Zone 9a planting calendar
Nearly year-round growing; heat, not cold, is the limiting factor in summer.
Coldest temps20 to 25°F
Avg. last spring frostFeb 28
Avg. first fall frostDec 5
Open the interactive calendar for Zone 9a →
The growing season in Zone 9a
Zone 9a has a coldest-winter range of 20 to 25°F and an average frost-free growing season of roughly 280 days — from the last spring frost around Feb 28 to the first fall frost around Dec 5. That is a very long, near year-round season — heat, not frost, is usually the limiting factor here, so time cool-season crops for the milder shoulders of the year.
The practical rhythm here is simple. Cool-season crops — peas, spinach, lettuce, radishes, and the brassicas — can go out around the last-frost date and again for a fall crop. Frost-tender crops like tomatoes, peppers, squash, and basil wait until after Feb 28, and the longer-season ones among them (melons, winter squash, full-size tomatoes) are the plants to watch against the 280-day window. Start those indoors on the schedule below so they have time to finish before fall frost returns.
What to plant in Zone 9a
Every crop below is timed to Zone 9a's frost dates. Follow a crop link for its full growing profile across all zones, or open the interactive calendar for the month-by-month view.
| Crop | When to plant |
|---|---|
| Tomato | Start seeds indoors Jan 10–Jan 24 Transplant outdoors Mar 7–Mar 14 |
| Pepper | Start seeds indoors Dec 27–Jan 10 Transplant outdoors Mar 14–Mar 21 |
| Lettuce | Direct sow outdoors Jan 31–Feb 28 Direct sow outdoors Oct 10–Oct 24 |
| Carrot | Direct sow outdoors Feb 7–Mar 14 Direct sow outdoors Sep 26–Oct 10 |
| Bush Bean | Direct sow outdoors Feb 28–Mar 28 |
| Cucumber | Start seeds indoors Feb 7–Feb 14 Transplant outdoors Mar 7–Mar 14 Direct sow outdoors Mar 7–Mar 21 |
| Zucchini | Direct sow outdoors Feb 28–Mar 21 |
| Spinach | Direct sow outdoors Jan 17–Feb 14 Direct sow outdoors Oct 10–Oct 31 |
| Kale | Start seeds indoors Jan 17–Jan 31 Transplant outdoors Feb 14–Feb 28 Direct sow outdoors Feb 14–Mar 14 Direct sow outdoors Sep 12–Oct 10 |
| Pea | Direct sow outdoors Jan 17–Feb 7 |
| Basil | Start seeds indoors Jan 17–Jan 31 Transplant outdoors Mar 7–Mar 21 |
| Cilantro | Direct sow outdoors Feb 7–Mar 7 Direct sow outdoors Oct 10–Oct 31 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors Jan 10–Jan 24 Transplant outdoors Feb 14–Feb 28 Direct sow outdoors Aug 29–Sep 19 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors Jan 3–Jan 17 Transplant outdoors Feb 14–Feb 28 |
| Cauliflower | Start seeds indoors Jan 10–Jan 24 Transplant outdoors Feb 14–Feb 28 |
| Brussels Sprouts | Start seeds indoors Jan 17–Jan 31 Transplant outdoors Feb 21–Mar 7 |
| Onion | Start seeds indoors Dec 20–Jan 3 Transplant outdoors Jan 31–Feb 14 |
| Garlic | Direct sow outdoors Nov 7–Nov 21 |
| Beet | Direct sow outdoors Jan 31–Feb 28 Direct sow outdoors Sep 26–Oct 10 |
| Radish | Direct sow outdoors Jan 31–Mar 14 Direct sow outdoors Oct 10–Nov 7 |
| Swiss Chard | Direct sow outdoors Feb 14–Mar 14 |
| Potato | Direct sow outdoors Feb 14–Mar 14 |
| Sweet Corn | Direct sow outdoors Feb 28–Mar 21 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors Jan 3–Jan 17 Transplant outdoors Mar 14–Mar 21 |
| Pumpkin | Direct sow outdoors Feb 28–Mar 21 |
| Winter Squash | Direct sow outdoors Feb 28–Mar 21 |
| Arugula | Direct sow outdoors Jan 31–Feb 28 Direct sow outdoors Oct 10–Nov 7 |
| Leek | Start seeds indoors Dec 20–Jan 3 Transplant outdoors Jan 31–Feb 14 |
