Local planting guide · Great Plains
zip 77072
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
The long growing season in Houston (318 days from February through December) is the primary advantage, but summer heat and humidity are the defining constraints. Winter minimums average 25-30°F, warm enough that many tender perennials survive outdoors, yet late freezes still occur, as recently as early February in most years. The real challenge is not cold but rather the opposite: temperatures routinely exceed 95°F from June through September, and the high humidity creates conditions where fungal diseases (leaf spots, powdery mildew, root rots) thrive faster than in drier parts of zone 9b.
Crops that excel here are those that either tolerate heat well or can be grown outside the summer peak. Figs, Asian persimmons, pomegranates, jujubes, and goji berries are exceptionally well-suited. They handle the heat, demand less water than tomatoes or peppers, and produce reliably. Tomatoes and peppers are possible but require careful variety selection and summer shade. The real edge comes from planting in fall (September through November) and early spring (January and February), when cool-season crops can grow uninterrupted and warm-season crops have a full spring window before heat intensity climbs.
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 obstacles recur for Houston gardeners. First, late-spring freezes: despite the February 2 average last frost date, occasional hard freezes into early March can damage tender new growth and kill newly-set fruit on heat-loving crops. Second, humidity-driven diseases, particularly powdery mildew on squash and peppers, and bacterial leaf spots on tomatoes, spread rapidly in the warm, wet climate and require aggressive air circulation or early-season management. Third, summer heat itself: by mid-June, most warm-season crops either bolt (leafy greens), produce poorly (tomatoes set few fruits above 90°F), or require constant shade cloth or afternoon shade from taller plants. The window for tomato and pepper fruit set narrows to May and early June.
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 fall, not spring. A September planting reaches full production by November through January, then declines as heat arrives in March. Spring plantings produce only briefly before summer heat sterilizes pollen and fruit set plummets. Winter protection (frost cloth on cold nights) pays off because the growing season remains otherwise uninterrupted.
Prioritize heat-tolerant perennials. Figs, Asian persimmons, and jujubes thrive through Houston summers with minimal supplemental watering once established. They sidestep the annual replanting and disease cycles that bog down heat-stressed annuals.
Manage humidity through structure, not chemistry. Wide plant spacing, drip irrigation at soil level (not overhead), and early-morning pruning of lower leaf canopy to improve air flow reduce fungal pressure more reliably than frequent spraying, and the effect compounds as plants mature.
Frequently asked questions
- What crops are most reliable in Houston?
Figs, Asian persimmons, pomegranates, jujubes, and goji berries are exceptionally productive and require less intervention than heat-sensitive crops. These handle summer heat and humidity with minimal fussing.
- When should I plant tomatoes in Houston?
September through early October. Fall-planted tomatoes produce through winter and early spring, then decline as temperatures exceed 90°F in late May. Spring plantings often fail to set fruit before summer heat arrives.
- What's the biggest weather risk in Houston?
Late-spring freezes in February and early March can damage new growth and young fruit on tender crops, despite the zone 9b rating. Keep frost cloth ready through the end of February.
- Can I grow fruit trees year-round here?
Most fruit trees are deciduous and require winter chill to produce reliably. The 318-day season is long, but it's not a true year-round tropical climate. Winter temperatures occasionally dip to 25°F, which is enough for most temperate fruit varieties.
- Is the humidity a real problem?
Yes. High humidity accelerates fungal diseases (powdery mildew, leaf spots) especially on squash, peppers, and tomatoes. Wide spacing, drip irrigation at soil level, and daytime air circulation are essential. Summer shade cloth also reduces leaf wetness.
- What grows best in Houston's winter?
Cool-season crops like lettuce, kale, broccoli, cabbage, and peas thrive November through February. The lack of hard freezes (average low 25-30°F) means many crops can be direct-seeded outdoors in late September.
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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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