What is the last frost date for Zone 9b?

The average last spring frost date for Zone 9b is approximately Feb 1. Always check your specific ZIP code for local variations.

What vegetables grow best in Zone 9b?

Top vegetables for Zone 9b include: Tomatoes, Peppers, Eggplant, Artichokes, Citrus.

How long is the growing season in Zone 9b?

Zone 9b has an average growing season of approximately 317 days, from last frost around Feb 1 to first fall frost around Dec 15.

Zone 9b Gardening Guide

Everything you need to grow a thriving garden in USDA Hardiness Zone 9b — Southwest / Florida. Frost dates, planting calendar, and the best plants for your climate.

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Last Spring Frost

Feb 1

Average date

First Fall Frost

Dec 15

Average date

Growing Season

317 days

Frost-free window

Min Winter Temp

25 to 30°F

USDA 2023

What Is Zone 9b?

USDA Hardiness Zone 9b covers Southwest / Florida, including cities like Phoenix, AZ · San Antonio, TX · Orlando, FL. The zone experiences minimum winter temperatures between 25 to 30°F, which determines which perennials and woody plants survive winter outdoors.

With a growing season of 317 days, Zone 9b gardeners enjoy one of the longest growing seasons in North America. The key is aligning your planting schedule with the frost window.

Pro tip: Your exact ZIP code matters. Zone 9b spans a range of microclimates — elevation, urban heat islands, and proximity to water can shift your personal frost dates by 1–3 weeks. Cloche uses your ZIP to give you precise, location-specific recommendations.

Best Vegetables for Zone 9b

These vegetables thrive in Zone 9b's climate and growing season length:

Vegetable	Start Seeds Indoors	Transplant Outside	Harvest Window
Tomatoes	Oct 1 – Nov 15	Feb 1–15	Mar–Nov (& fall crop)
Peppers	Oct 1 – Nov 15	Feb 1–15	Mar–Nov (& fall crop)
Eggplant	Oct 1 – Nov 15	Feb 1–15	Mar–Nov (& fall crop)
Artichokes	Oct 1 – Nov 15	Feb 1–15	Mar–Nov (& fall crop)
Citrus	Oct 1 – Nov 15	Feb 1–15	Mar–Nov (& fall crop)
Avocado	Oct 1 – Nov 15	Feb 1–15	Mar–Nov (& fall crop)
Squash	Oct 1 – Nov 15	Feb 1–15	Mar–Nov (& fall crop)
Beans	Oct 1 – Nov 15	Feb 1–15	Mar–Nov (& fall crop)

Top Plants This Season

🍅Tomatoes 🫑Peppers 🍆Eggplant 🌿Artichokes 🍊Citrus 🥑Avocado 🎃Squash 🫘Beans

Flowers for Zone 9b

These flowering plants are proven performers in Zone 9b:

Bougainvillea
Hibiscus
Bird of Paradise
Plumeria
Agapanthus
Frangipani

Herbs for Zone 9b

Grow these herbs successfully in Zone 9b:

Basil
Rosemary
Lemongrass
Ginger
Turmeric
Thai Basil

Planting Calendar for Zone 9b

Activity	When
Start seeds indoors	Oct 1 – Nov 15
Transplant warm-season crops	Feb 1–15
Direct sow warm-season crops	Feb 1–15
Harvest window	Mar–Nov (& fall crop)
Last frost (average)	Feb 1
First fall frost (average)	Dec 15

Browse All Zones

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Your Zone 9b Garden, Personalized

Cloche builds a weekly care plan tailored to your exact ZIP code, your plants, and your soil — not just your zone. Frost alerts, seed-to-harvest tracking, AI chat. 7-day free trial.

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