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When to plant peppers in zone 9a

In zone 9a, where the last spring frost typically comes around March 2, start peppers indoors December 27 to January 24 and plant out March 14 to 28. For a fall crop, plant August 6 to September 3.

The zone 9a schedule for peppers

Start seeds indoors
December 27 to January 24
Plant out
March 14 to 28
Sow outdoors
March 14 to 21
Soil warm enough (60°F), about
March 14
Safest planting date (10% frost risk)
March 25
First harvest, roughly
May 18 to June 21
Plant for a fall crop
August 6 to September 3

From the median frost dates of the NOAA stations assigned to the 1,736 ZIP codes in zone 9a, and the timing recommended by Cooperative Extension guides for peppers.

Frost risk in zone 9a

Zones are based on winter cold, not on frost dates, so the last spring frost varies a lot within a zone. Across zone 9a, the typical last frost ranges from about February 13 in the earliest tenth of ZIP codes to March 21 in the latest tenth, and the first fall frost from November 14 to December 9. For a typical place in the zone:

  • February 4Risky: a later frost happens in 9 years out of 10
  • March 2Typical: frost after this date in half of years
  • March 25Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10

Peppers are killed by frost, so if you want to be safe, plant out after the safe date rather than the typical one, or be ready to cover plants on a cold night.

Your dates for peppers

Set your ZIP code at the top of the page and we will work out when to plant peppers where you live, from the frost records of the nearest NOAA weather station. Your ZIP code is remembered on this device only.

Enter your ZIP code

Peppers in zone 9a cities

CityTypical last frostStart indoorsPlant out
Austin, TXFeb 20Dec 18 to Jan 15Mar 5 to 19
Seattle, WAMar 8Mar 21 to Apr 18Jun 6 to 20
Portland, ORMar 13Mar 3 to 31May 19 to Jun 2
Tucson, AZFeb 5Dec 21 to Jan 18Mar 8 to 22
North Las Vegas, NVJan 20Dec 26 to Jan 23Mar 13 to 27
Baton Rouge, LAFeb 25Dec 19 to Jan 16Mar 6 to 20
Tallahassee, FLMar 11Dec 31 to Jan 28Mar 18 to Apr 1
Mobile, ALFeb 21Dec 20 to Jan 17Mar 7 to 21
Palmdale, CAMar 10Jan 27 to Feb 24Apr 14 to 28
Charleston, SCFeb 4Jan 4 to Feb 1Mar 22 to Apr 5
Savannah, GAMar 2Dec 29 to Jan 26Mar 16 to 30
Gainesville, FLMar 3Dec 23 to Jan 20Mar 10 to 24

How to grow peppersAll zonesPeppers in zone 8bPeppers in zone 9bAbout zone 9a

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