Zone 9b planting calendar
Very long season; cool-season crops grow best in fall through spring.
Coldest temps25 to 30°F
Avg. last spring frostFeb 15
Avg. first fall frostDec 15
Open the interactive calendar for Zone 9b →
The growing season in Zone 9b
Zone 9b has a coldest-winter range of 25 to 30°F and an average frost-free growing season of roughly 303 days — from the last spring frost around Feb 15 to the first fall frost around Dec 15. 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 15, and the longer-season ones among them (melons, winter squash, full-size tomatoes) are the plants to watch against the 303-day window. Start those indoors on the schedule below so they have time to finish before fall frost returns.
What to plant in Zone 9b
Every crop below is timed to Zone 9b'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 Dec 28–Jan 11 Transplant outdoors Feb 22–Mar 1 |
| Pepper | Start seeds indoors Dec 14–Dec 28 Transplant outdoors Mar 1–Mar 8 |
| Lettuce | Direct sow outdoors Jan 18–Feb 15 Direct sow outdoors Oct 20–Nov 3 |
| Carrot | Direct sow outdoors Jan 25–Mar 1 Direct sow outdoors Oct 6–Oct 20 |
| Bush Bean | Direct sow outdoors Feb 15–Mar 15 |
| Cucumber | Start seeds indoors Jan 25–Feb 1 Transplant outdoors Feb 22–Mar 1 Direct sow outdoors Feb 22–Mar 8 |
| Zucchini | Direct sow outdoors Feb 15–Mar 8 |
| Spinach | Direct sow outdoors Jan 4–Feb 1 Direct sow outdoors Oct 20–Nov 10 |
| Kale | Start seeds indoors Jan 4–Jan 18 Transplant outdoors Feb 1–Feb 15 Direct sow outdoors Feb 1–Mar 1 Direct sow outdoors Sep 22–Oct 20 |
| Pea | Direct sow outdoors Jan 4–Jan 25 |
| Basil | Start seeds indoors Jan 4–Jan 18 Transplant outdoors Feb 22–Mar 8 |
| Cilantro | Direct sow outdoors Jan 25–Feb 22 Direct sow outdoors Oct 20–Nov 10 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors Dec 28–Jan 11 Transplant outdoors Feb 1–Feb 15 Direct sow outdoors Sep 8–Sep 29 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors Dec 21–Jan 4 Transplant outdoors Feb 1–Feb 15 |
| Cauliflower | Start seeds indoors Dec 28–Jan 11 Transplant outdoors Feb 1–Feb 15 |
| Brussels Sprouts | Start seeds indoors Jan 4–Jan 18 Transplant outdoors Feb 8–Feb 22 |
| Onion | Start seeds indoors Dec 7–Dec 21 Transplant outdoors Jan 18–Feb 1 |
| Garlic | Direct sow outdoors Nov 17–Dec 1 |
| Beet | Direct sow outdoors Jan 18–Feb 15 Direct sow outdoors Oct 6–Oct 20 |
| Radish | Direct sow outdoors Jan 18–Mar 1 Direct sow outdoors Oct 20–Nov 17 |
| Swiss Chard | Direct sow outdoors Feb 1–Mar 1 |
| Potato | Direct sow outdoors Feb 1–Mar 1 |
| Sweet Corn | Direct sow outdoors Feb 15–Mar 8 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors Dec 21–Jan 4 Transplant outdoors Mar 1–Mar 8 |
| Pumpkin | Direct sow outdoors Feb 15–Mar 8 |
| Winter Squash | Direct sow outdoors Feb 15–Mar 8 |
| Arugula | Direct sow outdoors Jan 18–Feb 15 Direct sow outdoors Oct 20–Nov 17 |
| Leek | Start seeds indoors Dec 7–Dec 21 Transplant outdoors Jan 18–Feb 1 |
| Turnip | Direct sow outdoors Jan 18–Feb 15 Direct sow outdoors Oct 20–Nov 3 |
| Kohlrabi | Direct sow outdoors Jan 18–Feb 15 Direct sow outdoors Oct 20–Nov 3 |
| Okra | Start seeds indoors Jan 18–Feb 1 Direct sow outdoors Feb 22–Mar 8 |
