What Can Grow in Zone 11b?
Hot tropical zone with high humidity year-round. All tropical crops thrive.
📅 Planting Calendar for Zone 11b
When to start seeds indoors and transplant outdoors, based on your frost dates.
| Plant | Start Indoors | Transplant Out | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🌾 Amaranth (Chaulai / Rajgira) | Jan 1 | Jan 1 | — | Feb 20 – Mar 17 |
| 🫑 Bell Pepper | Jan 1 | Jan 1 | — | Mar 12 – Apr 1 |
| 🥒 Bitter Melon (Karela) | Jan 1 | Jan 1 | — | Feb 25 – Mar 12 |
| 🥒 Bottle Gourd (Lauki / Doodhi) | Jan 1 | Jan 1 | — | Feb 20 – Mar 12 |
| 🍒 Cherry Tomato | Jan 1 | Jan 1 | — | Feb 25 – Mar 12 |
| 🌶️ Chili Pepper | Jan 1 | Jan 1 | — | Mar 7 – Mar 22 |
| 🥬 Collard Greens | Jan 1 | Jan 1 | — | Mar 2 – Mar 22 |
| 🌽 Corn | — | — | Jan 1 | Mar 2 – Apr 1 |
| 🥒 Cucumber | Jan 1 | Jan 1 | — | Feb 20 – Mar 12 |
| 🍆 Eggplant | Jan 1 | Jan 1 | — | Mar 7 – Mar 22 |
| 🫚 Ginger | Jan 1 | Jan 1 | — | Aug 29 – Oct 28 |
| 🫘 Green Beans | — | — | Jan 1 | Feb 20 – Mar 7 |
| 🥒 Luffa (Turai / Ridge Gourd) | Jan 1 | Jan 1 | — | Mar 12 – Apr 1 |
| 🌱 Microgreens | — | — | Jan 1 | Jan 8 – Jan 22 |
| 🌳 Moringa (Drumstick Tree) | Jan 1 | Jan 1 | — | Apr 1 – Jun 30 |
| 🌶️ Okra | Jan 1 | Jan 1 | — | Feb 20 – Mar 7 |
| 🎃 Pumpkin | Jan 1 | Jan 1 | — | Mar 17 – Apr 11 |
| 🍠 Sweet Potato | — | — | Jan 1 | Apr 1 – May 1 |
| 🫚 Taro (Arbi / Colocasia) | Jan 1 | Jan 1 | — | May 31 – Jul 20 |
| 🍅 Tomato | Jan 1 | Jan 1 | — | Mar 2 – Mar 27 |
| 🟡 Turmeric (Haldi) | Jan 1 | Jan 1 | — | Aug 29 – Oct 28 |
| 🫛 Yard-Long Beans (Snake Beans) | Jan 1 | Jan 1 | — | Mar 2 – Mar 22 |
| 🥬 Zucchini | Jan 1 | Jan 1 | — | Feb 15 – Mar 2 |
| 🌿 Basil | Jan 1 | Jan 1 | — | Jan 31 – Mar 2 |
| 💙 Borage | — | — | Jan 1 | Feb 20 – Mar 2 |
| 🍃 Curry Leaf Tree (Kadi Patta) | — | — | Jan 1 | Jun 30 – Dec 27 |
| 🍃 Holy Basil (Tulsi) | Jan 1 | Jan 1 | — | Feb 15 – Mar 2 |
| 🌾 Lemongrass | Jan 1 | Jan 1 | — | Mar 17 – Apr 11 |
| 🌿 Stevia | Jan 1 | Jan 1 | — | Mar 2 – Mar 22 |
| 🍉 Watermelon | Jan 1 | Jan 1 | — | Mar 12 – Apr 1 |
| 🌻 Sunflower | — | — | Jan 1 | Mar 2 – Mar 22 |
Dates are averages based on Zone 11b frost dates (last frost: no frost, first frost: no frost). Adjust for your specific microclimate.
🥦 Vegetables
- 🌾 Amaranth (Chaulai / Rajgira) EasyContainer OK
- 🫑 Bell Pepper Container OK
- 🥒 Bitter Melon (Karela) Container OK
- 🥒 Bottle Gourd (Lauki / Doodhi)
- 🍒 Cherry Tomato EasyContainer OK
- 🌶️ Chili Pepper EasyContainer OK
- 🥬 Collard Greens EasyContainer OK
- 🌽 Corn
- 🥒 Cucumber EasyContainer OK
- 🍆 Eggplant Container OK
- 🫚 Ginger Container OK
- 🫘 Green Beans EasyContainer OK
- 🥒 Luffa (Turai / Ridge Gourd)
- 🌱 Microgreens Easy
- 🌳 Moringa (Drumstick Tree) Container OK
- 🌶️ Okra Container OK
- 🎃 Pumpkin EasyContainer OK
- 🍠 Sweet Potato Container OK
- 🫚 Taro (Arbi / Colocasia) Container OK
- 🍅 Tomato Container OK
- 🟡 Turmeric (Haldi) Container OK
- 🫛 Yard-Long Beans (Snake Beans) EasyContainer OK
- 🥬 Zucchini EasyContainer OK
🍓 Fruits
🌿 Herbs
⚠️ Worth Trying (Marginal)
These plants are outside the ideal zone range but possible with the right approach.
🗺️ USDA Plant Hardiness Zones
Zone 11 is shown in
this colour
on the map below
2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map — public domain. USDA Agricultural Research Service
USDA zones run 1a–13b (26 half-zones). Each full zone above covers both the a and b half-zones. Browse all US zones →
Browse Related Zones
Frequently Asked Questions
Hot tropical zone with high humidity year-round. All tropical crops thrive. Vegetables like Amaranth (Chaulai / Rajgira), Bell Pepper, Bitter Melon (Karela), Bottle Gourd (Lauki / Doodhi), Cherry Tomato all grow well here.
Year-round growing is possible. In the hottest months, focus on heat-tolerant tropicals and use shade cloth for cool-season greens.
Top vegetables for Zone 11b: Amaranth (Chaulai / Rajgira), Bell Pepper, Bitter Melon (Karela), Bottle Gourd (Lauki / Doodhi), Cherry Tomato. For beginners, Amaranth (Chaulai / Rajgira) and Basil are the easiest to start with.
Avocado, Banana, Fig, Lemon Tree all grow well in Zone 11b. Zone 11b is excellent for most temperate fruits.
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