When to plant winter squash in USDA Zone 9b

Plan your winter squash 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: excellent
Winter 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
May 30 – June 27

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
36″
Row spacing
72″
Seed depth
1″
Soil temperature
70–90°F
Frost tolerance
tender
Days to harvest
100 days

Grower notes for Zone 9b

Cure fruit at 80–85°F for 10 days after harvest to extend storage. Plant early enough to mature before first frost.

Plant near: corn, beans

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.