Brought to you by garden.gg Zone 9 Planting Calendar
USDA zone 9 has hot summers and mild, nearly frost-free winters, with an average annual minimum of 20-30°F and a growing season well over nine months. The limiting factor is summer heat, not cold, which inverts the calendar so cool-season crops flourish fall through spring while only heat-lovers persist in midsummer.
Zone 9 flips the calendar: with lows of only 20 to 30°F and 280 frost-free days, summer heat, not winter cold, is the limiting season. It covers central and coastal California, the Gulf Coast from Houston to New Orleans, central and north Florida, southern Texas, and Arizona's low desert valleys. Tomatoes go in the ground in late February, the garden rests or grows okra through the worst of summer, and a second season starts when temperatures break in late September.
States & regions in Zone 9: Central & coastal California, Gulf Coast (Houston, New Orleans area), Central & North Florida, Southern Texas, Southern Louisiana, Coastal Georgia & South Carolina (Lowcountry), Southern Arizona (low desert valleys)
Almost year-round. Almost paradise.
With 300+ frost-free days, zone 9 can grow food 10-11 months a year. The challenge isn't cold — it's heat management and pest pressure. Timing shifts earlier here: your tomato season starts in February and ends before the brutal summer.
Pro tip: Plant tomatoes in February for harvest by May. Start your fall garden by October when temps drop below 90°F.
Save a planting for your zone 9 garden — free
What to Plant in Zone 9 This Fall (September–November)
The average first fall frost in zone 9 is Dec 5. To find the last safe planting date for any fall crop, count back from that date by its days to maturity plus a 14-day fall factor — growth slows as days shorten and soil cools. Applied to zone 9's frost date, that gives these plant-by dates:
Plant by Sep 2
80 days to maturity + 14-day fall factor
Plant by Sep 7
75 days to maturity + 14-day fall factor
Plant by Sep 12
70 days to maturity + 14-day fall factor
Plant by Sep 12
70 days to maturity + 14-day fall factor
Zone 9a and 9b: these dates are zone 9 averages. In zone 9a, first frost tends to arrive about a week earlier, so plant about a week before the dates above; in zone 9b you get roughly a week of extra time. Half-zone pages shift every date for you: zone 9a fall dates and zone 9b fall dates.
Fall crops on this zone 9 calendar include Tomato, Bush Bean, Cucumber, Summer Squash, Winter Squash, Lettuce, Spinach, Kale, Swiss Chard, Collards, Mustard Greens, Arugula, and 19 more. Each crop's sowing and transplant window is in the fall planting section below.
For month-by-month detail, see what to plant in October across every zone, what to plant in September, and the fall vegetable planting guide by zone.
What to Plant by Season in Zone 9
The right crops and methods for each season, based on zone 9's climate and frost timing.
What to Plant in Spring
Spring in zone 9 is a fast, productive window between the late-February frost and the brutal heat that arrives by June, so warm-season crops should go in early and the last cool-season greens are squeezed in before they bolt. Get heat-lovers transplanted by mid-March to set fruit before summer night temperatures shut down pollination.
Late Feb - Mar
Set out robust transplants right after last frost; choose heat-set varieties to keep fruiting as temps climb.
Mar - Early Apr
Wait for soil to warm; peppers sulk in cold ground.
Mar - Apr
Loves the heat; one of the best summer performers here.
Mar - Apr
Plant at least two for cross-pollination.
Mar - Apr
Mar - Apr
Direct sow once soil hits 65°F; provide afternoon shade as heat builds.
Mar - Apr
Plant early to harvest before squash vine borer and powdery mildew peak.
Mar - Apr
Mar - Apr
Needs the full hot season to ripen; sow as early as soil allows.
Mar - Apr
Apr - May
Wait for truly warm soil; thrives in peak summer heat.
Mar - Apr
Block-plant for pollination; get it in early to beat earworm pressure.
Mar - Apr
Mar - Apr
Apr - May
Handles heat better than snap beans.
Mar - Apr
Apr - May
Needs the long warm season to mature; sandy soil ideal.
Apr - May
Excellent heat- and drought-tolerant summer legume.
