When to plant blueberries in USDA Zone 9b

Plan your blueberries planting around local frost risk and soil temperature, then work backward from the harvest week your buyers need. The calendar below is a starting point, not a field-level weather forecast.

Orlando, Tampa, San Antonio, southern LA coast. Average last spring frost February 5, first fall frost December 15 — a 313-day frost-free season.

Zone fit: good
Cool-season crops bolt fast under Zone 9b heat. Prioritize the fall planting window and use shade cloth for any spring succession.

Key dates

Transplant outdoors
July 16 – August 6
Expected first harvest
July 22 – August 19
Fall planting window
October 27 – November 17
Fall harvest window
November 2 – November 30

Windows are calculated from your zone's average frost dates. Adjust ±1 week for microclimates, elevation, and your own frost records.

Spacing and soil

Plant spacing
60″
Row spacing
120″
Seed depth
6″
Soil temperature
50–80°F
Frost tolerance
hardy
Days to harvest
730 days

Grower notes for Zone 9b

Rabbiteye varieties fit Zones 7–9; southern highbush for Zones 8–10. Soil pH 4.5–5.2 is non-negotiable — amend with elemental sulfur.

Plant near: azaleas, rhododendrons

Other berries for Zone 9b

Same crop, other zones

Track your own plantings

BAU Farm Intelligence turns these windows into per-field tasks — indoor seed-start reminders, transplant dates, harvest projections — using your farm's actual frost history.