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USDA Zone 9

Hot summers, very mild winters. Long seasons and near year-round growing.

Climate Overview

What to expect

  • Very mild winters, frost light and occasional
  • Long, hot summers — often the limiting factor
  • Last frost January to February; first frost November to December
  • Cool-season crops grow right through winter

What Grows Well

TomatoesPeppersEggplantOkraCucumbersMelonsWatermelonSweet potatoesSquashBeansCitrusFigsPomegranatesBrassicas (fall/winter)Greens

Seeds To Stock

  • Tomatoes
  • Peppers
  • Okra
  • Cucumbers
  • Watermelon
  • Squash
  • Beans
  • Sweet potatoes
  • Sunflowers
  • Broccoli
  • Kale
  • Lettuce
  • Carrots
  • Beets
  • Garlic
  • Onions
  • Cover crop mix

Direct Sow Suggestions

  • Beans
  • Cucumbers
  • Squash
  • Corn
  • Okra
  • Sunflowers
  • Cowpeas
  • Carrots
  • Beets
  • Lettuce (cool months)

Tray Start Suggestions

  • Tomatoes
  • Peppers
  • Eggplant
  • Broccoli (fall)
  • Cabbage (fall)

Monthly Planning

Current month is highlighted. Click any month to see the plan.

USDA Zone 9

JuneThis month

Plant Now

  • Beans (succession)
  • Okra
  • Cowpeas
  • Cucumbers
  • Watermelon
  • Sunflowers

Start In Trays

  • Fall broccoli and cabbage

Harvest

  • Zucchini
  • Beans
  • Cucumbers
  • Early tomatoes
  • Garlic

Prepare Next

  • Order garlic
  • Plan fall garden

Common Challenges

Watch out for

  • Extreme summer heat stalling fruit set
  • Long dry season demanding irrigation
  • Keeping fall starts alive through late-summer heat
  • Sunscald and spider mites

Near Anderson, Redding, or Red Bluff, California? Our local guides go a lot deeper than this zone overview.