Local planting guide · Great Plains
zip 77004
Houston is in USDA hardiness zone 9b, with average winter lows of 25°F to 30°F. The local growing season runs roughly 01/30 through 12/28 (~330 days). This zip falls within the Great Plains growing region.
- USDA zone
- 9b 25°F to 30°F
- Last spring frost
- 01/30
- First fall frost
- 12/28
- Growing season
- 330 days
- Compatible crops
- 37
- Growing region
- Great Plains
Right now in Houston
Week 18 priorities
On the docket: transplant out after last frost · direct sow after last frost. See the full calendar →
Gardening in Houston
Houston is in zone 9b with winter lows between 25-30°F and an exceptionally long growing season of 330 days, one of the longest in the US. The dominant constraint is not cold but heat and humidity. Frost is essentially a non-issue for much of the year. The last spring frost averages January 30, and the first fall frost doesn't arrive until December 28.
This long, warm season favors crops that struggle elsewhere in zone 9b: Asian persimmons, jujubes, pomegranates, figs, and goji berries all thrive. Tomatoes and peppers can be planted as early as late January and grown through much of December with succession planning. The real constraints are humidity-driven disease pressure (especially in summer), the intensity of summer heat (regular 95°F+ temperatures from June through September), and occasional drought stress.
The winter is mild but unpredictable. A hard freeze in December or early January can damage tender perennials or emerging spring growth if it follows a warm spell. Successful Houston gardeners embrace the long season by succession-planting warm-season crops and extending cool-season production. Brassicas, lettuces, and root crops thrive from October through March, a luxury that zone 8 gardeners lack.
Regional context · Great Plains
What the Great Plains brings to Houston
Continental, windy, with severe heat and cold extremes. Cold-hardy fruit and small grains north; long warm season for melons, peppers, and pecans south.
Common challenges
Issues that most often defeat home gardeners in zone 9b, drawn from the broader USDA zone profile.
- ▸ Heat stress in summer
- ▸ Insufficient chill for most apples
- ▸ Salt spray near coasts
What defeats new gardeners in Houston
Houston's three primary growing challenges are:
- Humidity-driven disease: The hot, humid summers create ideal conditions for fungal and bacterial diseases. Powdery mildew appears on figs and grapes despite the heat. Fire blight strikes pears in spring during warm, wet spells. Septoria leaf spot decimates tomatoes in August. Air circulation and preventive fungicide strategies are essential.
- Late freezes after warm spells: January and early February are deceptive. A warm spell in late December or early January prompts buds to break on fruit trees, then a hard freeze (which can occur as late as early February) kills emerging growth. Pomegranates, figs, and Asian persimmons are particularly vulnerable.
- Summer heat stress: From June through September, highs regularly exceed 95°F. Pepper pollen becomes non-viable and set drops when nighttime temperatures exceed 75°F. Tomato pollen has similar limitations. Shade cloth and consistent irrigation are not optional for summer crops.
Crops that grow in Houston
37 crops from our catalog match zone 9b, grouped by type.
Tree fruit
11 crops
zone 9b Fig
Ficus carica
zones 7a–10b
zone 9b Asian Persimmon
Diospyros kaki
zones 7a–10a
zone 9b Pomegranate
Punica granatum
zones 7b–10a
zone 9b Jujube
Ziziphus jujuba
zones 6a–9b
zone 9b Lemon
Citrus limon
zones 9a–11b
zone 9b Orange
Citrus sinensis
zones 9a–11b
zone 9b Lime
Citrus aurantiifolia
zones 9b–11b
zone 9b Grapefruit
Citrus paradisi
zones 9a–11b
Berries
2 crops
Vegetables
18 crops
zone 9b Tomato
Solanum lycopersicum
zones 3a–10b
zone 9b Sweet Pepper
Capsicum annuum
zones 4a–10b
zone 9b Hot Pepper
Capsicum species
zones 4a–10b
zone 9b Eggplant
Solanum melongena
zones 5a–10b
zone 9b Cabbage
Brassica oleracea var. capitata
zones 3a–9b
zone 9b Kale
Brassica oleracea var. acephala
zones 3a–9b
zone 9b Collards
Brassica oleracea var. acephala
zones 4a–9b
zone 9b Cucumber
Cucumis sativus
zones 3b–10a
Herbs
6 crops
Plan the year
Planting calendar for Houston
Year-view of seed starting, transplanting, planting, pruning, fertilizing, harvest, and pest-watch windows tuned to Houston's local frost dates.
