February 28, 2026

When to Plant Tomatoes in Zone 9

Zone 9 covers central Florida, the Gulf Coast, southern Texas, the desert Southwest, and coastal California. If you garden here, you already know the rules are different. "Plant after last frost" barely applies when your last frost might be in January — or might not happen at all.

In zone 9, the limiting factor isn't cold. It's heat. And that means tomato growing here is essentially a two-season affair with a dead zone in the middle of summer.

The two-season approach

Zone 9 tomato growing breaks into a spring crop and a fall crop, with a gap in July-August when it's simply too hot for fruit set.

Yes, you're starting spring tomato seeds in December. That sounds extreme to gardeners up north, but in zone 9, February transplanting is normal. The ground rarely freezes, soil temperatures are workable, and the mild spring gives plants a long runway before the brutal summer arrives. For more details, see our guide on When to plant tomatoes by zone.

Spring crop details

The spring crop is your main event. Get plants in the ground by early March at the latest. Every week you delay costs you production on the back end when heat shuts things down. For more details, see our guide on When to Plant Tomatoes in Zone 5.

• Zone 9a: Last frost around February 15. Transplant late February to mid-March.
• Zone 9b: Last frost around January 25-February 1. Transplant mid-February to early March.

In south Florida and parts of the desert Southwest (zone 9b), some gardeners transplant as early as late January with row cover backup. The gamble usually pays off because the reward is tomatoes by late April.

Fall crop details

The fall crop is trickier. You're transplanting into brutal heat and keeping seedlings alive until temperatures moderate. Here's how to pull it off:

1. Start seeds indoors in June. Keep them under grow lights where you can control temperature.
2. Transplant in late July or early August. Use shade cloth (40-50%) for the first 3-4 weeks.
3. Water twice daily during the establishment period. Morning and late afternoon.
4. Once nighttime temps drop below 75°F (usually mid-September), remove shade cloth and watch the plants take off.

The fall crop often produces better-tasting fruit than spring because the cool nights concentrate sugars.

Best varieties for zone 9

Zone 9 by region

Same zone number, very different conditions:

• Florida zone 9: Humidity is your enemy. Fungal diseases (early blight, septoria leaf spot) hit hard. Choose disease-resistant varieties and space plants wide (36"+) for air circulation. Avoid overhead watering.
• Texas/Gulf Coast zone 9: Similar to Florida but with more extreme heat spikes. Wind is also a factor — stake plants well.
• Desert Southwest zone 9: Low humidity means fewer disease problems, but the sun intensity is punishing. Shade cloth is mandatory, not optional. Reflected heat from walls and patios can cook plants.
• Coastal California zone 9: Mild, mild, mild. You can grow tomatoes nearly year-round in some spots. The challenge is getting enough heat for good flavor — choose full-sun spots and avoid coastal fog zones.

Common zone 9 mistakes

1. Using the same timing as zone 7: Zone 9 is a different game. You plant earlier, not later.
2. Giving up in summer: Keep plants alive through the heat gap and they'll reward you in fall.
3. Ignoring nematodes: Root-knot nematodes are widespread in zone 9 soils. Graft onto resistant rootstock or grow in raised beds with clean soil.
4. Skipping the fall crop: It's the best-tasting production window in zone 9. Don't miss it.

Dial in your exact planting dates with the planting calendar tool — just enter your zip code. And for broader context, check the zone-by-zone tomato guide.