Zone 9 Planting Guide
Complete 2026 planting calendar for Zone 9a and Zone 9b
Published September 2, 2025
Zone 9 covers coastal California, the San Francisco Bay Area, most of Arizona, Southern Texas, and parts of Florida and Louisiana. With a frost-free season of 319–334 days, Zone 9 gardeners have the luxury — and the challenge — of managing a nearly year-round garden. The focus shifts from battling cold to managing intense summer heat.
Zone 9 Year-Round Growing Strategy
🌸 Spring (Feb–May)
Start tomatoes and peppers outdoors in January–February. Plant warm-season crops as early as February. This is your primary tomato and pepper harvest season — finish before June heat arrives.
☀️ Summer (Jun–Sep)
Focus on heat-tolerant crops: okra, sweet potato, eggplant, southern peas, basil, and melons. Many cool-season crops will bolt or fail in summer. Use shade cloth (30%) to extend other crops.
🍂 Fall (Aug–Nov) — Second Spring
Zone 9's secret season. Plant tomatoes again in mid-August for a November harvest. Sow broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and kale in August for a fall/winter harvest.
❄️ Winter (Dec–Feb) — Cool Season
Grow cool-season crops through winter with no protection needed in most years: lettuce, spinach, arugula, kale, broccoli, beets, carrots, and peas all thrive in Zone 9 winters.