Week ? · loading
This week in Houston, TX (zone 9b)
Quiet week in Houston, TX (zone 9b). this week is a good time to step back and plan ahead.
Nothing critical on the calendar this week.
187 bars · 37 crops
Calendar logic combines NOAA frost normals with crop-specific timing data. Local microclimate and weather always overrules the calendar; use this as a starting point.
Top pests for zone 9b
Ranked by how many crops in your zone they affect. Click through for IPM controls and signs to watch for.
Multiple species (Aphididae)
Small soft-bodied sap-sucking insects that reproduce explosively in spring. Excrete honeydew that supports sooty mold and attracts ants. Transmit viral diseases.
Multiple species (Aleyrodidae)
Tiny white moth-like flying insects that feed on plant sap and excrete honeydew. Transmit numerous viral diseases including tomato yellow leaf curl virus.
Meloidogyne species
Microscopic soil-dwelling worm that forms galls on roots, reducing vigor and yield.
Tetranychus urticae
Tiny mite that feeds on leaf undersides, causing stippling and webbing during hot dry weather.
Multiple species (Chrysomelidae)
Tiny black or bronze jumping beetles that put hundreds of small holes in seedling leaves. Most damaging on direct-seeded brassicas and young eggplant.
Odocoileus species
Whitetail and mule deer browse can devastate orchards and gardens, particularly in winter when food is scarce. Antler rub on young trunks kills saplings outright.
Pseudococcidae spp.
Soft white waxy insects that cluster at leaf joints, fruit stems, and root crowns. Honeydew secretion supports sooty mold; root mealybugs cause decline that mimics drought.
Coccoidea spp.
Sap-sucking insects that attach to bark, leaves, and fruit, secreting honeydew that fuels sooty mold. Heavy infestations weaken trees and cause leaf yellowing.
Top diseases for zone 9b
Ranked by how many crops in your zone they affect. Click through for symptoms, controls, and resistant varieties.
Pseudoperonospora cubensis (cucurbits) and others
Water mold (oomycete, not a true fungus) that thrives in cool damp conditions. Spreads rapidly through cucurbit and brassica plantings on wind-borne spores.
Cucumber mosaic virus, Tobacco mosaic virus, and others
Family of plant viruses producing mottled yellow-and-green leaf patterns. Vectored primarily by aphids; some are seed-transmitted or spread by handling tools and tobacco products.
Pythium and Rhizoctonia species
Soil-borne complex of water molds and fungi that kill seedlings before or shortly after emergence. The single most common cause of seed-starting failures.
Fusarium oxysporum
Soil-borne fungal disease that plugs vascular tissue and kills affected plants. Persists in soil for many years; impossible to eliminate once established.
Sclerotium rolfsii
Soil-borne fungal disease most damaging in warm humid Southern conditions. White mycelial fans and small mustard-seed-sized sclerotia at the soil line are diagnostic.
Calcium deficiency physiological disorder
Not a true disease but a calcium-uptake disorder caused by inconsistent soil moisture during fruit development. The dominant cause of damaged first-fruit on home tomato plantings.
Capnodium spp.
Black fungal coating that grows on honeydew secreted by aphids, scale, mealybugs, and whiteflies. Doesn't infect plant tissue directly but blocks photosynthesis and disfigures fruit.
Tomato spotted wilt orthotospovirus (TSWV)
Virus vectored by thrips, particularly western flower thrips. Wide host range and growing global distribution. No cure once infected.
Companion planting suggestions
Beneficial pairings drawn from companion data, filtered to crops that grow in zone 9b.
