Local planting guide · Great Plains
zip 77050
Houston is in USDA hardiness zone 9b, with average winter lows of 25°F to 30°F. The local growing season runs roughly 02/13 through 12/09 (~300 days). This zip falls within the Great Plains growing region.
- USDA zone
- 9b 25°F to 30°F
- Last spring frost
- 02/13
- First fall frost
- 12/09
- Growing season
- 300 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 gardens operate in a peculiar frost window: the last spring frost arrives as late as February 13, and the first fall frost doesn't arrive until December 9 (based on NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020). This yields a 300-day growing season, one of the longest in the United States. The binding constraint in Houston is not winter cold (zone 9b winter lows reach only 25 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit) but rather summer heat, humidity, and occasional mid-winter freezes that catch cold-tender perennials.
Crops like figs, Asian persimmons, pomegranates, and jujubes thrive here with minimal cold damage risk. Tomatoes, peppers, and okra flourish in the long season, though summer heat often ends spring plantings by July. The trade-off is humidity: fungal diseases (powdery mildew, anthracnose, root rot) pressure gardens year-round, especially during the wet months. Soil tends toward dense clay with suboptimal drainage, magnifying disease risk in rainy periods. Gardeners who succeed in Houston typically shift crop timing to avoid the hottest months rather than fighting through them.
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
Spring tomato crops often succumb to heat and humidity stress in July and August; fruit cracks from irregular watering, and plants bolt or develop fruit-setting problems as nighttime temperatures stay above 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Fungal diseases, particularly powdery mildew on squash, anthracnose on fruit trees, and root rot on citrus, are year-round threats and worse in warm, wet periods.
Mid-winter freezes, typically in December or January, can damage or kill tender perennials. Bananas, tender citrus, and young fig branches suffer dieback when temperatures drop below freezing on a few nights after weeks of warm weather. These freezes are unpredictable; a mild winter offers no warning before a sudden 20-degree night in late December.
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
Plant tomatoes and peppers in January or early February rather than waiting for spring. This gives them 6 to 8 weeks to establish and flower before summer heat arrives; spring plantings rarely produce much fruit after mid-July. Succession-plant warm-season crops like okra and Southern peas (black-eyed peas, crowder peas, purple hulls) from April through July; they thrive where tomatoes wilt. Prepare frost protection (frost cloth, row covers, portable cold frames) for tender perennials in late November; watch December forecasts and be ready to insulate banana clumps, citrus, and figs if a freeze is predicted. Even a single protective cloth layer can prevent damage on tender growth during a brief hard freeze.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the easiest fruit trees to grow in Houston?
Figs, Asian persimmons, pomegranates, and jujubes are well-suited to zone 9b and tolerate Houston's heat and humidity. Citrus and avocado can work but require winter protection in cold years. Peaches and apples struggle with the humidity and lack sufficient winter chill hours.
- When should I plant tomatoes in Houston?
Plant in January or February to ensure flowering before summer heat, typically mid-July, shuts down fruit production. Fall plantings in August or September can also work but require shade cloth during early establishment. Spring plantings after the last frost date (February 13) rarely produce well in Houston.
- What's the biggest weather risk in Houston gardens?
Unpredictable mid-winter freezes in December or January. After warm weather in November, a sudden freeze can damage tender perennials like bananas, young citrus, and fig branches. Frost cloth or portable covers over these plants in late November provide essential protection.
- Can I grow peppers year-round in Houston?
Sweet and hot peppers thrive in Houston's 300-day season. Plant in January or February for spring harvest, then regrow in late summer for fall. The window for productive fruit is shorter than tomatoes because peppers slow in peak summer heat but are more heat-tolerant overall.
- How do I manage fungal diseases in Houston's humidity?
Space plants wide for air circulation, water at soil level rather than foliage, and prune lower branches to reduce moisture retention. Choose disease-resistant varieties when available. Mulch to reduce splash-up of soil-borne spores. Sulfur and neem oil are organic options; copper fungicides work on fruit trees.
- What should I grow in summer when tomatoes decline?
Okra, Southern peas (black-eyed peas, crowder peas, purple hulls), yard-long beans, and hot peppers tolerate Houston heat better than spring crops. Succession-plant every 3 to 4 weeks from April through July for continuous harvests into September.
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Frost data: NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020, station USW00012960. Local microclimates can shift these dates by a week or more.
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