What temperature range is USDA zone 9a?

Zone 9a covers areas whose average annual extreme minimum winter temperature is 20 to 25 °F. Each numbered zone is a 10°F band; the "a" and "b" half-zones split it into 5°F steps.

Does zone 9a tell me when to plant?

No — the hardiness zone tells you which perennials survive winter, not when to sow annual vegetables. Planting dates depend on your local last and first frost, which can vary within a single zone. Open one of the sample locations in zone 9a to see its frost calendar and per-crop planting windows.

What can I grow in zone 9a?

Almost any common vegetable can be grown in zone 9a; what changes with zone and local climate is the timing and the length of the season. Cold-hardy crops (peas, spinach, lettuce) go out earliest, tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the last frost. Use each location's calendar for exact dates.

USDA hardiness zone 9a — frost dates & what to plant

USDA hardiness zone 9a

Average annual extreme minimum temperature: 20 to 25 °F

USDA plant hardiness zone 9a covers areas whose average annual extreme minimum winter temperature is 20 to 25 °F — the standard USDA measure of which perennials survive an average winter. Hardiness zone sets winter survival, but planting DATES depend on your local frost calendar, which varies within a zone. 433 locations on this site fall in zone 9a (Acton, CA, Aguanga, CA, Aguila, AZ, Albany, GA, Alexandria, LA, Alexandria, LA, Amite, LA, Angels, CA, and 425 more); open one to see its frost dates, growing-season length, and a printable per-crop planting calendar.

Locations in zone 9a — 60 of 433

Same zone, different frost calendars — open one for its full planner. A spread across the zone is shown; browse a state for its full list.
Location	Last frost	First frost	Season (days)
Acton, CA	Mar 10	Nov 19	248
Angels, CA	Feb 20	Dec 11	290
Auberry, CA	Mar 25	Dec 3	253
Baker, CA	Feb 14	Nov 27	287
Bay Center, WA	Apr 26	Oct 17	177
Benbow, CA	Mar 10	Dec 1	271
Boulevard, CA	Apr 29	Nov 1	184
Broxton, GA	Mar 12	Nov 17	252
Cal-Nev-Ari, NV	Mar 7	Nov 29	266
Carrabelle, FL	Mar 8	Nov 22	262
Charleston, SC	Mar 7	Nov 27	266
Colquitt, GA	Mar 7	Nov 19	259
Cotulla, TX	Feb 11	Dec 3	300
DeFuniak Springs, FL	Feb 28	Nov 28	275
Dobbins, CA	Apr 1	Nov 17	229
Durham, CA	Jan 29	Dec 7	317
El Paso de Robles (Paso Robles), CA	Mar 15	Nov 10	238
Evadale, TX	Feb 25	Nov 30	281
Forks, WA	Apr 20	Oct 26	190
Furnace Creek, CA	Jan 1	Dec 19	350
Gillisonville, SC	Mar 23	Nov 6	233
Grass Valley, CA	Apr 14	Nov 20	218
Gulfport, MS	Feb 23	Dec 3	287
Hemphill, TX	Mar 1	Nov 30	272
Hinesville, GA	Mar 5	Nov 29	269
Interlachen, FL	Jan 31	Jan 4	337
Jennings, LA	Feb 19	Dec 4	292
Katy, TX	Feb 2	Dec 11	318
Kingsland, GA	Mar 14	Nov 25	257
Lake Hughes, CA	Apr 6	Nov 29	236
Laytonville, CA	Mar 2	Dec 1	272
Lockhart, AL	Mar 4	Nov 26	265
Los Banos, CA	Jan 26	Dec 10	322
Madison, FL	Mar 5	Nov 29	273
Marianna, FL	Mar 1	Nov 27	270
Melrose, OR	Mar 31	Nov 5	215
Mobile, AL	Feb 21	Dec 6	292
Navasota, TX	Mar 7	Nov 19	259
Nobleton, FL	Feb 3	Jan 3	329
Ocean Shores, WA	Mar 30	Nov 14	228
Pawnee, TX	Feb 8	Dec 6	302
Perry, LA	Feb 17	Dec 5	298
Pleasanton, TX	Feb 27	Nov 28	274
Powers, OR	Mar 21	Nov 14	241
Quitman, GA	Mar 11	Nov 18	253
Ridgeland, SC	Feb 28	Dec 3	279
Rosenberg, TX	Feb 15	Dec 6	297
San Antonio, TX	Feb 21	Dec 5	289
San Carlos, AZ	Feb 24	Dec 1	279
Schulenburg, TX	Mar 2	Nov 27	271
Sheridan, TX	Feb 17	Dec 4	297
Somerset, TX	Feb 22	Dec 1	281
St. James, LA	Feb 21	Dec 5	291
Study Butte, TX	Mar 2	Nov 24	267
Thomasville, GA	Mar 6	Nov 27	268
Tomball, TX	Feb 19	Dec 3	290
Uvalde Estates, TX	Mar 5	Nov 24	264
Wacissa, FL	Feb 25	Dec 3	286
Waycross, GA	Mar 15	Nov 17	246
Willis, TX	Mar 11	Nov 19	253

Data: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (public domain) and USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023. Planting windows synthesized from U.S. Cooperative Extension guides.

What zone 9a means for your garden

A plant rated "hardy to zone 9a" can be expected to survive a winter whose coldest night lands in the 20 to 25 °F range — the metric the USDA map is built on. That governs perennials, shrubs, and trees. For annual vegetables, what matters is the frost calendar: the dates of the average last spring and first fall freeze, which set when it is safe to plant and how long the season runs. Those come from the individual location pages above.

Zones are from the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023, matched to each location's ZIP — see the methodology page. Browse all hardiness zones or crop-by-crop timing.

Frequently asked questions

What temperature range is USDA zone 9a?: Zone 9a covers areas whose average annual extreme minimum winter temperature is 20 to 25 °F. Each numbered zone is a 10°F band; the "a" and "b" half-zones split it into 5°F steps.
Does zone 9a tell me when to plant?: No — the hardiness zone tells you which perennials survive winter, not when to sow annual vegetables. Planting dates depend on your local last and first frost, which can vary within a single zone. Open one of the sample locations in zone 9a to see its frost calendar and per-crop planting windows.
What can I grow in zone 9a?: Almost any common vegetable can be grown in zone 9a; what changes with zone and local climate is the timing and the length of the season. Cold-hardy crops (peas, spinach, lettuce) go out earliest, tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the last frost. Use each location's calendar for exact dates.