Apr - May
Plant slips once nights stay above 60°F.
Mar - Apr
Loves heat; pinch flowers to keep leaves coming all summer.
Apr - May
Heat-loving leafy green that replaces true spinach in summer.
Mar - Apr
Apr - May
Mar - Apr
Mar - Apr
Mar - Apr
Good companion for nematode suppression around tomatoes.
Mar - Apr
Late Feb - Mar
Plant early; fades once intense heat arrives.
Late Feb - Mar
Last quick sowing of the season; harvest before it bolts in the heat.
What to Plant in Summer
Zone 9 summers are dominated by oppressive heat and humidity (or desert intensity) that halts most planting and stresses fruit set, so the season is mostly about maintaining spring-planted heat-lovers and growing only the toughest tropical crops. Use shade cloth, deep mulch, and consistent water; many gardeners take a partial break in July-August.
Jun - Jul
One of the few crops that thrives in peak heat; keep picking pods young.
Jun - Jul
Reliable through the hottest stretch; fixes nitrogen.
Jun - Jul
Tropical pole bean that loves the worst of summer.
Jun
Handles heat where snap beans fail.
Jun - Jul
Thrives in heat as a spinach substitute.
Jun - Jul
Jun
Jun - Jul
Heat-loving tropical vine; needs a sturdy trellis.
Jun
Long-season vine; trellis and let some mature into sponges.
Jun - Jul
Plant a sprouted whole fruit; vigorous perennial vine in zone 9.
Jun
Keep succession-planting; thrives until first frost.
Jun - Jul
Loves heat and humidity; can overwinter in zone 9.
Jun
Jun - Jul
Succession-sow for continuous blooms.
Jun - Jul
One of the few annual flowers unfazed by the heat.
Jun - Jul
Late Jul - Aug
Set out fresh transplants in late summer for a fall crop once nights cool.
What to Plant in Fall
Fall is the second great planting season in zone 9: as the heat breaks in September-October, gardeners plant a huge succession of cool-season crops plus a quick round of warm-season vegetables before the December frost. Cooling nights bring far better fruit set and sweeter greens than spring.
Sep
Last call for fall fruit; pick short-season varieties to beat first frost.
Sep - Oct
Quick fall crop before frost.
Sep
Fall crop sets cleaner fruit than the spring planting.
Sep
Aug - Sep
Needs to be sown early enough in fall to mature before frost.
Oct - Nov
Succession-sow every 2-3 weeks all fall and winter.
Oct - Nov
Direct sow; true spinach finally thrives in cool fall soil.
Oct - Nov
Flavor sweetens after light frost.
Oct - Nov
Productive cut-and-come-again all fall, winter, and into spring.
Oct - Nov
Classic zone 9 winter green; very cold-hardy here.
Oct - Nov
Oct - Nov
Oct - Nov
Oct
Oct - Nov
Cooling weather gives tight heads; one of the best fall crops.
Oct - Nov
Oct - Nov
Oct - Nov
Oct - Nov
Fall-sown carrots sweeten in cool soil; keep evenly moist for germination.
Oct - Nov
Oct - Dec
Fast; succession-sow through winter.
Oct - Nov
Nov - Dec
Plant short-day varieties for spring bulbing in the South.
Oct - Nov
Plant cloves in fall for early-summer harvest; softneck types do best.
Oct - Nov
Cool-season legume; trellis the climbing types.
Oct - Nov
Oct - Nov
Cool weather keeps it from bolting; grows beautifully all winter.
Oct - Nov
Oct - Nov
Oct - Nov
Cool-season flower that blooms through the mild winter.
Oct - Nov
Fall-set crowns produce a heavy crop the following spring in zone 9.
What to Plant in Winter
In zone 9 winter is a prime growing season, not a dormant one: with only light, occasional frosts, cool-season greens, roots, and brassicas grow steadily and gardeners harvest fresh produce all season. Keep light frost cloth on hand for the rare hard freeze, but most cool crops shrug off zone 9 winters.
Dec - Feb
Succession-sow; cool weather gives sweet, slow-growing heads.
