Local planting guide · Great Plains
zip 77051
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's gardening calendar extends nearly the full year. The last spring frost arrives on January 30, and the first fall frost doesn't typically occur until December 28, yielding a frost-free growing season of 330 days. This places the area in zone 9b, where winter lows rarely drop below 25°F. The extended season and mild winters support subtropical and tropical crops that fail in colder zones: figs, Asian persimmons, pomegranates, jujubes, and goji berries all flourish in Houston's climate.
The dominant constraint is not frost but heat and humidity during the long summer. While the season offers extended harvest windows, the subtropical climate creates practical challenges. Summer heat stresses cool-season crops like lettuce and broccoli, high humidity invites fungal disease pressure, and the Texas sun can scald exposed fruit. The payoff is a longer productive window for heat-loving crops like tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant, which can produce through much of the year if summer intensity is managed.
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
Summer heat renders many cool-season crops (lettuce, broccoli, spinach) unmarketable or unpalatable between May and September. High humidity during Houston's warm months creates persistent fungal disease pressure: powdery mildew, black spot on roses and fruit trees, and anthracnose all thrive in the damp air. Tomato production falters during peak heat (July and August) due to heat stress and flower drop.
The long growing season doubles the generation time for certain pests: spider mites and whiteflies can complete multiple cycles in a single year, compounding pressure on successive plantings. Late-season freeze events, while rare (December 28 average), can catch back-season crops by surprise. pH management is critical: much Houston soil is alkaline and clay-heavy, requiring amendment for acid-loving plants.
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 cool-season crops for fall and early spring rather than summer. The last spring frost on January 30 allows direct sowing of peas, spinach, and lettuce in February through early March; succession plant again in late August and September for fall harvest before the December 28 first frost.
- Select heat-tolerant tomato and pepper varieties. Heat-sensitive hybrids set little fruit above 92°F daytime temperatures; choose proven heat-tolerant cultivars suitable for Houston's intensity and look for disease-resistant genetics to handle the humid environment.
- Invest in drip irrigation with mulch layers. Houston's subtropical humidity combined with occasional drought spells demands precision watering. Drip lines deliver water to root zones without wetting foliage (reducing fungal disease risk), and organic mulch (3 to 4 inches) moderates soil temperature and conserves moisture.
Frequently asked questions
- What crops thrive best in Houston?
Subtropical and tropical-tolerant crops outperform temperate varieties. Figs, Asian persimmons, pomegranates, jujubes, and goji berries all fruit reliably. For vegetables, heat-tolerant peppers, eggplant, and okra produce through summer; tomatoes do best in spring and fall. Cool-season crops (lettuce, broccoli, spinach) succeed only in the cooler months (late fall through early spring).
- When should I plant tomatoes in Houston?
Plant tomato transplants in late February for spring harvest (ready by May-June). A second planting in late July or early August produces fall fruit that matures before the December 28 frost. Summer planting (May-July) is risky: heat stress reduces fruit set and disease pressure (septoria leaf spot, early blight) increases.
- What's the biggest weather risk in Houston?
High humidity and summer heat, not frost. The December 28 first frost date is late, but the bigger threat is fungal disease from sustained moisture during warm months. Powdery mildew, black spot, and anthracnose can devastate ornamentals and fruit trees. Manage with air circulation, drip irrigation (avoid wetting foliage), and fungal-resistant varieties.
- Can I garden year-round in Houston?
Nearly. The 330-day growing season (January 30 to December 28 frost dates) supports planting cool-season crops in fall and winter, warm-season crops in spring and early summer, and a transition window in late summer for fall harvest. Success requires variety selection matched to season; what thrives in February fails in July.
- What about growing in the intense heat of July and August?
Peak summer heat often exceeds 95°F with high humidity. Tomatoes drop flowers and stop setting fruit. Peppers survive but produce less vigorously. This is when to focus on heat-loving crops (okra, eggplant, Armenian cucumber) or prepare the garden for fall replanting in late August.
- Are late freezes a risk even though the first frost is in late December?
Rare, but possible. While the December 28 average first frost is late, occasional freezes can occur before that date. Back-season crops planted for late fall or winter harvest can be caught off-guard. Use frost cloth for valuable plants in late November and December, and prioritize harvest of tender crops before December.
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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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