| Turnip | Direct sow outdoors Jan 31–Feb 28 Direct sow outdoors Oct 10–Oct 24 |
| Kohlrabi | Direct sow outdoors Jan 31–Feb 28 Direct sow outdoors Oct 10–Oct 24 |
| Okra | Start seeds indoors Jan 31–Feb 14 Direct sow outdoors Mar 7–Mar 21 |
| Celery | Start seeds indoors Dec 20–Jan 3 Transplant outdoors Feb 21–Mar 7 |
| Collard Greens | Start seeds indoors Jan 17–Jan 31 Transplant outdoors Feb 14–Feb 28 Direct sow outdoors Sep 12–Oct 10 |
| Mustard Greens | Direct sow outdoors Jan 31–Feb 28 Direct sow outdoors Oct 10–Oct 31 |
| Bok Choy | Direct sow outdoors Feb 7–Feb 28 Direct sow outdoors Oct 10–Oct 31 |
| Fennel | Direct sow outdoors Feb 14–Mar 14 Direct sow outdoors Sep 26–Oct 10 |
| Sweet Potato | Transplant outdoors Mar 14–Mar 28 |
| Parsnip | Direct sow outdoors Feb 14–Mar 14 |
| Asparagus | Transplant outdoors Jan 31–Feb 14 |
| Parsley | Start seeds indoors Jan 3–Jan 17 Transplant outdoors Feb 14–Feb 28 Direct sow outdoors Feb 14–Mar 14 |
| Dill | Direct sow outdoors Feb 14–Mar 14 Direct sow outdoors Oct 10–Oct 24 |
| Chives | Start seeds indoors Jan 3–Jan 17 Transplant outdoors Feb 14–Feb 28 |
| Thyme | Start seeds indoors Jan 3–Jan 17 Transplant outdoors Feb 28–Mar 14 |
| Oregano | Start seeds indoors Jan 3–Jan 17 Transplant outdoors Feb 28–Mar 14 |
| Sage | Start seeds indoors Jan 3–Jan 17 Transplant outdoors Feb 28–Mar 14 |
| Rosemary | Start seeds indoors Dec 20–Jan 3 Transplant outdoors Mar 14–Mar 28 |
| Mint | Transplant outdoors Feb 28–Mar 14 |
| Lavender | Start seeds indoors Dec 20–Jan 3 Transplant outdoors Feb 28–Mar 14 |
| Chamomile | Direct sow outdoors Feb 14–Mar 14 |
| Lemon Balm | Start seeds indoors Jan 3–Jan 17 Transplant outdoors Feb 28–Mar 14 |
| Tarragon | Transplant outdoors Feb 28–Mar 14 |
| Strawberry | Transplant outdoors Jan 31–Feb 14 |
| Watermelon | Start seeds indoors Jan 31–Feb 14 Transplant outdoors Mar 14–Mar 21 Direct sow outdoors Mar 7–Mar 21 |
| Cantaloupe | Start seeds indoors Jan 31–Feb 14 Transplant outdoors Mar 14–Mar 21 Direct sow outdoors Mar 7–Mar 21 |
| Ground Cherry | Start seeds indoors Jan 10–Jan 24 Transplant outdoors Mar 7–Mar 14 |
| Blueberry | Transplant outdoors Jan 31–Feb 14 |
| Raspberry | Transplant outdoors Jan 24–Feb 7 |
| Blackberry | Transplant outdoors Jan 24–Feb 7 |
| Rhubarb | Transplant outdoors Jan 24–Feb 7 |
| Currant | Transplant outdoors Jan 17–Feb 7 |
| Gooseberry | Transplant outdoors Jan 17–Feb 7 |
| Marigold | Start seeds indoors Jan 17–Jan 31 Transplant outdoors Mar 7–Mar 14 Direct sow outdoors Feb 28–Mar 14 |
| Zinnia | Start seeds indoors Jan 31–Feb 14 Transplant outdoors Mar 7–Mar 14 Direct sow outdoors Feb 28–Mar 14 |
| Sunflower | Direct sow outdoors Feb 28–Mar 21 |
| Cosmos | Direct sow outdoors Feb 28–Mar 14 |
| Nasturtium | Direct sow outdoors Feb 28–Mar 14 |
| Sweet Pea | Direct sow outdoors Jan 17–Feb 7 |
| Snapdragon | Start seeds indoors Jan 3–Jan 17 Transplant outdoors Feb 14–Feb 28 |
| Pansy | Start seeds indoors Dec 20–Jan 3 Transplant outdoors Jan 31–Feb 14 |
| Dahlia | Start seeds indoors Jan 31–Feb 14 Transplant outdoors Mar 7–Mar 14 |
| Calendula | Direct sow outdoors Feb 14–Mar 14 Direct sow outdoors Oct 10–Oct 24 |
| Poppy | Direct sow outdoors Jan 17–Feb 14 |
| Cornflower | Direct sow outdoors Jan 31–Feb 21 Direct sow outdoors Oct 10–Oct 24 |
| Aster | Start seeds indoors Jan 17–Jan 31 Transplant outdoors Feb 28–Mar 14 |
| Celosia | Start seeds indoors Jan 17–Jan 31 Transplant outdoors Mar 7–Mar 14 |
| Sweet Alyssum | Direct sow outdoors Feb 14–Mar 14 |
| Morning Glory | Direct sow outdoors Feb 28–Mar 14 |