Local planting guide · Great Plains
zip 77201
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 gardening year is largely frost-free, with a 330-day growing season that spans nearly January through December. Winter cold is minimal, with the last spring frost falling around January 30 and the first fall frost not arriving until late December. This extended season and mild winters make Houston uniquely suited to tender tropical and subtropical fruit trees that would not survive colder zones: figs, Asian persimmons, pomegranates, jujubes, and goji berries thrive in zone 9b heat where they produce reliably without supplemental frost protection.
The dominant constraint in Houston is not cold but heat and humidity. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 90°F, and the combination of heat and high atmospheric moisture creates ideal conditions for fungal disease pressure on fruit crops and leafy greens. Most gardening transitions occur in spring and fall, when milder temperatures make outdoor work easier. Tropical fruiting trees flourish, but European stone fruits and many cool-season vegetables require careful variety selection and summer shading to survive the intense heat.
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
Houston's high humidity creates a perfect environment for fungal diseases on fruit trees, particularly cedar apple rust and fire blight on apples and pears during the warm, wet months. Variety selection matters more in Houston than zone alone suggests: European pear and many apple cultivars drop their fruit in the sustained summer heat or develop disease pressure that cold-hardy cultivars in cooler zones never encounter.
A second trap is late-spring frost timing. Although the average last spring frost occurs around January 30, freeze events can occur in February or even early March, and timing young transplants to avoid these unpredictable cold snaps requires either delaying planting until late March or using frost cloth protection for early plantings.
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 heat-tolerant fruit varieties as a first defense. Figs, pomegranates, jujubes, and goji berries are well-suited to Houston's climate and require less disease management than traditional stone fruits.
Second, succession-plant warm-season crops like tomatoes and peppers in spring for early summer harvest, then again in mid-summer for a fall crop that matures as temperatures cool in October and November, avoiding the peak heat stress of July and August.
Third, protect young transplants with frost cloth in late January and February; because the last frost arrives as late as January 30, early spring plantings are vulnerable, but the window of frost risk is brief enough that cloth protection is practical for high-value crops.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the best fruit crops to grow in Houston?
Figs, Asian persimmons, pomegranates, jujubes, and goji berries are exceptionally well-suited to Houston's heat and humidity. These crops thrive without the disease pressure that affects traditional cold-hardy fruits like apples and pears in the Texas heat. For vegetables, tomatoes and peppers are reliable choices if planted in spring and again in mid-summer for fall harvest.
- When should I plant tomatoes in Houston?
Plant tomatoes in late February or early March for a spring harvest before peak summer heat arrives in late June. Then replant in late July or early August for a fall crop that matures as temperatures cool in September and October. Tomato plants set fewer fruit and are more prone to fungal disease during the hottest months.
- What is Houston's frost risk?
The average last spring frost occurs around January 30, and the first fall frost doesn't arrive until late December. This means the frost-risk window is roughly one month per year. However, freeze events can occasionally occur in February or early March, so tender young plantings benefit from frost cloth protection during late winter.
- Can I grow tropical fruits in Houston?
Yes. Zone 9b winter lows of 25 to 30°F are mild enough for many tropical and subtropical fruits. Mangoes, passion fruit, and some guava varieties survive in microclimates or with winter protection, though winter freeze risk limits hardiness compared to temperate fruits like pomegranates or jujubes.
- How do I manage humidity and fungal disease?
Choose disease-resistant varieties whenever available. Ensure adequate air circulation by spacing plants appropriately and pruning for canopy openness. Water at the base of plants rather than overhead, and water in early morning so foliage dries quickly. For high-value fruit trees, dormant oil sprays in winter and fungicide applications during warm, wet periods help control cedar apple rust and fire blight.
- When should I plant new trees and shrubs?
Late fall through early spring is the best window, when cooler temperatures reduce transplant stress and plants have time to establish roots before summer heat. Avoid planting during the heat of June through August. Container trees can be planted year-round but require extra irrigation during summer.
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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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