Zone 9b planting calendar

In zone 9b the last spring frost usually comes around February 1 and the first fall frost around December 15: about 323 frost-free days. Here is what to do each month.

Typical frost dates

Last spring frost: February 1 Middle half of the zone: Jan 24 – Feb 14. Over by Mar 5 in 9 of 10 years.
First fall frost: December 15 Middle half of the zone: Dec 6 – Dec 25. After Nov 26 in 9 of 10 years.
Frost-free season: about 323 days
Coldest winter nights: 25 to 30 °F
ZIP codes in the zone: 2,085

Most of its weather stations are in California, Texas, Florida, Arizona, Louisiana and Nevada and 2 more.

Places in zone 9b

Zones measure winter cold, so frost dates still vary from place to place. A few weather stations across the zone:

Median frost dates at weather stations in zone 9b
Place	State	Last spring frost	First fall frost	Frost-free days
Gila Bend	Arizona	Jan 23	Dec 11	323
San Luis	California	Jan 27	Dec 11	323
Bruni	Texas	Jan 30	Dec 18	323
Callville Bay	Nevada	Jan 31	Dec 11	317
Dauphin Island	Alabama	Jan 31	Jan 6 (the next year)	340
Hackberry	Louisiana	Feb 3	Dec 24	323
Arcadia	Florida	Feb 7	Jan 4 (the next year)	324
Gold Beach	Oregon	Feb 16	Dec 16	314

Month by month in zone 9b

Every job for all 60 crops, in the month it starts.

January

Sow outside

Shallots (shallot sets) Jan 4–18
Collard greens Jan 4–25
Kohlrabi Jan 4–25
Turnips Jan 4–25
Asparagus (asparagus crowns) Jan 4–25
Rhubarb (rhubarb crowns) Jan 4–25
Mustard greens Jan 4 – Feb 1
Potatoes (seed potatoes) Jan 4 – Feb 1
Lettuce Jan 4 – Feb 15
Green onions Jan 4 – Feb 15
Bok choy Jan 11 – Feb 1
Parsnips Jan 11 – Feb 8
Carrots Jan 11 – Feb 15
Beets Jan 11 – Feb 15
Cilantro Jan 18 – Feb 15
Swiss chard Jan 18 – Feb 22
Dill Jan 25 – Feb 22

Plant out

Cabbage Jan 4–18
Onions Jan 4–18
Strawberries (strawberry plants) Jan 4–25
Broccoli Jan 11 – Feb 1
Leeks Jan 11 – Feb 8
Chives Jan 11 – Feb 8
Cauliflower Jan 18 – Feb 1
Parsley Jan 18 – Feb 15
Thyme Jan 18 – Feb 15
Mint Jan 18 – Feb 15
Oregano Jan 25 – Feb 15
Sage Jan 25 – Feb 15

Start picking

Asparagus Jan 18 – Mar 15
Radishes Jan 22 – Mar 10
Arugula Jan 27 – Mar 6
Spinach Jan 30 – Mar 9

February

Sow outside

Zucchini Feb 15 – Mar 1
Watermelons Feb 15 – Mar 1
Cantaloupes Feb 15 – Mar 1
Zinnias Feb 15 – Mar 1
Nasturtiums Feb 15 – Mar 1
Cosmos Feb 15 – Mar 1
Cucumbers Feb 15 – Mar 8
Winter squash Feb 15 – Mar 8
Pumpkins Feb 15 – Mar 8
Green beans Feb 15 – Mar 8
Sweet corn Feb 15 – Mar 8
Okra Feb 15 – Mar 8
Sunflowers Feb 15 – Mar 15

Plant out

Rosemary Feb 1–22
Lavender Feb 1–22
Celery Feb 8–22
Tomatoes Feb 15 – Mar 1
Peppers Feb 15 – Mar 1
Hot peppers Feb 15 – Mar 1
Eggplant Feb 15 – Mar 1
Tomatillos Feb 15 – Mar 1
Basil Feb 15 – Mar 1
Marigolds Feb 15 – Mar 1
Sweet potatoes (sweet potato slips) Feb 22 – Mar 15

Start picking

Rhubarb Feb 1 – Mar 29
Mustard greens Feb 3 – Mar 18
Chives Feb 10 – Jul 28
Turnips Feb 13 – Mar 26
Lettuce Feb 13 – Apr 16
Peas Feb 14 – Mar 22
Kale Feb 14 – Jul 18
Mint Feb 17 – Aug 4
Kohlrabi Feb 18 – Mar 26
Bok choy Feb 20 – Mar 28
Collard greens Feb 28 – Jun 20

