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When to plant zucchini in zone 9a

In zone 9a, where the last spring frost typically comes around March 2, start zucchini indoors February 14 to 28 and plant out March 14 to 28. For a fall crop, plant September 3 to 17.

The zone 9a schedule for zucchini

Start seeds indoors
February 14 to 28
Plant out
March 14 to 28
Sow outdoors
March 14 to 28
Soil warm enough (60°F), about
March 14
Safest planting date (10% frost risk)
March 25
Plant for a fall crop
September 3 to 17

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 zucchini.

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

Zucchini 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 zucchini

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

Zucchini in zone 9a cities

CityTypical last frostStart indoorsPlant out
Austin, TXFeb 20Feb 5 to 19Mar 5 to 19
Seattle, WAMar 8May 9 to 23Jun 6 to 20
Portland, ORMar 13Apr 21 to May 5May 19 to Jun 2
Tucson, AZFeb 5Feb 8 to 22Mar 8 to 22
North Las Vegas, NVJan 20Feb 13 to 27Mar 13 to 27
Baton Rouge, LAFeb 25Feb 6 to 20Mar 6 to 20
Tallahassee, FLMar 11Feb 18 to Mar 4Mar 18 to Apr 1
Mobile, ALFeb 21Feb 7 to 21Mar 7 to 21
Palmdale, CAMar 10Mar 17 to 31Apr 14 to 28
Charleston, SCFeb 4Feb 22 to Mar 8Mar 22 to Apr 5
Savannah, GAMar 2Feb 16 to Mar 2Mar 16 to 30
Gainesville, FLMar 3Feb 10 to 24Mar 10 to 24

How to grow zucchiniAll zonesZucchini in zone 8bZucchini in zone 9bAbout zone 9a

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