Dec - Jan
Peak season; harvest outer leaves continuously.
Dec - Jan
Cold-hardy and at its sweetest in winter.
Dec - Jan
Dec - Jan
Withstands the occasional frost with ease.
Dec - Feb
Dec - Feb
Dec - Feb
Dec - Jan
Dec - Jan
Dec - Jan
Dec - Jan
Harvest the main head, then keep cutting side shoots through spring.
Dec - Jan
Dec - Jan
Dec - Jan
Dec - Jan
Dec - Jan
Winter-grown roots are exceptionally sweet.
Dec - Jan
Dec - Feb
Fast winter crop; succession-sow.
Dec - Jan
Dec - Feb
Dec - Jan
Dec - Jan
Thrives in the mild winter; trellis the vining types.
Dec - Jan
Dec - Jan
Cool-season legume that overwinters and fixes nitrogen.
Dec - Feb
Best season of the year; no bolting in cool weather.
Dec - Jan
Dec - Jan
Prefers cool, shady winter conditions.
Dec - Jan
Dec - Jan
Dec - Jan
Very cold-hardy salad green for winter harvest.
Dec - Jan
Blooms cheerfully through zone 9 winters.
Save a planting from your zone 9 calendar
Choose a crop and a date that suits your local conditions. Create a free account or sign in, then review and save your planting plan. Your saved plan is available on web, iOS, and Android.
Zone calendars are starting points, not local forecasts. Check local frost dates, soil temperature, and the crop's planting instructions before choosing a date. This does not change your profile's zone.
Full Planting Timing Table
Start-indoors, direct-sow, transplant, and harvest windows for every crop in zone 9.
Vegetables
| Plant | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Transplant | Harvest | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amaranth (Leaf) | — | Jun - Jul | — | — | — |
| Arugula | — | Oct - Nov | — | — | — |
| Beet | — | Oct - Nov | — | — | — |
| Bitter Melon | — | Jun - Jul | — | — | Heat-loving tropical vine; needs a sturdy trellis. |
| Bok Choy / Pak Choi | — | — | Oct - Nov | — | — |
| Broccoli | — | — | Oct - Nov | — | Harvest the main head, then keep cutting side shoots through spring. |
| Broccoli Raab (Rapini) | — | Dec - Jan | — | — | — |
| Bush Bean | — | Sep - Oct | — | — | Quick fall crop before frost. |
| Cabbage | — | — | Oct - Nov | — | — |
| Carrot | — | Oct - Nov | — | — | Winter-grown roots are exceptionally sweet. |
| Cauliflower | — | — | Oct - Nov | — | — |
| Chayote | — | — | Jun - Jul | — | Plant a sprouted whole fruit; vigorous perennial vine in zone 9. |
| Chinese Broccoli (Gai Lan) | — | Dec - Jan | — | — | — |
| Collards | — | — | Oct - Nov | — | Withstands the occasional frost with ease. |
| Corn (Sweet) | — | Mar - Apr | — | — | Block-plant for pollination; get it in early to beat earworm pressure. |
| Cowpea / Southern Pea | — | Jun - Jul | — | — | Reliable through the hottest stretch; fixes nitrogen. |
| Cucumber | — | Sep | — | — | Fall crop sets cleaner fruit than the spring planting. |
| Edamame (Soybean) | — | Mar - Apr | — | — | — |
| Eggplant | — | — | Mar - Apr | — | Loves the heat; one of the best summer performers here. |
| Endive / Escarole | — | Dec - Jan | — | — | — |
| Fava Bean | — | Dec - Jan | — | — | Cool-season legume that overwinters and fixes nitrogen. |
| Garden Pea | — | Oct - Nov | — | — | Thrives in the mild winter; trellis the vining types. |
| Garlic | — | — | Oct - Nov | — | Plant cloves in fall for early-summer harvest; softneck types do best. |
| Kale | — | — | Oct - Nov | — | Cold-hardy and at its sweetest in winter. |
| Kohlrabi | — | Oct - Nov | — | — | — |
| Leek | — | — | Dec - Jan | — | — |
| Lettuce | — | Oct - Nov | — | — | Succession-sow; cool weather gives sweet, slow-growing heads. |
| Lima Bean | — | Jun | — | — | Handles heat where snap beans fail. |
| Luffa | — | Jun | — | — | Long-season vine; trellis and let some mature into sponges. |
| Malabar Spinach | — | Jun - Jul | — | — | Thrives in heat as a spinach substitute. |
| Mizuna | — | Dec - Feb | — | — | — |
| Mustard Greens | — | Oct - Nov | — | — | — |
