Local planting guide · Great Plains
zip 77064
Houston is in USDA hardiness zone 9b, with average winter lows of 25°F to 30°F. The local growing season runs roughly 02/19 through 12/03 (~290 days). This zip falls within the Great Plains growing region.
- USDA zone
- 9b 25°F to 30°F
- Last spring frost
- 02/19
- First fall frost
- 12/03
- Growing season
- 290 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 zone 9b classification opens a 290-day growing window from mid-February through early December. The last spring frost typically arrives on February 19, and the first fall frost does not return until December 3, making this one of the longest frost-free stretches in the United States. This extended season permits year-round vegetable gardening and is the primary advantage over colder zones. The limiting factor is not frost but heat and humidity. From May through September, temperatures routinely exceed 90°F with high atmospheric moisture, a combination that suppresses flowering in heat-sensitive crops like temperate apples and favors fungal disease in humid conditions. The sample crops thrive here for different reasons: figs, persimmons, pomegranates, and jujubes are genuinely heat-loving; tomatoes and peppers excel during the warm season but benefit from afternoon shade in peak summer. Houston gardeners do not spend energy protecting against winter cold. Instead, the craft is choosing varieties rated for heat tolerance and timing succession plantings to avoid the summer peak.
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
Three weather and soil factors consistently defeat Houston gardeners. First, the February 19 last spring frost catches early-blooming stone fruits when buds have already broken; a 20-degree frost in mid-February is enough to destroy the season's crop on unprepared trees. Second, Houston's native alkaline clay soil, combined with high humidity, creates conditions favorable to fungal diseases (powdery mildew, cedar-apple rust, scab) that are far less common in drier climates. Third, the May through September heat and humidity can sterilize pollen in some fruit crops and cause blossom-end rot in tomatoes if watering is inconsistent. Gardeners who treat these as discrete problems, frost protection in late winter, soil pH management, and summer moisture balance, recover quickly.
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
Time fruit tree pruning cuts to avoid stimulating tender new growth before the February 19 last frost; dormant pruning in early February is safer than March pruning in Houston. For tomatoes and peppers, plant in early March for an April-May harvest before summer heat peaks, and plan a second succession planting in late July for a November-December harvest after the worst heat breaks. Amend native Houston clay with compost and sulfur to lower pH toward neutral, since many figs, persimmons, and berries perform better at pH 6.0–7.0 than in the native 7.5–8.0 range.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the best fruit crops for Houston?
Figs, persimmons (especially Asian varieties), pomegranates, jujubes, and goji berries all thrive in zone 9b heat. Peaches and plums work but are vulnerable to late-winter frost; choose late-blooming varieties. Tropical fruits (avocado, mango) survive most winters in Houston but occasionally freeze in hard years.
- When should I plant tomatoes in Houston?
Plant in early March for a spring crop (harvest by June before peak heat) or in late July for a fall crop (harvest November–December). Direct-seed in March; transplant nursery seedlings in July. Peak summer heat often sterilizes pollen, so expect lower yields June–August.
- How do I protect early-blooming fruit trees from the February frost?
Avoid pruning after February 1, as new growth is frost-sensitive. If frost threatens at bloom time, frost cloth draped over the tree canopy provides 2–4 degrees of protection. Site frost-prone varieties on north-facing slopes or under tall trees where morning shade delays bud break.
- What's the biggest weather risk for Houston gardeners?
Late-winter frost (February–March) catching early-blooming stone fruits is the single most common cause of lost crops. The long growing season tempts early planting, but a surprise 20-degree night can wipe out blossoms on apricots, plums, and early peach varieties.
- How do I manage summer fungal diseases in Houston's humidity?
Improve air circulation by spacing plants wide and pruning lower limbs. Water early morning only, keeping foliage dry. Amend soil pH toward neutral by adding sulfur and apply sulfur dust in early summer before disease pressure peaks in May–June.
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Frost data: NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020, station USW00053910. Local microclimates can shift these dates by a week or more.
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