Start A Garden This Fall In Zone 9b

Has the fall weather piqued an interest in spending more time outdoors now that the oppressively hot summer is (somewhat) a thing of the past? If so, then there is no better outdoor pastime than gardening. If you are unfamiliar with gardening, and have no idea what to grow, then you have come to the right place. We will break down what zone you are in and what types of plants that you can grow while living in Tampa.

What Zone Are You In?

Tampa is located in what they call Zone 9b. Zone 9 is one of 13 United States hardiness zones. Each of those hardiness zones are divided into two subsets, a and b. The purpose of the zones is to distinguish what vegetables and plants are suitable for a zone’s cold temperatures.

The temperature of each zone is determined by the average minimum temperature during the winter. Each zone is separated by 10 degrees. For Zone 9, the minimum average temperature range is 20 degrees to 30 degrees. The subsets, a and b, are separated by five degrees. That means Zone 9a has a minimum average temperature range of 20 degrees to 25 degrees, while Zone 9b has a minimum average temperature range of 25 degrees to 30 degrees.

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What Can You Grow?

Overall, Zone 9 is listed as a year-round planting zone. However, it is generally recognized that the growing season within Zone 9 lasts around nine months because of the summer heat. Some vegetables that cannot tolerate the heat are bell peppers, green beans, and most heirloom tomatoes. However, there are some vegetables that love the heat, including sweet and hot peppers, sweet potatoes, okra, melon, eggplant, and others.

There are several fruit trees, nut trees, and other plants that are suitable for Zone 9. These include citrus trees, kiwi, passion fruit, and guava. Quite a few apricot, plum, fig, and apple trees need a winter freeze to stimulate fruit production. Some nut trees can survive in Zone 9, including pecans and black walnuts.

If you want to narrow it down even further, there are a host of plants and vegetables that you can begin growing in October. This list includes:

• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower
• Horseradish
• Kale
• Lettuce
• Potato
• Radish
• Shallots
• Thyme
• Turnip

For more information, be sure to use plant guides to ensure that your plants and vegetables thrive.