Local planting guide · Great Plains
zip 77034
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 sits in USDA zone 9b, where winter lows average 25 to 30°F, creating an exceptionally long frost-free window from January 30 through December 28, approximately 330 days. This length rivals some of the longest growing seasons in North America. However, the defining constraint is not winter cold but summer heat and humidity. Daytime temperatures regularly exceed 95°F from June through September, with humidity that amplifies heat stress and creates persistent fungal disease pressure. This climate favors subtropical perennials like figs, Asian persimmons, pomegranates, and jujubes, which thrive in the heat that would exhaust conventional temperate fruits. Warm-season vegetables like tomatoes and peppers grow well in Houston's shoulder seasons (February to May, August to October) but require careful variety selection and summer management to survive the peak-heat months. The real gardening advantage is the extended cool-season window from November through March, when leafy greens, root crops, and brassicas flourish in conditions that would be too cold for most of the country.
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
The dominant challenge in Houston is summer heat and humidity. Tomato and pepper fruit set declines sharply when nighttime temperatures exceed 75°F or daytime peaks above 95°F, often causing flowers and small fruit to drop in June and July. Fungal diseases, particularly powdery mildew and leaf spots, accelerate in the humid conditions. A secondary but unpredictable risk is late-season freezes. While January 30 is the average last spring frost date, freeze events can occur as late as mid-February, catching tender new growth on figs, persimmons, and early-started annuals. A third consideration is tropical storm and hurricane risk from August through October, which can cause sudden wind damage, waterlogging, and debris hazards that interrupt fall and winter planting schedules.
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
Plan the crop calendar around the heat, not the frost dates. Sow cool-season crops (broccoli, cabbage, kale, lettuce) in August through October for a prime November-through-March harvest window, then shift to heat-loving perennials and summer-tough crops June through August. Use 30 percent shade cloth for tomatoes and peppers from mid-June through late August to prevent fruit scalding, improve fruit set, and reduce plant stress while maintaining airflow. Third, start tender annuals (basil, tomatoes, peppers) in mid-January for a spring harvest before peak heat arrives in June, then transition to fall succession plantings in late July to August, targeting a second harvest in September and October before the first fall frost on December 28.
Frequently asked questions
- What fruits and vegetables grow best in Houston?
Heat-loving subtropical fruits like figs, Asian persimmons, pomegranates, and jujubes thrive in zone 9b's summer conditions. Tomatoes and peppers do well in spring (February to May) and fall (August to October). Leafy greens, brassicas, and root crops flourish in the extended cool season from November through March.
- When should I start tomato seeds in Houston?
Start seeds in mid-January for transplanting in February, targeting a harvest before the peak heat of June through August stresses fruit set. For a fall crop, sow seeds in late July or early August, aiming for transplants ready in September for a September-through-November harvest.
- What's the biggest weather risk for home gardeners in Houston?
Summer heat and humidity are the main limiting factors. Nighttime temperatures above 75°F and daytime highs above 95°F cause tomato and pepper flowers to abort, reducing yields. Fungal diseases accelerate in humid conditions.
- How do I keep tomatoes and peppers productive in Houston's heat?
Use 30 percent shade cloth from June through August to reduce peak sun stress and improve fruit set. Plant heat-tolerant varieties like 'Heatwave' tomatoes. Focus on spring and fall crops rather than trying to maintain plants through the brutal summer months.
- Is the 330-day frost-free season a real advantage for year-round gardening?
The frost-free window is long, but summer's extreme heat limits what grows productively. The true advantage is an extended cool season from November through March when cool-climate crops thrive. Houston operates on an inverted calendar relative to much of the country, with winter as the prime season.
- Should I protect plants from late spring frosts?
Yes. While January 30 is the average last spring frost date, freezes can occur into mid-February. Keep frost cloth or row covers handy for February plantings of tender subtropical fruits and early-started annuals.
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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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