| Celery | Start seeds indoors Dec 7–Dec 21 Transplant outdoors Feb 8–Feb 22 |
| Collard Greens | Start seeds indoors Jan 4–Jan 18 Transplant outdoors Feb 1–Feb 15 Direct sow outdoors Sep 22–Oct 20 |
| Mustard Greens | Direct sow outdoors Jan 18–Feb 15 Direct sow outdoors Oct 20–Nov 10 |
| Bok Choy | Direct sow outdoors Jan 25–Feb 15 Direct sow outdoors Oct 20–Nov 10 |
| Fennel | Direct sow outdoors Feb 1–Mar 1 Direct sow outdoors Oct 6–Oct 20 |
| Sweet Potato | Transplant outdoors Mar 1–Mar 15 |
| Parsnip | Direct sow outdoors Feb 1–Mar 1 |
| Asparagus | Transplant outdoors Jan 18–Feb 1 |
| Parsley | Start seeds indoors Dec 21–Jan 4 Transplant outdoors Feb 1–Feb 15 Direct sow outdoors Feb 1–Mar 1 |
| Dill | Direct sow outdoors Feb 1–Mar 1 Direct sow outdoors Oct 20–Nov 3 |
| Chives | Start seeds indoors Dec 21–Jan 4 Transplant outdoors Feb 1–Feb 15 |
| Thyme | Start seeds indoors Dec 21–Jan 4 Transplant outdoors Feb 15–Mar 1 |
| Oregano | Start seeds indoors Dec 21–Jan 4 Transplant outdoors Feb 15–Mar 1 |
| Sage | Start seeds indoors Dec 21–Jan 4 Transplant outdoors Feb 15–Mar 1 |
| Rosemary | Start seeds indoors Dec 7–Dec 21 Transplant outdoors Mar 1–Mar 15 |
| Mint | Transplant outdoors Feb 15–Mar 1 |
| Lavender | Start seeds indoors Dec 7–Dec 21 Transplant outdoors Feb 15–Mar 1 |
| Chamomile | Direct sow outdoors Feb 1–Mar 1 |
| Lemon Balm | Start seeds indoors Dec 21–Jan 4 Transplant outdoors Feb 15–Mar 1 |
| Tarragon | Transplant outdoors Feb 15–Mar 1 |
| Strawberry | Transplant outdoors Jan 18–Feb 1 |
| Watermelon | Start seeds indoors Jan 18–Feb 1 Transplant outdoors Mar 1–Mar 8 Direct sow outdoors Feb 22–Mar 8 |
| Cantaloupe | Start seeds indoors Jan 18–Feb 1 Transplant outdoors Mar 1–Mar 8 Direct sow outdoors Feb 22–Mar 8 |
| Ground Cherry | Start seeds indoors Dec 28–Jan 11 Transplant outdoors Feb 22–Mar 1 |
| Blueberry | Transplant outdoors Jan 18–Feb 1 |
| Raspberry | Transplant outdoors Jan 11–Jan 25 |
| Blackberry | Transplant outdoors Jan 11–Jan 25 |
| Rhubarb | Transplant outdoors Jan 11–Jan 25 |
| Currant | Transplant outdoors Jan 4–Jan 25 |
| Gooseberry | Transplant outdoors Jan 4–Jan 25 |
| Marigold | Start seeds indoors Jan 4–Jan 18 Transplant outdoors Feb 22–Mar 1 Direct sow outdoors Feb 15–Mar 1 |
| Zinnia | Start seeds indoors Jan 18–Feb 1 Transplant outdoors Feb 22–Mar 1 Direct sow outdoors Feb 15–Mar 1 |
| Sunflower | Direct sow outdoors Feb 15–Mar 8 |
| Cosmos | Direct sow outdoors Feb 15–Mar 1 |
| Nasturtium | Direct sow outdoors Feb 15–Mar 1 |
| Sweet Pea | Direct sow outdoors Jan 4–Jan 25 |
| Snapdragon | Start seeds indoors Dec 21–Jan 4 Transplant outdoors Feb 1–Feb 15 |
| Pansy | Start seeds indoors Dec 7–Dec 21 Transplant outdoors Jan 18–Feb 1 |
| Dahlia | Start seeds indoors Jan 18–Feb 1 Transplant outdoors Feb 22–Mar 1 |
| Calendula | Direct sow outdoors Feb 1–Mar 1 Direct sow outdoors Oct 20–Nov 3 |
| Poppy | Direct sow outdoors Jan 4–Feb 1 |
| Cornflower | Direct sow outdoors Jan 18–Feb 8 Direct sow outdoors Oct 20–Nov 3 |
| Aster | Start seeds indoors Jan 4–Jan 18 Transplant outdoors Feb 15–Mar 1 |
| Celosia | Start seeds indoors Jan 4–Jan 18 Transplant outdoors Feb 22–Mar 1 |
| Sweet Alyssum | Direct sow outdoors Feb 1–Mar 1 |
| Morning Glory | Direct sow outdoors Feb 15–Mar 1 |