- Fig + Rosemary
Rosemary tolerates the dry sites figs prefer and provides aromatic pest deterrence.
- Tomato + Basil
The classic Italian pairing. Basil's volatile oils are reported to repel hornworms and whiteflies, and the two crops share the same warm-season schedule and water needs. Plant basil between tomato cages.
- Sweet Pepper + Basil
Same warm-season culture, same watering schedule. Basil reportedly improves pepper flavor and repels aphids and thrips that are pepper's primary pests.
- Hot Pepper + Basil
Compatible heat-loving culture, similar water needs. Basil interplanted between hot pepper plants supports beneficial insects and reduces aphid pressure.
- Lettuce + Tomato
Lettuce planted at tomato's base benefits from afternoon shade as the tomato grows, extending the lettuce harvest into early summer. Different root depths avoid competition.
- Cabbage + Onion
Onion smell confuses cabbage moth. Both prefer similar moisture and fertility. The onion-cabbage interplanting is a Northern European tradition.
Soil types reference
Soil texture and pH decide what grows easily on your specific lot. Find the closest match below for crop recommendations and amendment guidance.
Practical tips for Houston
Succession-plant tomatoes and peppers in waves: With a last spring frost of January 30 and first fall frost of December 28, the window is wide. Start transplants indoors in December and plant in late January for spring harvest (March-May). As summer heat peaks in June-August, succession plantings started in June-July will mature in fall (September-November) when temperatures drop below 90°F and disease pressure eases.
Extend cool-season crops through winter: The 330-day growing season means brassicas, lettuces, root crops, and alliums can be grown October through March without protection. Plant in late August (brassicas) or September (lettuce, spinach) to harvest through winter and early spring, a production window unavailable to zone 8 gardeners.
Protect early-leafing trees from February freezes: If buds break after a warm spell in January, be ready to protect fig, pomegranate, or peach trees from a late frost. Frost cloth or even a running sprinkler can save the crop. Watch 10-day forecasts in late January and early February.
Frequently asked questions
- What crops grow best in Houston?
Warm-season crops (tomatoes, peppers, okra, sweet potato) and heat-loving trees (figs, Asian persimmons, pomegranates, jujubes) thrive. The 330-day growing season also supports extended production of cool-season crops (brassicas, lettuce, root crops) from October through March. Citrus and avocados do well in the warmer parts of zone 9b Houston.
- When should I plant tomatoes in Houston?
With a last spring frost of January 30, transplants can go in the ground in early February. For continuous harvest, succession-plant in late January, April, and June. The June planting produces a fall crop (September-November) after summer heat stress ends. Many Houston gardeners treat tomatoes as a cool-season fall crop rather than spring.
- What's the biggest frost risk in Houston?
Late freezes in January or early February after warm spells are the main threat. The last frost date averages January 30, but freezes can occur into early February if buds have broken during a warm December. Tender perennials (figs, pomegranates, new growth on evergreens) are vulnerable after false springs.
- How do I manage the summer heat?
Plant heat-sensitive crops (tomatoes, peppers) to mature before June, then succession-plant for fall harvest. Use shade cloth (30-50%) over beds in July-August. Consistent irrigation is critical. Mulch heavily to buffer soil temperature. Avoid major new plantings in May-July if possible.
- Is summer humidity a real problem?
Yes. The combination of heat, humidity, and dense foliage creates fungal disease pressure that zone 8 gardeners don't face. Powdery mildew, leaf spot, and root rot thrive. Space plants widely, prune for air circulation, and consider preventive fungicide schedules for high-value crops. Summer is more challenging than winter.
- Can I grow fruit trees successfully in Houston?
Yes, but selectively. Apples and pears struggle with humidity and late freezes. Figs, pomegranates, Asian persimmons, jujubes, and goji berries are well-suited to zone 9b Houston. Citrus works in the warmer microclimates. Avoid poorly drained soil. Late-freeze protection and vigilant disease management are essential.
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Frost data: NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020, station USW00012918. Local microclimates can shift these dates by a week or more.
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