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When to plant tomatoes in zone 9b

In zone 9b, where the last spring frost typically comes around January 31, start tomatoes indoors January 11 to 25 and plant out March 8 to 22. For a fall crop, plant August 26 to September 2.

The zone 9b schedule for tomatoes

Start seeds indoors
January 11 to 25
Plant out
March 8 to 22
Soil warm enough (60°F), about
March 8
First harvest, roughly
April 29 to June 20
Plant for a fall crop
August 26 to September 2

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 tomatoes.

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

Tomatoes 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 tomatoes

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

Tomatoes in zone 9b cities

CityTypical last frostStart indoorsPlant out
Houston, TXJan 30Dec 27 to Jan 10Feb 21 to Mar 7
Jacksonville, FLFeb 1Dec 24 to Jan 7Feb 18 to Mar 4
San Jose, CAJan 12Mar 1 to 15Apr 26 to May 10
Fresno, CAJan 14Feb 8 to 22Apr 5 to 19
Sacramento, CAJan 12Feb 12 to 26Apr 9 to 23
Bakersfield, CAJan 17Feb 1 to 15Mar 29 to Apr 12
New Orleans, LAJan 24Dec 24 to Jan 7Feb 18 to Mar 4
Henderson, NVJan 20Jan 16 to 30Mar 13 to 27

How to grow tomatoesAll zonesTomatoes in zone 9aAbout zone 9b

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