Local planting guide · Great Plains
zip 77059
Houston is in USDA hardiness zone 9b, with average winter lows of 25°F to 30°F. The local growing season runs roughly 01/31 through 12/27 (~328 days). This zip falls within the Great Plains growing region.
- USDA zone
- 9b 25°F to 30°F
- Last spring frost
- 01/31
- First fall frost
- 12/27
- Growing season
- 328 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 window is nearly year-round, with a 328-day frost-free period stretching from late January through late December. Winter lows in zone 9b average 25 to 30°F, cold enough to kill tender tropicals but mild enough to grow many temperate fruit trees and vegetables through the cooler months. The dominant challenge is not cold but rather heat and humidity. Summers are intense, with sustained temperatures in the 90s and occasional days exceeding 100°F, paired with moisture-heavy air that creates ideal conditions for fungal diseases. Figs, Asian persimmons, pomegranates, and jujubes thrive in Houston's heat where colder zones struggle. Warm-season crops like tomatoes and peppers produce abundantly across spring, summer, and fall plantings. The real test is selecting varieties bred for humidity tolerance and managing the disease pressure that comes with it.
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 late spring frost date of January 31 surprises many Houston gardeners who assume zone 9b means winter is mild. Early-blooming fruit trees and cool-season crops planted too early can be damaged by this final freeze, which arrives after weeks of warm days that trigger flowering. Summer humidity combined with temperatures in the 90s and above creates perfect conditions for fungal diseases like powdery mildew, leaf spot, and anthracnose, especially on vegetables and young fruit trees. Fire blight takes a toll on susceptible varieties of apple and pear during warm, wet springs. Water availability is the third constraint: while Houston receives adequate annual rainfall, seasonal dry spells coincide with peak heat, stressing newly planted trees and reducing fruit quality if irrigation is insufficient.
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
Variety selection matters more in Houston than in drier climates. Choose fungal disease-resistant tomato cultivars and powdery mildew-tolerant squash to reduce seasonal pesticide needs. Second, mark January 31 as a hard frost deadline: tender new growth triggered by warm days will be killed by the final freeze, so delay pruning and fertilizing of perennials until early February. Third, exploit the 328-day growing season with succession plantings. Spring tomatoes and peppers mature by June; replant in July or August for a fall crop that avoids the worst summer heat and often produces superior fruit due to cooler ripening temperatures in October and November.
Frequently asked questions
- What fruits grow best in Houston?
Figs, Asian persimmons, pomegranates, and jujubes are reliably productive. All tolerate Houston's summer heat and have moderate winter chill requirements suited to zone 9b. Avoid high-chill apple and pear varieties; choose low-chill selections if desired, and expect fire blight to be a persistent management issue.
- When should I plant tomatoes in Houston?
Early February through mid-March for spring crop (last frost January 31), and July or August for fall crop. Fall plantings often outperform spring due to cooler ripening temperatures and lower disease pressure in October and November. Both windows fall within Houston's 328-day frost-free period.
- What's the biggest weather threat to my garden?
Summer humidity combined with heat creates sustained fungal disease pressure from June through September. This is more damaging than the occasional winter cold snap. Select disease-resistant varieties and ensure good air circulation through pruning and spacing.
- Can I garden year-round in Houston?
Nearly. The 328-day growing season and January 31 last frost date mean cool-season crops like lettuce, broccoli, and beets can be planted from November through February, while warm-season crops fill spring through fall. A modest winter cover crop or dormant perennials make true year-round activity possible.
- What soil issues should I know about?
Houston soils are often alkaline and clay-heavy. Many fruits and vegetables prefer slightly acidic soil; amending with sulfur or peat moss can help. Clay drainage is poor, so raised beds or mounding improve outcomes for root crops and vegetables, which are particularly sensitive to waterlogging.
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Frost data: NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020, station USW00012975. Local microclimates can shift these dates by a week or more.
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