Local planting guide · Great Plains
zip 77093
Houston is in USDA hardiness zone 9b, with average winter lows of 25°F to 30°F. The local growing season runs roughly 02/13 through 12/09 (~300 days). This zip falls within the Great Plains growing region.
- USDA zone
- 9b 25°F to 30°F
- Last spring frost
- 02/13
- First fall frost
- 12/09
- Growing season
- 300 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 300-day growing season (last spring frost February 13, first fall frost December 9, per NOAA Climate Normals) is the region's greatest asset. This extended window supports crops from subtropical to warm-temperate zones, making zone 9b gardening here substantially more expansive than in colder-winter areas. The dominant constraint is not cold but heat and humidity.
Winter lows average 25-30°F; hard freezes in February are uncommon but still occur in most years, requiring frost protection for tender perennials planted the previous spring or summer. The long warm season favors figs, jujubes, pomegranates, and Asian persimmons as permanent landscape features. Annuals thrive on succession plantings: tomatoes, peppers, and similar heat-lovers planted in spring through early summer, then replanted for fall harvest.
Humidity creates sustained pressure from fungal diseases, particularly powdery mildew, leaf spot, and soft fruit rots on ripening crops. Summer heat (routinely above 95°F from June through September) is not inhibitory for zone 9b crops, but it stresses water uptake, increases pest reproduction rates, and shortens the viability window for spring transplants if they are not hardened adequately before planting.
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
- March/April frost on new growth: Warm spells in late winter trigger flushing on figs and stone fruits, followed by cold snaps (occasionally near 32°F) that kill emerging flowers and leaves. This frost-tender growth cycle is specific to Houston's warm-cool-warm pattern and can set back perennial growth by weeks.
- Fungal diseases in summer: Powdery mildew, anthracnose, and fruit rots thrive in 80-90°F nights with 70%+ humidity from June through August. Resistant varieties, good air circulation, and drip irrigation are essential to suppress disease pressure.
- Water stress in spring and summer: Tomatoes and peppers planted early require consistent moisture; dry spells in May trigger blossom-end rot, and midsummer heat often suppresses fruit set or slows ripening. A missed watering during fruit development can compromise the entire early-summer harvest.
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, peppers, and other heat-sensitive crops by mid-April at the latest (before daily highs consistently exceed 90°F). Flowers set best in the 70-85°F range and abort when heat arrives too early. Replant in mid-July for a fall harvest, timing fruit set to avoid peak fungal pressure in August and early September.
- For figs, jujubes, and other tender perennials, manage frost risk by siting them on the south side of a building or under the dappled shade of a larger tree; the microclimate warmth reduces injury from February cold snaps. Young newly planted specimens may need frost cloth protection if a hard freeze is forecast.
- Maintain consistent moisture year-round, especially during the hot summer months. Drip irrigation or deep mulch prevents stress-driven fruit rots, blossom-end rot, and mite outbreaks that plague unirrigated plantings and can eliminate an entire season's harvest.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the best fruit crops for Houston's zone 9b?
Figs, jujubes, pomegranates, and Asian persimmons are the most reliable perennial crops. Figs are nearly foolproof and produce fruit twice yearly (early summer and late fall). Jujubes are heat- and drought-tolerant once established. Asian persimmons (non-astringent varieties like Fuyu) thrive in the long season. Stone fruits like peaches require chilling hours (400-600) that zone 9b barely meets, so they are less reliable; choose low-chill varieties if attempting them.
- When should I plant tomatoes in Houston?
Plant transplants by mid-April for a spring/early summer crop. Tomatoes set fruit best between 70-85°F; once daily highs exceed 90°F (usually mid-June), flower drop and poor set become the limiting factor. A second planting in mid-July produces fruit in the cooler fall months (September-November) when heat stress is absent.
- What's the biggest weather risk in Houston gardening?
March and April frost on new growth. February freezes are usually mild (lows near 25-30°F), but warm spells in late winter trigger flushing on figs, stone fruits, and tender perennials. A subsequent cold snap (still possible in March or April) kills those flowers and emerging leaves, setting back growth by weeks.
- Is humidity a major problem in Houston?
Yes. Fungal diseases, particularly powdery mildew and anthracnose, thrive in the 70%+ humidity and 80-90°F nights of summer (June-August). Select disease-resistant crop varieties, space plants for air circulation, and avoid overhead irrigation in the evening. Drip irrigation keeps foliage dry.
- What should I grow in summer if heat is a problem for tomatoes?
Okra, yard-long beans, heat-tolerant peppers, eggplant, and sweet potato thrive in Houston's summer heat. These crops produce well June through September. Plan succession plantings of warm-season crops rather than relying solely on tomatoes and spring-planted peppers.
- Do I need to protect figs and other tender perennials from frost?
February frost rarely damages established plants; lows average 25-30°F, which figs tolerate. The real risk is new growth in March-April being killed by subsequent cold snaps. Siting plants on south walls or under larger trees provides microclimate protection. Young newly planted specimens can be wrapped with frost cloth if a hard freeze is forecast.
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Frost data: NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020, station USW00012960. Local microclimates can shift these dates by a week or more.
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