USDA zone 9a planting guide

A typical location in zone 9a sees its last spring frost around March 2 and its first fall frost around November 26. Pick a crop for its zone 9a planting dates, or get dates for your exact ZIP.

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The zone 9a planting year

When to start, transplant, sow, and harvest each crop in a typical zone 9alocation. Tap a crop for its full guide.

Start indoorsTransplantDirect sowFall plantingHarvestZone 9a typical

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Crop

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecNow

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Junethis month

Harvest· 4

Planting calendar for Zone 9a typical: sow, transplant, and harvest windows by crop.
Crop	Activity	When
Tomato	Start indoors	January 19 – January 26
Tomato	Transplant	March 2 – March 16
Pepper	Start indoors	January 5
Pepper	Transplant	March 2 – March 16
Eggplant	Start indoors	January 5
Eggplant	Transplant	March 2 – March 16
Potato	Direct sow	February 9 – February 16
Cucumber	Start indoors	February 2
Cucumber	Transplant	March 2 – March 16
Cucumber	Direct sow	March 2 – March 16
Zucchini	Direct sow	March 2 – March 16
Zucchini	Harvest	April 26 – May 10 (About 55 to 55 days from sowing.)
Winter Squash	Direct sow	March 2 – March 16
Pumpkin	Direct sow	March 2 – March 16
Pumpkin	Harvest	May 11 – July 14 (About 70 to 120 days from sowing.)
Watermelon	Transplant	March 2 – March 16
Watermelon	Direct sow	March 2 – March 16
Watermelon	Harvest	May 26 – June 14 (About 85 to 90 days from transplanting.)
Cantaloupe	Transplant	March 2 – March 16
Cantaloupe	Direct sow	March 2 – March 16
Sweet Corn	Direct sow	March 2 – March 16
Sweet Corn	Harvest	May 1 – June 14 (About 60 to 90 days from sowing.)
Broccoli	Start indoors	December 22 – January 5
Broccoli	Transplant	February 9 – February 16
Broccoli	Direct sow	February 9 – February 16
Cauliflower	Start indoors	December 29 – January 12
Cauliflower	Transplant	February 16 – February 23
Cauliflower	Direct sow	February 16 – February 23
Cauliflower	Fall planting	September 17 – October 22
Cabbage	Start indoors	December 22 – January 5
Cabbage	Transplant	February 9 – February 16
Cabbage	Direct sow	February 9 – February 16
Cabbage	Fall planting	September 17 – October 22
Brussels Sprouts	Fall planting	July 30
Kale	Start indoors	December 15 – December 29
Kale	Transplant	January 26 – February 2
Kale	Direct sow	January 26 – February 2
Kale	Fall planting	September 24 – October 29
Collards	Start indoors	January 5
Collards	Transplant	February 16
Collards	Direct sow	February 9
Collards	Harvest	April 10 – April 30 (About 60 to 80 days from sowing.)
Collards	Fall planting	August 27
Lettuce	Start indoors	January 19 – January 26
Lettuce	Transplant	March 2
Lettuce	Direct sow	February 9 – February 16
Lettuce	Fall planting	August 27 – October 1
Spinach	Start indoors	January 19 – January 26
Spinach	Transplant	March 2
Spinach	Direct sow	February 2 – February 9
Spinach	Fall planting	September 17 – October 22
Swiss Chard	Start indoors	January 19 – January 26
Swiss Chard	Transplant	March 2
Swiss Chard	Direct sow	February 2 – February 9
Swiss Chard	Fall planting	October 29 – November 5
Carrot	Direct sow	February 9 – February 16
Carrot	Harvest	April 20 – May 27 (About 70 to 100 days from sowing.)
Radish	Direct sow	February 9 – February 16
Radish	Harvest	March 6 – April 2 (About 25 to 45 days from sowing.)
Beet	Direct sow	February 9 – February 16
Beet	Harvest	April 10 – May 7 (About 60 to 80 days from sowing.)
Parsnip	Direct sow	February 9 – February 16
Parsnip	Harvest	May 20 – June 16 (About 100 to 120 days from sowing.)
Garlic	Fall planting	December 3 – December 10
Green Bean (Snap Bean)	Direct sow	February 23
Green Bean (Snap Bean)	Harvest	April 14 – April 24 (About 50 to 60 days from sowing.)
Basil	Start indoors	January 5 – January 19
Basil	Direct sow	March 2
Parsley	Start indoors	January 5 – January 19
Parsley	Direct sow	March 2
Dill	Direct sow	March 2
Rhubarb	Start indoors	January 19
Sunflower	Direct sow	March 2 – March 16
Marigold	Start indoors	January 19 – February 2
Marigold	Transplant	March 2 – March 16
Marigold	Direct sow	March 2 – March 16
Petunia	Start indoors	December 22 – January 5
Petunia	Transplant	March 2 – March 16
Dahlia	Transplant	March 2 – March 16
English Lavender	Transplant	March 2 – March 16

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, 2023. USDA Agricultural Research Service / Oregon State University PRISM Group. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020. Zone dates are medians across the zone; your town varies.