Zone 9b planting schedule
Zone 9b covers places where the coldest night of an average winter falls between 25 to 30 °F. Here is what that means for frost dates and planting, month by month.
- Average winter low
- 25 to 30 °F
- Typical first frost
- Dec 9
- Last frost, most towns
- Jan 26 to Feb 13
- Frost-free season
- about 323 days
Middle values among the 208 towns of 10,000 people or more in zone 9b (our calculation, NOAA 1991-2020).
Where zone 9b is
Zone 9b towns are most common in California, Texas, Florida, Arizona, Louisiana, South Carolina, Nevada and Oregon. Its biggest cities include Houston, TX; Jacksonville, FL; Tucson, AZ; Fresno, CA; Mesa, AZ. Because a zone is set only by winter cold, towns in it can have quite different springs: the middle half of them have their last frost between Jan 26 and Feb 13. Use your own town's dates when you can.
| City | Last frost | First frost | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston, TX | Jan 30 | Dec 28 | 330 d |
| Jacksonville, FL | Feb 1 | Jan 5 | 330 d |
| Tucson, AZ | Feb 5 | Dec 9 | 307 d |
| Fresno, CA | Jan 14 | Dec 14 | 337 d |
| Mesa, AZ | Feb 1 | Dec 10 | 312 d |
| Bakersfield, CA | Jan 17 | Dec 15 | 334 d |
| New Orleans, LA | Jan 22 | Jan 5 | 348 d |
| Henderson, NV | Jan 20 | Dec 15 | 333 d |
| Stockton, CA | Feb 5 | Dec 8 | 305 d |
| Corpus Christi, TX | rare | rare | 365 d |
| North Las Vegas, NV | Jan 24 | Dec 10 | 323 d |
| Laredo, TX | Jan 20 | Dec 25 | 344 d |
Zone 9b planting calendar, month by month
Counted from the zone's typical frost dates. January is the busiest month for planting outside, with 31 crops going in. Each crop name links to its own page with the dates for your exact town.
| Month | Start indoors | Plant or sow outside | First harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Cucumbers, Zucchini (Summer Squash), Winter Squash, Pumpkins, Watermelon, Cantaloupe | Strawberries, Sunflowers, Wildflowers, Raspberries, Dahlias, Gladiolus, Summer Bulbs, Zinnias, Marigolds, Hostas, Herbs, Hydrangeas, Tomatoes, Peppers, Broccoli, Lettuce, Cucumbers, Zucchini (Summer Squash), Winter Squash, Cantaloupe, Sweet Corn, Green Beans, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Brussels Sprouts, Swiss Chard, Bok Choy, Celery, Basil, Dill, Parsley | Radishes, Spinach, Turnips |
| February | Winter Squash, Pumpkins, Watermelon, Cantaloupe, Eggplant, Okra, Sweet Potatoes | Potatoes, Peas, Lettuce, Carrots, Beets, Kale, Cauliflower, Collard Greens, Bok Choy, Basil | |
| March | Onions, Broccoli, Cucumbers, Zucchini (Summer Squash), Sweet Corn, Green Beans, Cabbage, Brussels Sprouts, Swiss Chard, Okra | ||
| April | Tomatoes, Peppers, Watermelon, Cantaloupe, Leeks, Eggplant | ||
| May | Winter Squash, Pumpkins, Sweet Potatoes | ||
| June | |||
| July | |||
| August | |||
| September | Irises, Hostas, Herbs, Peas, Broccoli, Lettuce, Cucumbers, Zucchini (Summer Squash), Green Beans, Carrots, Radishes, Beets, Kale, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Brussels Sprouts, Collard Greens, Swiss Chard, Bok Choy, Turnips | ||
| October | Onions, Leeks | Strawberries, Wildflowers, Lilies, Peonies, Trees, Hydrangeas, Garlic, Spinach, Arugula, Shallots | |
| November | Peppers, Broccoli, Kale, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Brussels Sprouts, Celery, Eggplant, Parsley | Daffodils, Tulips, Blueberries, Hyacinths, Crocus, Ornamental Alliums, Fruit Trees, Apple Trees, Crape Myrtles | |
| December | Zinnias, Marigolds, Herbs, Tomatoes, Lettuce, Swiss Chard, Okra, Basil | Blueberries, Asparagus, Rhubarb, Lilies, Roses, Fruit Trees, Trees, Apple Trees, Cherry Trees, Potatoes, Onions, Peas, Carrots, Radishes, Beets, Spinach, Kale, Cabbage, Collard Greens, Swiss Chard, Bok Choy, Turnips, Leeks |
Fall plantings are listed with the month they go in. Ranges for each crop are on its page.
What grows well in zone 9b
With about 323 frost-free days, zone 9b grows warm-season crops for many months, and summer heat matters more than frost. Cool-season crops such as lettuce, broccoli and peas do best planted in late summer and fall and grown through the mild winter.
Zone and frost dates: our own calculation from NOAA NCEI records (Global Summary of the Year, U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020); not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Crop timing: university extension guides, listed on each crop page.