Zone 9b covers 17 days of last-frost dates. We measured Las Vegas, NV at Feb 6 and Sacramento, CA at Feb 23. 10 of the 15 places we checked in this zone don't dependably freeze at all. Give us your town or ZIP and we'll use ten years of daily lows recorded at your own coordinates instead of the middle of that range.
Why these dates work in zone 9b
Zone 9b's last spring frost averages Feb 9 and first fall frost Dec 8 — about 302 frost-free days. Sunflower is frost-sensitive, so the around last frost timing builds in a safety margin against a late cold snap — setting plants out too early risks losing them to frost.
Common questions
How long does sunflower take to grow in zone 9b?
Sunflower matures in about 60–100 days from sowing. In zone 9b that means sowing around Feb 9 and first picking around Apr 10.
Will sunflower survive frost in zone 9b?
No — sunflower is frost-sensitive. In zone 9b, wait until after the last frost (around Feb 9) to plant, and harvest before the first fall frost (around Dec 8).
For soil, spacing, pests and companion planting, see the full sunflower growing guide →