Zone 9 Planting Guide: When to Plant Vegetables in USDA Zone 9
USDA hardiness zone 9 (9a and 9b) covers places where the coldest winter night averages 20 to 30°F. This guide times seed-starting, transplanting, and fall planting for a typical zone 9 last frost of Feb 23 and first fall frost of Dec 1. Fall through spring is prime vegetable season; plant tomatoes early so they fruit before peak heat.
About these dates: Timings are counted from your average last spring frost date, which is only an average — a frost can still occur after it. Dates vary within a state by elevation, distance from water, and microclimate. Look up the frost date for your ZIP code (your state Cooperative Extension office or NOAA climate normals are good sources) and adjust for the current season’s weather and soil temperature.
Zone 9 frost dates
| Earliest 10% of ZIPs | Typical (median) | Latest 10% of ZIPs | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last spring frost (32°F) | Jan 23 | Feb 23 | Mar 15 |
| First fall frost (32°F) | Nov 6 | Dec 1 | Dec 20 |
Frost dates: medians of the nearest NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 Climate Normals station (32°F, 50% probability) for each ZIP code in zone 9 (3,241 ZIPs). Zones: USDA 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP data, PRISM Climate Group (Oregon State University); this is a summary, not the official USDA map. Your local dates can differ by weeks — use the ZIP planner or frost-date tables.
What to plant each month in zone 9
| Month | What to plant (typical zone 9 timing) |
|---|---|
| January | Direct sow: lettuce, peas, radishes, spinach Start indoors: basil, marigolds, zinnias Plant sets/transplants: onions Plant seed potatoes: potatoes Transplant: broccoli, cabbage, kale |
| February | Direct sow / transplant: marigolds, zinnias |
| March | Transplant: basil, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes Direct sow: beans, cucumbers, pumpkins, squash, sweet corn |
| September | Fall transplant: broccoli, cabbage Fall sow: kale |
| October | Fall sow: lettuce, radishes, spinach |
| November | Fall plant bulbs: daffodils, tulips |
| December | Start indoors: broccoli, cabbage, eggplant, kale, peppers, tomatoes Fall plant cloves: garlic |
Zone 9 planting calendar (23 crops)
Dates assume the typical zone 9 frost dates above; shift them with your own. Timing relative to frost:
| Plant | Task | Typical window |
|---|---|---|
| Basil | Start indoors | Jan 12 – Jan 26 |
| Basil | Transplant | Mar 2 – Mar 9 |
| Beans | Direct sow | Mar 2 – Mar 9 |
| Broccoli | Start indoors | Dec 15 – Dec 29 |
| Broccoli | Transplant | Jan 26 – Feb 9 |
| Broccoli | Fall transplant | Sep 8 – Sep 22 |
| Cabbage | Start indoors | Dec 15 – Dec 29 |
| Cabbage | Transplant | Jan 26 – Feb 9 |
| Cabbage | Fall transplant | Sep 8 – Sep 22 |
| Cucumbers | Direct sow | Mar 2 – Mar 9 |
| Daffodils | Fall plant bulbs | Nov 3 – Dec 15 |
| Eggplant | Start indoors | Dec 15 – Dec 29 |
| Eggplant | Transplant | Mar 9 – Mar 16 |
| Garlic | Fall plant cloves | Dec 1 – Dec 29 |
| Kale | Start indoors | Dec 15 – Dec 29 |
| Kale | Transplant | Jan 26 – Feb 9 |
| Kale | Fall sow | Sep 22 – Oct 6 |
| Lettuce | Direct sow | Jan 26 – Feb 9 |
| Lettuce | Fall sow | Oct 6 – Oct 20 |
| Marigolds | Start indoors | Jan 12 – Jan 26 |
| Marigolds | Direct sow / transplant | Feb 23 – Mar 2 |
| Onions | Plant sets/transplants | Jan 26 – Feb 9 |
| Peas | Direct sow | Jan 12 – Jan 26 |
| Peppers | Start indoors | Dec 15 – Dec 29 |
| Peppers | Transplant | Mar 9 – Mar 16 |
| Potatoes | Plant seed potatoes | Jan 26 – Feb 9 |
| Pumpkins | Direct sow | Mar 2 – Mar 16 |
| Radishes | Direct sow | Jan 19 – Feb 9 |
| Radishes | Fall sow | Oct 20 – Nov 3 |
| Spinach | Direct sow | Jan 12 – Jan 26 |
| Spinach | Fall sow | Oct 6 – Oct 20 |
| Squash | Direct sow | Mar 2 – Mar 9 |
| Sweet corn | Direct sow | Mar 2 – Mar 9 |
| Tomatoes | Start indoors | Dec 29 – Jan 12 |
| Tomatoes | Transplant | Mar 2 – Mar 9 |
| Tulips | Fall plant bulbs | Nov 17 – Dec 29 |
| Zinnias | Start indoors | Jan 12 – Jan 26 |
| Zinnias | Direct sow / transplant | Feb 23 – Mar 9 |
Cool-season vs warm-season crops in zone 9
- Cool-season (peas, spinach, lettuce, radishes, kale, onions, potatoes, broccoli, cabbage, garlic): tolerate light frost; plant in early spring and again late summer–fall.
- Warm-season (tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, squash, pumpkins, basil, marigolds, zinnias): frost-tender; plant after the last frost once soil warms.
States with large zone 9 areas
Louisiana · Arizona · Nevada · California · Florida · Texas · Oregon · Georgia · Washington · South Carolina · Alabama
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in zone 9?
Across ZIP codes in USDA zone 9, the median last spring frost (32°F) at the nearest NOAA station is about Feb 23, with most falling between Jan 23 and Mar 15. Hardiness zones measure winter lows, not frost dates, so look up your ZIP for a local date.
What are zone 9 winter temperatures?
USDA zone 9 means an average annual extreme minimum temperature of 20 to 30°F (1991–2020), split into 9a (colder half) and 9b.
When should I plant tomatoes in zone 9?
Transplant tomatoes about 1–2 weeks after your last frost (typical zone 9: around Mar 2), once nights stay above 50°F. Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost.
Which states are in zone 9?
Large parts of Louisiana, Arizona, Nevada, California, Florida, Texas, Oregon, Georgia fall in zone 9 on the 2023 USDA map. Check your ZIP code, since zones vary within states.
Other zone guides
Zone 3 · Zone 4 · Zone 5 · Zone 6 · Zone 7 · Zone 8 · Zone 10 · Zone 11 · Zone map · Frost dates