Summer squash planting calendar for USDA Zone 9b

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: excellent

Summer squash is well suited to Zone 9b. Standard planting dates work with minor adjustments for microclimates.

Key dates

Direct-seed outdoors

February 12 – March 5

Expected first harvest

April 10 – May 8

Fall planting window

October 6 – October 27

Fall harvest window

December 2 – December 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: 24″
Row spacing: 48″
Seed depth: 1″
Soil temperature: 70–90°F
Frost tolerance: tender
Days to harvest: 50 days

Grower notes for Zone 9b

Scout for squash bugs and squash vine borer weekly starting at bloom. Row cover until first female flower.

Plant near: corn, beans, nasturtium

Keep away from: potatoes

Other cucurbits 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.

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