Planting Zone 9b
Min winter temp 25 to 30°F · last frost ~February · first frost ~December
In Zone 9b, the average last spring frost is around February and the first fall frost around December, about a 298-day growing season. Start tender crops indoors before the last frost and move them out once it passes.
Zone 9b planting schedule and calendar
| Crop | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Peppers | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Cucumbers | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Lettuce | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Zucchini | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Carrots | ● | ● | ||||||||||
| Beans (bush) | ● | ● | ||||||||||
| Peas | ● | ● | ||||||||||
| Broccoli | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Spinach | ● | ● | ||||||||||
| Kale | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Onions | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Garlic | ||||||||||||
| Potatoes | ● | ● | ||||||||||
| Squash (winter) | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Corn | ● | ● | ||||||||||
| Radishes | ● | ● | ||||||||||
| Beets | ● | ● | ||||||||||
| Eggplant | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Basil | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Cilantro | ● | ● | ||||||||||
| Parsley | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Pumpkins | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Sunflowers | ● | ● |
What to plant this fall in Zone 9b
Fall planting in Zone 9b is arithmetic, not guesswork. The average first frost lands around December 10, so a crop needs its days to maturity, plus about two weeks for the slower growth of shortening days, to fit before then. Hardy crops get some of that back because they keep going past a light frost.
| Crop | Sow by | Fall harvest | Days to harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radishes | Nov 19 | Dec 17 | ~28 |
| Cilantro | Oct 26 | Dec 10 | ~45 |
| Kale | Oct 25 | Dec 24 | ~60 |
| Beets | Oct 23 | Dec 17 | ~55 |
| Lettuce | Oct 21 | Dec 10 | ~50 |
| Carrots | Oct 15 | Dec 24 | ~70 |
| Broccoli | Oct 13 | Dec 17 | ~65 |
| Peas | Oct 11 | Dec 10 | ~60 |
| Zucchini | Sep 18 | Nov 12 | ~55 |
| Beans (bush) | Sep 18 | Nov 12 | ~55 |
| Cucumbers | Sep 13 | Nov 12 | ~60 |
| Potatoes | Sep 7 | Dec 6 | ~90 |
| Tomatoes | Aug 29 | Nov 12 | ~75 |
| Peppers | Aug 24 | Nov 12 | ~80 |
| Eggplant | Aug 19 | Nov 12 | ~85 |
Planted in fall to stand through a Zone 9b winter: garlic (Dec 10 to Jan 7) , onions (Oct 29 to Nov 19) , spinach (Oct 29 to Nov 12) , parsley (Oct 29 to Nov 12) .
More on the method: the fall planting calendar by zone, when to plant garlic and how to stretch your first frost date.
When to plant popular crops in Zone 9b
Tomatoes
~75 days
When to plant
Peppers
~80 days
When to plant
Cucumbers
~60 days
When to plant
Lettuce
~50 days
When to plantCities in Zone 9b, with their own local frost dates: Phoenix, AZ frost dates .
Seasonal reading for Zone 9b
- What to plant in October by zone
The October sowing and planting list for Zone 9b.
- What to plant in November by zone
What still goes in the ground in November in Zone 9b.
- Cold frame gardening by zone
How many weeks a cold frame adds to the Zone 9b season, and what to grow in it.
- October garden checklist
The jobs to finish before the first hard freeze in Zone 9b.
- Winter sowing guide
Winter sowing dates for Zone 9b.
- When to start seeds indoors by zone
Indoor seed-starting dates counted from the Zone 9b last frost.
- What changed in the 2023 USDA zone map
Whether the 2023 USDA map moved Zone 9b, and what that changes.
- Companion planting chart
Which crops to plant together once you know your dates.
Nearby zones
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Zone 9b?
On average, the last spring frost in Zone 9b is around February; the first fall frost is around December.
What can I grow in Zone 9b?
Nearly all common vegetables and herbs grow in Zone 9b; the difference is timing. Use the planting calendar above, calculated from Zone 9b frost dates.
What can I plant in the fall in Zone 9b?
radishes (sow by Nov 19), cilantro (sow by Oct 26), kale (sow by Oct 25), beets (sow by Oct 23), lettuce (sow by Oct 21), carrots (sow by Oct 15). Each date is counted back from the Zone 9b average first frost around December 10.
How long is the growing season in Zone 9b?
About 298 days between the average last spring and first fall frost.