USDA Zone 9a Planting Calendar (2026)
Zone 9a (20 to 25°F) has an average last spring frost on Feb 25 and first fall frost on Dec 5 — about 283 growing days. Typical areas: Houston TX, Jacksonville FL.
How to use the zone 9a planting calendar
Every planting date on this page is calculated from zone 9a's average frost dates. Because your last spring frost lands around Feb 25 and your first fall frost around Dec 5, you have roughly 283 frost-free days to work with — a long growing season. The table below lists, for each of 20 common vegetables, when to start seeds indoors, when to sow or transplant outdoors, and when you can expect your first harvest.
Frost dates are averages, not guarantees. In a cold year the last frost can arrive 1-2 weeks later, so keep row covers handy for tender seedlings in Feb. Click any vegetable name to open a detailed zone 9a guide with spacing, companions, container tips and troubleshooting.
Cool-season crops for zone 9a
These tolerate light frost and go out first, 2-4 weeks before your Feb 25 last frost, and again in late summer for a fall crop: lettuce, carrot, broccoli, spinach, kale, onion, garlic, potato, peas, radish, beet, cabbage, cauliflower.
Warm-season crops for zone 9a
These need warm soil and frost-free weather, so plant them after Feb 25: tomato, pepper, cucumber, corn, bush beans, summer squash, zucchini. In a long season, start the slowest ones indoors to be sure they ripen before Dec.
| Vegetable | Start Indoors | Sow / Transplant | Harvest From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beet | — | Jan 28 | Mar 24 |
| 🥦 Broccoli | Jan 21 | Feb 11 | Apr 17 |
| 🫘 Bush Beans | — | Mar 4 | Apr 28 |
| 🥬 Cabbage | Jan 14 | Feb 11 | May 2 |
| 🥕 Carrot | — | Feb 4 | Apr 15 |
| 🥦 Cauliflower | Jan 14 | Feb 11 | Apr 27 |
| 🌽 Corn | — | Mar 11 | May 30 |
| 🥒 Cucumber | Feb 4 | Mar 11 | May 5 |
| 🧄 Garlic | — | Aug 12 | Apr 9 |
| 🥬 Kale | Jan 21 | Feb 4 | Mar 31 |
| 🥬 Lettuce | Jan 28 | Feb 4 | Mar 21 |
| 🧅 Onion | Dec 17 | Jan 28 | May 8 |
| 🟢 Peas | — | Jan 14 | Mar 15 |
| 🫑 Pepper | Dec 31 | Mar 11 | May 20 |
| 🥔 Potato | — | Feb 11 | May 12 |
| 🌶️ Radish | — | Jan 28 | Feb 25 |
| 🍃 Spinach | — | Jan 21 | Mar 2 |
| 🎃 Summer Squash | Feb 4 | Mar 4 | Apr 23 |
| 🍅 Tomato | Jan 14 | Mar 4 | May 18 |
| 🥒 Zucchini | Feb 4 | Mar 4 | Apr 23 |
Spring, summer and fall planting in zone 9a
Spring (Feb): As soon as the soil can be worked, direct sow hardy cool-season crops and set out frost-tolerant transplants. This is your window for peas, lettuce, spinach and the brassicas before summer heat arrives.
Early summer (after Feb 25): Once frost danger passes and soil warms past 60°F, transplant tomatoes, peppers and squash and direct sow beans and cucumbers. This is the heart of the zone 9a growing season.
Late summer to fall (before Dec 5):Sow a second round of quick cool-season crops for a fall harvest. Count back each crop's days-to-harvest from Dec 5 to find the latest safe sowing date, and use row covers to stretch the season a few extra weeks.
Zone 9a planting FAQ
What planting zone is Houston TX?
Areas like Houston TX, Jacksonville FL fall in USDA hardiness zone 9a, defined by an average annual minimum temperature of 20 to 25°F. Your average last spring frost is around Feb 25 and your first fall frost around Dec 5.
When is the last frost in zone 9a?
The average last spring frost in zone 9a is around Feb 25. Wait until after this date before transplanting warm-season crops like tomatoes, peppers and squash. Cool-season crops can go out 2-4 weeks earlier because they tolerate light frost.
How long is the growing season in zone 9a?
Zone 9a has roughly 283 frost-free days between the last spring frost (Feb 25) and first fall frost (Dec 5). That is a long season — long enough for two or even three successive harvests of fast crops.
What vegetables grow best in zone 9a?
Reliable choices for zone 9a include cool-season crops such as lettuce, carrot, broccoli, spinach planted in early spring, and warm-season crops such as tomato, pepper, cucumber, corn planted after the last frost. See the full table below for exact dates.
Can I grow a fall garden in zone 9a?
Yes. With a first frost around Dec 5, you can plant a second round of quick cool-season crops in mid to late summer. Count back the days-to-harvest from Dec 5 to find your fall planting date.
When should I start seeds indoors in zone 9a?
Most warm-season seedlings are started indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost — that means roughly Feb for zone 9a. Tomatoes, peppers and eggplant benefit most from an indoor head start in this zone.