| Napa Cabbage | — | — | Oct | — | — |
| New Zealand Spinach | — | Mar - Apr | — | — | — |
| Okra | — | Jun - Jul | — | — | One of the few crops that thrives in peak heat; keep picking pods young. |
| Onion (Bulb) | — | — | Nov - Dec | — | Plant short-day varieties for spring bulbing in the South. |
| Pac/Corn Salad (Mâche) | — | Dec - Jan | — | — | Very cold-hardy salad green for winter harvest. |
| Peanut | — | Apr - May | — | — | Needs the long warm season to mature; sandy soil ideal. |
| Pepper (Bell & Hot) | — | — | Mar - Early Apr | — | Wait for soil to warm; peppers sulk in cold ground. |
| Pole Bean | — | Mar - Apr | — | — | — |
| Radicchio | — | — | Dec - Jan | — | — |
| Radish | — | Oct - Dec | — | — | Fast winter crop; succession-sow. |
| Scallion / Green Onion | — | Dec - Feb | — | — | — |
| Snap / Snow Pea | — | Oct - Nov | — | — | — |
| Spinach | — | Oct - Nov | — | — | Peak season; harvest outer leaves continuously. |
| Summer Squash | — | Sep | — | — | — |
| Sweet Potato | — | — | Apr - May | — | Plant slips once nights stay above 60°F. |
| Swiss Chard | — | — | Oct - Nov | — | Productive cut-and-come-again all fall, winter, and into spring. |
| Tatsoi | — | Dec - Jan | — | — | — |
| Tomatillo | — | — | Mar - Apr | — | Plant at least two for cross-pollination. |
| Tomato | — | — | Sep | — | Set out robust transplants right after last frost; choose heat-set varieties to keep fruiting as temps climb. |
| Turnip | — | Oct - Nov | — | — | — |
| Winter Squash | — | Aug - Sep | — | — | Needs to be sown early enough in fall to mature before frost. |
| Yardlong Bean | — | Jun - Jul | — | — | Tropical pole bean that loves the worst of summer. |
| Zucchini | — | Mar - Apr | — | — | Plant early to harvest before squash vine borer and powdery mildew peak. |
Herbs
| Plant | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Transplant | Harvest | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basil | — | — | Mar - Apr | — | Keep succession-planting; thrives until first frost. |
| Chervil | — | Dec - Jan | — | — | Prefers cool, shady winter conditions. |
| Cilantro / Coriander | — | Oct - Nov | — | — | Cool weather keeps it from bolting; grows beautifully all winter. |
| Dill | — | Oct - Nov | — | — | — |
| Lemongrass | — | — | Jun - Jul | — | Loves heat and humidity; can overwinter in zone 9. |
| Parsley | — | — | Oct - Nov | — | — |
| Stevia | — | — | Jun | — | — |
Fruits
| Plant | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Transplant | Harvest | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ground Cherry | — | — | Mar - Apr | — | — |
| Muskmelon / Cantaloupe | — | Mar - Apr | — | — | — |
| Strawberry | — | — | Oct - Nov | — | Fall-set crowns produce a heavy crop the following spring in zone 9. |
| Watermelon | — | Mar - Apr | — | — | Needs the full hot season to ripen; sow as early as soil allows. |
Flowers
| Plant | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Transplant | Harvest | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calendula | — | Oct - Nov | Dec - Jan | — | Cool-season flower that blooms through the mild winter. |
| Cosmos | — | Mar - Apr | — | — | — |
| Marigold | — | Mar - Apr | — | — | Good companion for nematode suppression around tomatoes. |
| Nasturtium | — | Late Feb - Mar | — | — | Plant early; fades once intense heat arrives. |
| Sunflower | — | Mar - Apr | — | — | Succession-sow for continuous blooms. |
| Zinnia | — | Mar - Apr | — | — | One of the few annual flowers unfazed by the heat. |
Zone 9a vs Zone 9b
USDA divides every hardiness zone into two half-zones based on average annual minimum temperature: zone 9a is the cooler half and zone 9b the warmer, 5°F apart. Seed packets and nursery tags usually quote the full zone, but the half-zone is what decides your edge cases — the borderline perennial that survives in 9b and dies in 9a, or the extra week of fall growing 9b buys you.
