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When to plant potatoes in zone 9b

In zone 9b, where the last spring frost typically comes around January 31, sow outdoors January 10 to 17.

The zone 9b schedule for potatoes

Sow outdoors
January 10 to 17
First harvest, roughly
April 5 to May 17

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 potatoes.

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 potatoes

Set your ZIP code at the top of the page and we will work out when to plant potatoes 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

Potatoes in zone 9b cities

CityTypical last frostPlantFall
Houston, TXJan 30Jan 9 to 16Sep 7 to 14
Jacksonville, FLFeb 1Jan 11 to 18Sep 15 to 22
San Jose, CAJan 12Dec 22 to 29Sep 1 to 8
Fresno, CAJan 14Dec 24 to 31Aug 24 to 31
Sacramento, CAJan 12Dec 22 to 29Aug 26 to Sep 2
Bakersfield, CAJan 17Dec 27 to Jan 3Aug 25 to Sep 1
New Orleans, LAJan 24Jan 3 to 10Sep 12 to 19
Henderson, NVJan 20Dec 30 to Jan 6Aug 25 to Sep 1

How to grow potatoesAll zonesPotatoes in zone 9aAbout zone 9b

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