My Planting Calendar

What to plant in August in zone 9

USDA zone 9 has winter lows of 20 to 30°F, a typical last spring frost around Feb 20 and first fall frost around Nov 30, roughly 280 frost-free days. August is the "peak growing season" there.

9 crops have a sowing or planting window this month, including brussels sprouts, rutabaga, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, cucumber - and 1 of those windows close during August.

Dates come from the typical frost dates of USDA zone 9 (last frost Feb 20, first frost Nov 30). A zone covers many climates, so for dates tuned to your town use the planting calendar, or pick your state below.

Peak growing seasonSow or plant: 9Start indoors: 0Harvesting: 2

Zone 9: planting activity through the year

70
83
63
9
9
9
4
9
28
20
2
25
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Frost riskFrost-free: Feb 20 – Nov 30
Bars count the vegetables, herbs and fruit with a sowing or planting window in each month, from the state’s average frost dates. 9 have one in August; the busiest month is February (83).

Last chance in August

Brussels Sprouts (start transplants for fall, by Aug 17)

For fall and winter harvests (8)

Sowings counted back from zone 9's first fall frost, so the crop matures before the cold - or, for garlic and similar, planted after it.

CropWhat to doWindowThis month
Brussels SproutsStart transplants for fallJul 31 – Aug 17Last chance - ends Aug 17
RutabagaSow for a fall cropAug 14 – Aug 31Aug 14 – Aug 31
BroccoliStart transplants for fallAug 21 – Sep 7Opens Aug 21
CabbageStart transplants for fallAug 21 – Sep 7Opens Aug 21
CauliflowerStart transplants for fallAug 21 – Sep 7Opens Aug 21
CucumberSow for a fall cropAug 28 – Sep 14Opens Aug 28
Fennel (Bulb)Sow for a fall cropAug 28 – Sep 14Opens Aug 28
Zucchini / Summer SquashSow for a fall cropAug 28 – Sep 14Opens Aug 28

Harvesting in August

First harvests expected this month from crops sown or planted on time earlier in the season.

Luffa (Loofah Gourd) · Jun 4 – Aug 3Chayote · Jul 4 – Aug 3

Peak growing season: August garden jobs in zone 9

  1. Water deeply two or three times a week rather than a little every day - about an inch a week, more in heat. See watering a vegetable garden.
  2. 15 weeks until the average first frost (November 30). Fall crops start now: brussels sprouts, rutabaga, broccoli, cabbage. See the fall and winter garden guide.
  3. Check the undersides of leaves twice a week - catching pests early is most of the battle (pest identification guide).
  4. Harvest often: luffa (loofah gourd), chayote should be coming in. Picking regularly keeps beans, squash and cucumbers producing.

Questions gardeners ask

What can I plant in zone 9 in August?

9 crops have a window in August: brussels sprouts, rutabaga, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, cucumber, fennel (bulb), zucchini / summer squash. The tables above give the exact dates for each.

When are the last and first frost in zone 9?

The typical last spring frost is around Feb 20 and the first fall frost around Nov 30. These are broad zone averages, so your own town can be a week or two either side: look yours up by ZIP code in the planting calendar.

What can I harvest in zone 9 in August?

From plantings made on time: luffa (loofah gourd), chayote.

August in states with land in zone 9

AlabamaArizonaCaliforniaFloridaGeorgiaLouisianaMississippiNevadaNew MexicoOregonSouth CarolinaTexasUtahWashington

Zone 9 in other months

JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulySeptemberOctoberNovemberDecemberZone 9 overview →

What to plant in August in other zones

Zone 3Zone 4Zone 5Zone 6Zone 7Zone 8Zone 10All states →

Dates are computed from the zone’s typical frost dates and each crop’s timing in our crop database. Your garden may be a week or two either side.