The dates on this page are zone 9 averages. If you're in zone 9a, treat your last spring frost as about a week later and your first fall frost as about a week earlier than the dates above. In zone 9b, you get roughly a week of grace on each end. Your own microclimate — slope, shelter, pavement, elevation — can swing dates as much as the half-zone does, which is why tracking your garden's actual frost dates beats any table within a season or two.
Want the dates already shifted? See the zone 9a planting schedule and the zone 9b planting guide.
Zone 9 Growing Tips
- ✓ Flip the traditional calendar: in zone 9 the main cool-season garden runs fall through spring (October-March), and summer is the off-season for most vegetables. Plant brassicas, roots, greens, and peas in fall, not spring.
- ✓ Beat the heat for warm-season fruit set: get tomatoes and peppers transplanted by mid-March so they fruit before summer night temperatures above 75°F shut down pollination, then plant a second round in late July/August for a fall harvest.
- ✓ Use shade cloth (30-40%), heavy mulch, and drip irrigation to carry heat-tolerant crops like okra, southern peas, eggplant, and sweet potato through the punishing July-August stretch.
- ✓ Choose short-day onion varieties and plant onion sets/transplants and garlic cloves in fall (Oct-Nov) for late-spring/early-summer bulbing; long-day types will not bulb properly at this latitude.
- ✓ Keep frost cloth ready for the occasional hard freeze: most winter greens and brassicas are unfazed, but a rare 25°F night can damage tender seedlings and citrus, so protect on the few cold nights.
- ✓ Substitute heat-loving leafy greens (Malabar spinach, New Zealand spinach, leaf amaranth) for true spinach and lettuce in summer, since cool-season salads bolt almost instantly once the heat arrives.
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Sign Up FreeFrequently Asked Questions
What can I plant in spring in zone 9?
In zone 9, spring planting includes Tomato, Pepper (Bell & Hot), Eggplant, Tomatillo, Ground Cherry, Cucumber, Zucchini, Summer Squash, and more. See the spring section above for each crop's timing.
What is the last frost date for zone 9?
The average last spring frost date for USDA zone 9 is Feb 28. The first fall frost typically arrives around Dec 5, giving a growing season of approximately 280 days.
When is the first frost in zone 9?
The average first fall frost in USDA zone 9 arrives around Dec 5. That is an average, not a guarantee — the actual first frost varies by up to 2 weeks either way, so watch your local forecast from a few weeks before that date and have row covers ready for tender crops still in the ground.
What can I plant in fall in zone 9?
Fall planting in zone 9 includes Tomato, Bush Bean, Cucumber, Summer Squash, Winter Squash, Lettuce, Spinach, Kale, and more.
How long is the growing season in zone 9?
Zone 9 has an average growing season of 280 days, from the last spring frost around Feb 28 to the first fall frost around Dec 5.
What is the difference between zone 9a and zone 9b?
USDA splits every zone into two half-zones 5°F apart: zone 9a is the cooler half and zone 9b the warmer. The planting dates on this page are zone 9 averages — if you're in 9a, shift spring plantings about a week later and fall plantings about a week earlier; in 9b, shift about a week the other way.
What to plant right now
Month-specific guides for zone 9, hand-tuned to current frost dates and crop windows.
- What to Plant in October: Garlic Month, Cover Crops, and the Southern Fall Garden — What to plant in October: garlic goes in across zones 3-7, cover crops hit their deadline, and zones 8-10 plant the best garden of their year.
Learn more: When to plant vegetables by zone