Zone 9a planting calendar

What to plant in October: zone 9a

A rule-of-thumb starting point for zone 9a: last spring frost around February 28, first fall frost around December 5. Zones are set by winter lows, not frost dates, so two gardens in the same zone can be weeks apart. Measure your ZIP below for dates from your area's own 30-year record.

These are zone-average dates. Check an area-level frost estimate from thirty years of nearby weather history and this calendar retimes itself.
Typical last frost: February 28
Typical first frost: December 5
Winter lows: 20 to 25 °F
Zone 9a Almanac. What growers here actually recorded: sowing weeks, days to first pick, and yields.

Direct sow for fall

  • Bush beanaround Oct 1

    Counts back 55 days from your first frost. Frost-tender: must finish before frost.

  • Peaaround Oct 6

    Counts back 60 days from your first frost. Takes a light frost with cover.

  • Carrotaround Oct 7

    Counts back 70 days from your first frost. Frost-hardy: light freezes sweeten it.

  • Beetaround Oct 11

    Counts back 55 days from your first frost. Takes a light frost with cover.

  • Dillaround Oct 11

    Counts back 45 days from your first frost. Frost-tender: must finish before frost.

  • Spinacharound Oct 16

    Succession sowing 2 of 3. Sow every 21 days for a steady cut.

  • Lettucearound Oct 16

    Counts back 50 days from your first frost. Takes a light frost with cover.

  • Radisharound Oct 19

    Succession sowing 3 of 3. Sow every 14 days for a steady cut.

  • Cilantroaround Oct 21

    Counts back 45 days from your first frost. Takes a light frost with cover.

Transplant for fall

  • Broccoliaround Oct 12

    Last safe transplant date to mature (65 days) before frost on 12-05.

  • Kalearound Oct 22

    Last safe transplant date to mature (55 days) before frost on 12-05.

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