When to plant pumpkins in zone 9b
In zone 9b, where the last spring frost typically comes around January 31, start pumpkins indoors February 8 to 22 and plant out March 8 to 22.
The zone 9b schedule for pumpkins
- Start seeds indoors
- February 8 to 22
- Plant out
- March 8 to 22
- Sow outdoors
- March 8 to 22
- Soil warm enough (60°F), about
- March 8
- First harvest, roughly
- May 17 to June 20
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 pumpkins.
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
Pumpkins 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 pumpkins
Set your ZIP code at the top of the page and we will work out when to plant pumpkins where you live, from the frost records of the nearest NOAA weather station. Your ZIP code is remembered on this device only.
Pumpkins in zone 9b cities
| City | Typical last frost | Start indoors | Plant out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston, TX | Jan 30 | Jan 24 to Feb 7 | Feb 21 to Mar 7 |
| Jacksonville, FL | Feb 1 | Jan 21 to Feb 4 | Feb 18 to Mar 4 |
| San Jose, CA | Jan 12 | Mar 29 to Apr 12 | Apr 26 to May 10 |
| Fresno, CA | Jan 14 | Mar 8 to 22 | Apr 5 to 19 |
| Sacramento, CA | Jan 12 | Mar 12 to 26 | Apr 9 to 23 |
| Bakersfield, CA | Jan 17 | Mar 1 to 15 | Mar 29 to Apr 12 |
| New Orleans, LA | Jan 24 | Jan 21 to Feb 4 | Feb 18 to Mar 4 |
| Henderson, NV | Jan 20 | Feb 13 to 27 | Mar 13 to 27 |
How to grow pumpkinsAll zonesPumpkins in zone 9aAbout zone 9b
Sources
- How to Grow Pumpkins in Your Garden · Utah State University Extension
- All about Pumpkins · Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
- Pumpkins & Winter Squash (HGIC 1318) · Clemson Cooperative Extension Home & Garden Information Center
- Pumpkin and Squash Harvest and Storage · University of Vermont Extension
- Vegetable Planting Guide (CMG GardenNotes #720) · Colorado State University Extension
- Cucumbers, Pumpkins, Squash, and Melons (Fact Sheet 7.609) · Colorado State University Extension
- Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide (VH021), Table 1 · University of Florida IFAS Extension (EDIS)
- Vegetable Planting Calendar for Maricopa County (AZ1005) · University of Arizona Cooperative Extension