Local planting guide · Great Plains
zip 77087
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 zone 9b offers one of the longest growing seasons in North America at 330 days, nearly year-round cultivation. The last spring frost typically arrives around January 30, and the first fall frost does not return until late December. This extended frost-free window is the dominant advantage, enabling reliable production of heat-loving permanent crops like figs, Asian persimmons, pomegranates, and jujubes that struggle in colder zones. The primary constraint is not cold but sustained summer heat and humidity. Temperatures regularly exceed 95°F from June through September, paired with Gulf humidity that creates ideal conditions for fungal disease pressure and heat stress on sensitive crops. Houston gardeners who work with the heat rather than against it succeed; those who insist on cool-season preferences designed for northern zones often encounter consistent failure. The long season demands thoughtful crop sequencing and cultivar selection, not just planting what performs well in cooler regions.
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
Late-winter freeze damage is Houston's most underestimated threat. January warm spells frequently trigger bud break and new growth on figs, peaches, and flowering shrubs; a subsequent freeze in early February then kills emerging tissue even though the average last frost date of January 30 has technically passed. The second challenge is sustained summer heat combined with high humidity, which creates perfect conditions for fungal diseases, spider mite outbreaks, and heat-induced wilting despite adequate water. Alkaline, heavy clay soil is endemic to much of the Houston area, making it difficult for acid-loving crops and limiting drainage, which compounds summer heat stress and promotes root rot during wet seasons.
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
First, prioritize cold-tender perennials (figs, pomegranates, jujubes) and treat them as core productive crops; they thrive in Houston's heat and frost risk is minimal for mature plants. Second, protect early budbreak: if a warm spell occurs in late January, monitor the forecast closely and be prepared to shield vulnerable growth with frost cloth or run irrigation to provide frost protection if temperatures threaten to dip below 32°F. Third, adopt heat-management practices from the start: apply 3 to 4 inches of mulch to retain soil moisture, provide afternoon shade cloth (30 to 50% shade) for heat-sensitive crops in midsummer, and water deeply but infrequently to encourage deep rooting rather than frequent shallow watering.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the best time to plant tomatoes in Houston?
Tomatoes have two distinct windows in Houston: fall planting (August through September) for harvest October through December, and spring planting (January through February) for harvest April through June. Spring tomatoes typically produce better due to lower disease pressure and more favorable fruit set before peak summer heat. Avoid summer planting (June through July), when seedlings struggle and fruit sets poorly above 95°F.
- Can I garden year-round in zone 9b?
Effectively yes, but not with the same crops year-round. Houston's 330-day frost-free period enables cool-season crops (leafy greens, brassicas, root crops) from September through March and heat-loving crops (tomatoes, peppers, jujubes, figs) from February onwards. Plan for seasonal crop rotations rather than continuous production of any single crop.
- Is zone 9b truly frost-free?
Freezes do occur in zone 9b, with the last spring frost typically around January 30 and the first fall frost near December 28. The extended frost-free period is a tremendous advantage, but late-winter warm spells that trigger bud break create frost-damage risk if freezing temperatures return unexpectedly. Monitor forecasts during warm snaps in January and February.
- What causes so many fungal diseases in Houston?
Year-round warmth, high humidity, and afternoon thunderstorms create ideal conditions for powdery mildew, leaf spots, rust, and root rot. Space plants for air circulation, remove fallen leaves promptly, and water at the soil line rather than overhead. Fungal pressure intensifies in summer, making disease-resistant varieties essential.
- Which crops grow with minimal care in Houston?
Figs, jujubes, pomegranates, and Asian persimmons thrive with little intervention once established. Tomatoes and peppers are reliable if planted in the right season (fall or early spring). Avoid high-maintenance crops like raspberries and stone fruits requiring significant chill hours, which Houston cannot reliably provide.
- Why is January frost a bigger threat than December?
January warm spells are common in Houston, warming soil and triggering bud break on figs, peaches, and flowering plants. If a freeze follows unexpectedly, this new growth is killed. December freezes occur after dormancy has set, causing minimal damage. Watch the January forecast closely, especially after warm stretches.
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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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