lettuce (preferably under cover for faster germination)
Also
Pansy/viola seedlings
Sweet peas (if temps are about 10 degrees)