USDA Zone 9b Planting Calendar (2026)
Zone 9b (25 to 30°F) has an average last spring frost on Feb 10 and first fall frost on Dec 15 — about 308 growing days. Typical areas: Orlando FL, Tucson AZ.
How to use the zone 9b planting calendar
Every planting date on this page is calculated from zone 9b's average frost dates. Because your last spring frost lands around Feb 10 and your first fall frost around Dec 15, you have roughly 308 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 9b guide with spacing, companions, container tips and troubleshooting.
Cool-season crops for zone 9b
These tolerate light frost and go out first, 2-4 weeks before your Feb 10 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 9b
These need warm soil and frost-free weather, so plant them after Feb 10: 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 13 | Mar 9 |
| 🥦 Broccoli | Jan 6 | Jan 27 | Apr 2 |
| 🫘 Bush Beans | — | Feb 17 | Apr 13 |
| 🥬 Cabbage | Dec 30 | Jan 27 | Apr 17 |
| 🥕 Carrot | — | Jan 20 | Mar 31 |
| 🥦 Cauliflower | Dec 30 | Jan 27 | Apr 12 |
| 🌽 Corn | — | Feb 24 | May 15 |
| 🥒 Cucumber | Jan 20 | Feb 24 | Apr 20 |
| 🧄 Garlic | — | Jul 28 | Mar 25 |
| 🥬 Kale | Jan 6 | Jan 20 | Mar 16 |
| 🥬 Lettuce | Jan 13 | Jan 20 | Mar 6 |
| 🧅 Onion | Dec 2 | Jan 13 | Apr 23 |
| 🟢 Peas | — | Dec 30 | Feb 28 |
| 🫑 Pepper | Dec 16 | Feb 24 | May 5 |
| 🥔 Potato | — | Jan 27 | Apr 27 |
| 🌶️ Radish | — | Jan 13 | Feb 10 |
| 🍃 Spinach | — | Jan 6 | Feb 15 |
| 🎃 Summer Squash | Jan 20 | Feb 17 | Apr 8 |
| 🍅 Tomato | Dec 30 | Feb 17 | May 3 |
| 🥒 Zucchini | Jan 20 | Feb 17 | Apr 8 |
Spring, summer and fall planting in zone 9b
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 10): 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 9b growing season.
Late summer to fall (before Dec 15):Sow a second round of quick cool-season crops for a fall harvest. Count back each crop's days-to-harvest from Dec 15 to find the latest safe sowing date, and use row covers to stretch the season a few extra weeks.
Zone 9b planting FAQ
What planting zone is Orlando FL?
Areas like Orlando FL, Tucson AZ fall in USDA hardiness zone 9b, defined by an average annual minimum temperature of 25 to 30°F. Your average last spring frost is around Feb 10 and your first fall frost around Dec 15.
When is the last frost in zone 9b?
The average last spring frost in zone 9b is around Feb 10. 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 9b?
Zone 9b has roughly 308 frost-free days between the last spring frost (Feb 10) and first fall frost (Dec 15). That is a long season — long enough for two or even three successive harvests of fast crops.
What vegetables grow best in zone 9b?
Reliable choices for zone 9b 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 9b?
Yes. With a first frost around Dec 15, you can plant a second round of quick cool-season crops in mid to late summer. Count back the days-to-harvest from Dec 15 to find your fall planting date.
When should I start seeds indoors in zone 9b?
Most warm-season seedlings are started indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost — that means roughly Feb for zone 9b. Tomatoes, peppers and eggplant benefit most from an indoor head start in this zone.