March

Start picking

Strawberries Mar 1–29
Beets Mar 2 – Apr 16
Cilantro Mar 4 – Apr 26
Parsley Mar 4 – Aug 19
Thyme Mar 4 – Aug 19
Cabbage Mar 5 – Apr 18
Green onions Mar 5 – May 1
Dill Mar 6 – May 1
Broccoli Mar 7 – Apr 22
Swiss chard Mar 9 – Aug 24
Oregano Mar 11 – Jul 29
Carrots Mar 12 – May 6
Cauliflower Mar 14 – Apr 22
Basil Mar 17 – Jul 21
Marigolds (in bloom) Mar 17 – Aug 4
Potatoes Mar 20 – Jun 1
Sage Mar 26 – Aug 27

April

Start picking

Zucchini Apr 1 – Jun 10
Nasturtiums (in bloom) Apr 1 – Jul 22
Lavender Apr 2 – May 28
Rosemary Apr 2 – Sep 17
Shallots Apr 4 – May 8
Onions Apr 4 – May 18
Garlic Apr 5–26
Green beans Apr 6 – May 18
Cucumbers Apr 6 – Jun 1
Okra Apr 6 – Jul 13
Leeks Apr 11 – Aug 29
Peppers Apr 16 – Jul 23
Tomatoes Apr 16 – Aug 6
Zinnias (in bloom) Apr 16 – Aug 6
Cosmos (in bloom) Apr 16 – Aug 6
Sweet corn Apr 21 – Jun 6
Tomatillos Apr 21 – Jun 30
Eggplant Apr 21 – Jul 14
Cantaloupes Apr 26 – May 31
Watermelons Apr 26 – Jun 9
Sunflowers (in bloom) Apr 26 – Jun 23
Hot peppers Apr 26 – Aug 2

May

Start picking

Celery May 4 – Jun 29
Winter squash May 6 – Jul 29
Pumpkins May 16 – Jul 25
Sweet potatoes May 23 – Jul 18

June

No new jobs this month; water deeply and mulch against the heat.

July

Sow for fall

Brussels sprouts Jul 21 – Aug 11

August

Sow for fall

Cabbage Aug 18 – Sep 15
Cauliflower Aug 25 – Sep 15
Broccoli Aug 25 – Sep 22

September

Sow for fall

Cucumbers Sep 15–29
Green beans Sep 15–29
Zucchini Sep 22 – Oct 6
Peas Sep 22 – Oct 6
Carrots Sep 22 – Oct 13
Beets Sep 22 – Oct 13
Kale Sep 22 – Oct 20
Collard greens Sep 22 – Oct 20
Green onions Sep 29 – Oct 13

October

Sow for fall

Cilantro Oct 6–20
Lettuce Oct 6–27
Kohlrabi Oct 6–27
Bok choy Oct 6–27
Spinach Oct 6 – Nov 3
Turnips Oct 6 – Nov 3
Arugula Oct 13 – Nov 10
Mustard greens Oct 13 – Nov 10
Radishes Oct 27 – Nov 17

November

Start indoors

Leeks Nov 9–23
Celery Nov 9–23
Peppers Nov 23 – Dec 7
Hot peppers Nov 23 – Dec 7
Eggplant Nov 23 – Dec 7
Onions Nov 23 – Dec 7
Parsley Nov 23 – Dec 7

Start picking

Cucumbers Nov 4 – Dec 15
Green beans Nov 4 – Dec 15
Zucchini Nov 6 – Dec 15
Beets Nov 11 – Dec 16
Arugula Nov 12 – Dec 20
Mustard greens Nov 12 – Dec 25
Cabbage Nov 14 – Jan 11
Bok choy Nov 15 – Dec 21
Spinach Nov 15 – Dec 23
Lettuce Nov 15 – Dec 27
Turnips Nov 15 – Jan 2
Peas Nov 16 – Dec 15
Cauliflower Nov 16 – Dec 29
Broccoli Nov 16 – Jan 8
Kale Nov 16 – Jan 26
Collard greens Nov 16 – Jan 26
Brussels sprouts Nov 18 – Jan 26
Kohlrabi Nov 20 – Dec 26
Cilantro Nov 20 – Dec 29
Radishes Nov 21 – Dec 17
Carrots Nov 21 – Jan 2
Green onions Nov 28 – Jan 9

December

Start indoors

Cabbage Dec 7–21
Broccoli Dec 7–21
Cauliflower Dec 7–21
Chives Dec 7–21
Tomatoes Dec 14–28
Tomatillos Dec 14–28
Basil Dec 21 – Jan 4
Marigolds Dec 28 – Jan 11

Sow outside

Peas Dec 21 – Jan 11
Spinach Dec 21 – Jan 18
Kale Dec 21 – Jan 18
Arugula Dec 28 – Jan 25
Radishes Dec 28 – Feb 8

Sow for fall

Garlic (garlic cloves) Dec 1 – Jan 5

Start picking

Parsnips Dec 1 – Jan 26