Local planting guide · Great Plains
zip 77036
Houston is in USDA hardiness zone 9b, with average winter lows of 25°F to 30°F. The local growing season runs roughly 02/02 through 12/11 (~318 days). This zip falls within the Great Plains growing region.
- USDA zone
- 9b 25°F to 30°F
- Last spring frost
- 02/02
- First fall frost
- 12/11
- Growing season
- 318 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 hardiness zone 9b with winter lows typically between 25 and 30°F, but the real defining feature is a 318-day growing season that stretches from early February through mid-December. Compared to other zone 9b locations, Houston's constraint is not cold but heat and humidity. Summer heat peaks from July through September, paired with humidity that favors fungal disease and stresses heat-sensitive crops like tomatoes. The extended frost-free period (last spring frost February 2, first fall frost December 11) creates opportunity for succession planting and multiple crop cycles per year. Figs, Asian persimmons, pomegranates, and jujubes thrive in the warmth. Vegetables like peppers, sweet potato, eggplant, and okra perform reliably through the season. The defining strategy for Houston gardeners is not fighting frost risk but managing summer heat through variety selection, shade, and strategic timing of plantings that sidestep peak heat.
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 humidity creates persistent fungal disease pressure, particularly powdery mildew on apples and some perennials, and early blight on tomato foliage through the summer months. Summer heat stress is equally consequential: tomato flowers drop and fail to set fruit from late June through August when nighttime temperatures stay elevated, forcing many gardeners to skip tomato growing during those months entirely. A third challenge, often underestimated, is the late winter freeze. While zone 9b guarantees survival of most woody plants, the February 2 last-frost date means tender new growth on fruit trees and early-spring vegetables can be damaged by sudden cold snaps even in March, requiring frost cloth protection for valuable plants during that window.
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
First, embrace succession planting. With 318 frost-free days, cool-season crops like brassicas, leafy greens, and peas can be grown in fall (September through November) and again in late winter and spring (January through March), with a summer break. Second, select heat and humidity-tolerant pepper varieties for reliable production through the hot months when tomatoes falter. Hot peppers, in particular, thrive in Houston's climate. Third, keep frost cloth on hand through early March even though hard freezes are rare in zone 9b. A late-winter cold snap in February or March can kill tender young growth on newly leafing fruit trees or damage transplanted vegetable seedlings, so staying aware of 10-day forecasts and being ready to cover protects the early planting investment.
Frequently asked questions
- What's the easiest crop to start with in Houston?
Peppers (both sweet and hot), okra, and figs are excellent first choices. They tolerate Houston's summer heat and humidity better than most vegetables, produce reliably with minimal intervention, and thrive in the zone 9b climate. Tomatoes are possible but require heat-tolerant varieties and strategic timing.
- When should I plant tomatoes in Houston?
Plant tomato transplants in late February or early March, after the last frost date of February 2 has safely passed. They'll grow quickly in spring warmth and set fruit before summer heat stress begins. Many Houston gardeners skip summer tomato growing entirely and return to fall planting in August for a fall crop.
- What's the biggest weather risk for gardening in Houston?
Summer heat and humidity, not cold, are the primary obstacles. High temperatures and humidity from July through September stress many plants and favor fungal disease. A secondary risk is sudden cold snaps in late winter and early spring, which can damage tender new growth despite zone 9b's generally mild winters.
- Can I grow vegetables year-round in Houston?
Nearly yes. Cool-season crops thrive September through March, warm-season crops (peppers, okra, eggplant) dominate June through October, and the heat of July and August defeats most vegetable gardening unless you focus exclusively on heat-tolerant kinds like hot peppers and okra. Most home gardeners operate two separate growing cycles rather than attempting continuous production.
- How do I protect plants from late-winter frost?
The February 2 last-frost date is a guide, not a guarantee. Keep frost cloth or blankets handy through early March. If a cold snap threatens, cover young fruit tree growth, tender perennials, and newly planted vegetables on the night before the freeze. Remove covers the next day to prevent heat damage.
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Frost data: NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020, station USW00012977. Local microclimates can shift these dates by a week or more.
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