Zone 9b planting calendar

What to plant in October: zone 9b

A rule-of-thumb starting point for zone 9b: last spring frost around February 15, first fall frost around December 15. 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 15
Typical first frost: December 15
Winter lows: 25 to 30 °F
Zone 9b Almanac. What growers here actually recorded: sowing weeks, days to first pick, and yields.

Plan & order

  • Inventory and order seedaround Oct 26

    Sort what you already have, toss anything over 3 years old, and order early while varieties are in stock.

Start indoors for fall

  • Kalearound Oct 4

    Seedlings need 4 weeks before they go out for a fall harvest.

Direct sow for fall

  • Spinach2 sowings: Oct 5 and Oct 26

    Succession sowing 3 of 3. Sow every 21 days for a steady cut. Sowing again a few weeks later keeps the harvest coming instead of arriving all at once.

  • Lettuce2 sowings: Oct 5 and Oct 26

    Succession sowing 2 of 3. Sow every 21 days for a steady cut. Sowing again a few weeks later keeps the harvest coming instead of arriving all at once.

  • Parsleyaround Oct 6

    Counts back 70 days from your first frost. Takes a light frost with cover.

  • Cilantro2 sowings: Oct 10 and Oct 31

    Succession sowing 2 of 3. Sow every 21 days for a steady cut. Sowing again a few weeks later keeps the harvest coming instead of arriving all at once.

  • Bush beanaround Oct 11

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

  • Peaaround Oct 16

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

  • Carrotaround Oct 17

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

  • Beetaround Oct 21

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

  • Dillaround Oct 21

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

  • Radisharound Oct 29

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

Transplant for fall

  • Broccoliaround Oct 22

    Last safe transplant date to mature (65 days) before frost on 12-15.

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