Zone 9a planting guide
Mild winters, long heat. Houston and the Gulf. Fungus and humidity are the pests.
- Last spring frost
- Feb 15
- First fall frost
- Dec 10
- Winter low
- 20 to 25°F
The trap
Overcrowding tomatoes in wet air.
What actually finishes
Space, morning sun, fall tomatoes, winter greens. Garlic is optional; the chill is weak.
This week in Zone 9a
Sow for fall
Direct-sow fast cool crops now. Skip tomatoes. Count days to first frost.
- AstroFall sowing: arugulaDirect sow
30 days needed · 38 days of season left.
- MusicOrder garlic nowWait
Plant cloves 4–6 weeks before first frost — usually October in the Midwest. Buy seed garlic, not the grocery bin.
- Cherry BelleFall sowing: radishDirect sow
28 days needed · 38 days of season left.
Crops for this zone
- Tomatoes
- Peppers
- Lettuce
- Basil
- Zucchini
- Beans
- Kale
- Spinach
- Radish
- Carrots
- Peas
- Cilantro
- Cucumber
- Sunflower
- Zinnia
- Garlic
- Arugula
- Broccoli
- Swiss chard
- Beets
- Parsley
- Dill
- Marigold
- Winter squash
- Onions
- Potatoes
Cities in Zone 9a
Year at a glance
January
Winter greens and herbs. This is a growing month here, not a rest month.
February
Succession sow. In this zone the constraint is water and heat, not frost.
March
Succession sow. In this zone the constraint is water and heat, not frost.
April
Succession sow. In this zone the constraint is water and heat, not frost.
May
Succession sow. In this zone the constraint is water and heat, not frost.
June
Heat pause for cool crops. Keep irrigation up. Shade lettuce.
July
Heat pause for cool crops. Keep irrigation up. Shade lettuce.
August
Fall / second-spring sowing: tomatoes in hot climates, greens everywhere.
September
Fall / second-spring sowing: tomatoes in hot climates, greens everywhere.
October
Succession sow. In this zone the constraint is water and heat, not frost.
November · now
Succession sow. In this zone the constraint is water and heat, not frost.
December
Winter greens and herbs. This is a growing month here, not a rest month.
The sow list
A note when it is time to sow
Seasonal, not daily. We will send what to start in your zone, and skip the rest of the year.
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