Zucchini in Zone 11a & 11b
Cucurbita pepo
Yes, zucchini grows in zones 11a and 11b. Plant it outside in Aug–Mar.
When to plant zucchini in zone 11b
Zones 11a and 11b share the same average frost dates, so this page covers both.
Method: Either: Start indoors for an earlier harvest, or direct-sow outside for less fuss. Either works.
| Window | Summer window |
|---|---|
| Start indoors | Not typically started indoors |
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Aug–Mar |
| Estimated harvest | ~50 days after planting |
Spacing: about 4 square feet per plant (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 2-3 ft.
Zone 11b dates sourced from edis.ifas.ufl.edu.
Plant alongside it in zone 11b
These go outside within two weeks of zucchini in zone 11b, so one planting day can cover them.
- TomatoAug–Feb
- EggplantAug–Feb
- OkraAug–Oct
- Summer Squash (Yellow)Aug–Mar
- Bell PepperAug–Feb
- 7 Pot Douglah Pepper (Chocolate 7 Pot)Aug–Feb
Zucchini's reputation for overwhelming a garden is well-earned: a single healthy plant can produce more squash than most households can eat, which is exactly why our planting calendar puts just one plant per square foot rather than clustering several together.
How zucchini fits zone 11's season
Zone 11b is frost-free, so frost is not what limits the calendar here. What you can plant, and when, comes down to summer heat and daylength instead.
Zucchini planting windows in every zone
Zone 11b is highlighted. Useful for comparing against a neighbouring zone, or for a garden somewhere else.
| Zone | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3a & 3b | May 9–May 16 | Jun 6–Jun 13 | Jul 26–Aug 2 |
| 4a & 4b | Apr 24–May 1 | May 22–May 29 | Jul 11–Jul 18 |
| 5a & 5b | Apr 19–Apr 26 | May 17–May 24 | Jul 6–Jul 13 |
| 6a & 6b | Apr 4–Apr 11 | May 2–May 9 | Jun 21–Jun 28 |
| 7a & 7b | Mar 20–Mar 27 | Apr 17–Apr 24 | Jun 6–Jun 13 |
| 8a & 8b | Mar 4–Mar 11 | Apr 1–Apr 8 | May 21–May 28 |
| 9a & 9b | Jan 25–Feb 1 | Feb 22–Mar 1 | Apr 13–Apr 20 |
| 10a & 10bSpring window | Jan–Feb | Feb–Mar | ~50 days after transplanting |
| Summer window | Jul–Aug | Aug–Sep | ~50 days after transplanting |
| 11a & 11bSummer window (your zone) | Not usually | Aug–Mar | ~50 days after planting |
Harvest dates are about 50 days after the sow or plant-out date, not after starting seeds indoors.
Good companions
- Marigold: Marigolds deter squash bugs and beetles.
- Nasturtium: Nasturtium is a trap crop that draws aphids away from squash.
Where to buy zucchini seeds
True Leaf Market · Burpee · High Mowing Organic Seeds (each supplier's zucchini seeds)
Varieties we recommend, and where to get them:
- Dunja (F1, Organic): Johnny's Seeds describes it as early and powdery-mildew resistant, worth considering in humid climates where PM regularly cuts a zucchini season short. Buy: High Mowing Organic Seeds Full notes
See why we recommend these suppliers →
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing zucchini" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 11b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Zucchini in USDA zone 11b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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