Plant Zucchini in Zone 13a
Seed-starting, transplant & harvest dates for USDA Zone 13a
Zone 13a is effectively frost-free, so the Zone 13a calendar for zucchini is set by heat, not cold. There is no last frost to count backward from and no first frost to beat, which means the question is not whether zucchini will finish but whether it will sit through the hottest stretch of the year. Zucchini is a tender crop needing about 55 days from sowing to harvest.
Planting zucchini for a fall harvest in Zone 13a
Zone 13a has no meaningful frost, so the fall and winter months are the easiest time of year to grow zucchini here. Sow from about October 1 onward.
One midsummer sowing of zucchini replaces the spring plants right as squash vine borer takes them out.
Fall dates are counted backward from the Zone 13a average first frost, not forward from a sowing date. See the fall planting calendar by zone for the full method.
Spring vs fall zucchini in Zone 13a
| Planting | Sow or start | In the ground | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | Feb 1 | Feb 1 | Mar 28 |
| Fall | Oct onward | Oct onward | Winter |
Zucchini in nearby zones
Further reading on zucchini
- When to start seeds indoors by zone
Indoor start dates for zucchini, counted back from your last frost.
- Hardening off seedlings: a schedule
A day by day plan for moving zucchini seedlings outdoors.
- Best grow lights for seed starting
What light seedlings actually need, and which fixtures deliver it.
Other crops in Zone 13a
Frequently asked questions
When should I start zucchini in Zone 13a?
Direct sow outdoors around Feb 1.
Can I direct sow zucchini in Zone 13a?
Yes, direct sow around Feb 1.
Can I plant zucchini in the fall in Zone 13a?
Zone 13a has no meaningful frost, so the fall and winter months are the easiest time of year to grow zucchini here. Sow from about October 1 onward.
Will zucchini survive frost in Zone 13a?
No. Zucchini is a tender crop and a single light frost ends it, so every Zone 13a planting has to finish before the average first frost (Zone 13a rarely sees one).