When to plant carrots in zone 9b
In zone 9b, where the last spring frost typically comes around January 31, sow outdoors January 10 to 31. For a fall crop, plant September 16 to October 7.
The zone 9b schedule for carrots
- Sow outdoors
- January 10 to 31
- First harvest, roughly
- March 11 to May 11
- Plant for a fall crop
- September 16 to October 7
From the median frost dates of the NOAA stations assigned to the 1,459 ZIP codes in zone 9b, and the timing recommended by Cooperative Extension guides for carrots.
Dates before the last frost assume the soil has thawed and is dry enough to work: a squeezed handful crumbles instead of sticking. After a late or wet spring, wait for that even if the date has passed.
Frost risk in zone 9b
Zones are based on winter cold, not on frost dates, so the last spring frost varies a lot within a zone. Across zone 9b, the typical last frost ranges from about January 12 in the earliest tenth of ZIP codes to March 1 in the latest tenth, and the first fall frost from January 8 to December 28. For a typical place in the zone:
- December 18Risky: a later frost happens in 9 years out of 10
- January 31Typical: frost after this date in half of years
- March 1Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
Your dates for carrots
Set your ZIP code at the top of the page and we will work out when to plant carrots where you live, from the frost records of the nearest NOAA weather station. Your ZIP code is remembered on this device only.
Carrots in zone 9b cities
| City | Typical last frost | Plant | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston, TX | Jan 30 | Jan 9 to 30 | Oct 5 to 26 |
| Jacksonville, FL | Feb 1 | Jan 11 to Feb 1 | Oct 13 to Nov 3 |
| San Jose, CA | Jan 12 | Dec 22 to Jan 12 | Sep 29 to Oct 20 |
| Fresno, CA | Jan 14 | Dec 24 to Jan 14 | Sep 21 to Oct 12 |
| Sacramento, CA | Jan 12 | Dec 22 to Jan 12 | Sep 23 to Oct 14 |
| Bakersfield, CA | Jan 17 | Dec 27 to Jan 17 | Sep 22 to Oct 13 |
| New Orleans, LA | Jan 24 | Jan 3 to 24 | Oct 10 to 31 |
| Henderson, NV | Jan 20 | Dec 30 to Jan 20 | Sep 22 to Oct 13 |
How to grow carrotsAll zonesCarrots in zone 9aAbout zone 9b
Sources
- Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide (SP 103/VH021) · University of Florida IFAS Extension
- Carrot, Beet, Radish & Parsnip (HGIC 1305) · Clemson Cooperative Extension Home & Garden Information Center
- How to Grow Carrots in Your Garden · Utah State University Extension
- Vegetable Planting Guide · Colorado State University Extension
- Vegetable Planting Calendar for Maricopa County (AZ1005) · University of Arizona Cooperative Extension
- Vegetable Crops of the Lower Rio Grande Valley (planting guide) · Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Cameron County
- Growing carrots, beets, radishes, and other root crops in Wisconsin (A3686) · University of Wisconsin Extension
- The Fall Vegetable Garden (HO-66-W) · Purdue University Extension
- Fall Vegetable Gardening (G1343) · University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension
- Root crops (beets, carrots, radishes, turnips) presentation · Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Leon County
- Types of Containers for Growing Vegetables · University of Maryland Extension
- Container Gardening Basics · Oregon State University Extension Service