Local planting guide · Great Plains
zip 77077
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
Houston's mild winters (25-30°F lows) and long 318-day growing season create an unusual advantage: tenders like figs, Asian persimmons, pomegranates, jujubes, and goji berries thrive outdoors year-round, whereas they struggle in colder zones 9a and north. The last spring frost on February 2 is deceptively early, and the first fall frost doesn't arrive until December 11, providing a genuine 10-month window for growth. The real constraint is not cold but heat and humidity. Houston summers routinely exceed 100°F with 70-80% humidity, creating pressure from fungal diseases and heat stress on crops suited to cooler climates. Successful gardening here means embracing heat-tolerant vegetables (peppers, eggplant, okra) in summer while exploiting the extended cool season for tomatoes, leafy greens, and root crops in fall and winter. Drainage is also critical; Houston's clay-heavy soil demands amendments before planting most fruit trees.
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 first challenge is fungal disease pressure. Humidity combined with warm temperatures (60-85°F) for extended stretches creates ideal conditions for powdery mildew, black spot, and early blight on tomatoes, peppers, and figs. Spacing and pruning to maximize airflow help but aren't sufficient alone; variety selection toward resistant cultivars is essential. Second, late freezes after January warm spells can damage tender growth. A 70°F January followed by a Feb 10 frost can kill newly emerged fig leaves or newly flowered stone fruits. The third challenge is clay soil compaction and poor drainage. Waterlogging in heavy clay leads to root rot in fruit trees and vegetables alike.
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 and February for a spring harvest before summer heat arrives, then plan a second crop for August and September (frost-free until December 11 allows time for ripening). This split season sidesteps peak summer heat stress. Second, amend soil liberally before planting fruit trees. Work 4-6 inches of compost or aged pine bark into clay to improve drainage and aeration; the long growing season rewards investment in soil preparation. Third, choose heat- and humidity-tolerant varieties; look for pepper and tomato cultivars marked as resistant to early blight, black spot, or Septoria. Goji, jujube, fig, and Asian persimmon are inherently well-suited and require less spraying than stone fruits in Houston's humidity.
Frequently asked questions
- When should I plant tomatoes in Houston?
Plant tomatoes in January to early February for a spring harvest before peak summer heat, and again in August for a fall crop maturing in October-November. Spring planting must mature by late May when temperatures exceed 85°F consistently. Many Houston gardeners skip summer tomatoes and focus on heat-loving peppers instead.
- What fruits and vegetables thrive in Houston heat?
Peppers, eggplant, and okra handle summer heat reliably. For perennials, figs, Asian persimmons, pomegranates, jujubes, and goji berries are zone 9b staples that excel here. Tomatoes work in spring and fall but struggle midsummer. Leafy greens, root crops, and brassicas thrive in Houston's mild winters.
- How do I prevent fungal diseases in Houston's humidity?
Space plants for airflow, prune lower branches to improve circulation, and choose disease-resistant varieties. Powdery mildew and early blight are relentless in summer humidity. Avoid overhead watering and water at soil level in early morning. No amount of technique compensates for a susceptible variety.
- Can I trust the February 2 frost date, or are late freezes common?
February 2 is the statistical 50% probability date, but late freezes do occur. An unexpectedly warm January can trigger bud break in stone fruits; a Feb 10 freeze then causes damage. Keep frost cloth on hand for tender growth in late winter.
- Why do my figs and stone fruits get fungal disease even though they're zone 9b?
Humidity is the culprit. Figs develop brown rot and rust in wet summers. Pomegranates are susceptible to bark splitting from erratic moisture. Choose mildew-resistant fig varieties, prune aggressively for airflow, and prioritize varieties that tolerate disease pressure if spraying is not feasible.
- Is Houston clay soil a problem for fruit trees?
Yes. Native clay compacts and waterloggs, leading to root rot. Before planting, amend soil 4-6 inches deep with compost or aged bark, or plant in a mound 6-12 inches above grade. Either approach improves drainage significantly.
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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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