Local planting guide · Great Plains
zip 77204
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 sits in USDA zone 9b with winter minima between 25 and 30°F, providing a 300-day frost-free window from mid-February through early December. This extended growing season supports subtropical and warm-season crops that struggle in colder regions. Figs, Asian persimmons, pomegranates, and jujubes thrive with minimal winter hardship. The dominant constraint is not cold but heat and humidity: midsummer temperatures routinely exceed 95°F with high moisture, creating ideal conditions for foliar fungal diseases. The late spring frost date of February 13 is deceptive; while freezing nights become rare after mid-February, late-season cold snaps occasionally occur and can damage early-blooming or tender new growth on frost-sensitive crops. The window between the last frost and peak summer heat (typically late May) is narrow, making spring planting timing critical for heat-sensitive crops like tomatoes and peppers.
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 freeze damage strikes unexpectedly in late February or early March, when warm spells trigger dormancy break and tender growth, followed by a hard freeze that damages buds or emerging leaves. Asian persimmons and stone fruits bloom early and are particularly vulnerable. Summer fungal pressure intensifies from June onward; the combination of summer heat and near-daily afternoon thunderstorms creates persistent humidity that favors powdery mildew, leaf spot, and fruit rot across fruit and vegetables alike. Tomatoes in particular transition from productive to stressed by July; fall crops planted after August 1 typically perform far better. A third challenge specific to coastal Houston is occasional salt deposition from hurricanes and nor'easters, which burns foliage and requires post-storm rinsing of sensitive plants.
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
Planting transplants after March 15 rather than at the February 13 frost date allows soil to warm and reduces growth delay from lingering cold snaps. This practical adjustment from the statistical frost date improves spring tomato and pepper establishment. Low-chill pepper varieties thrive when planted by late March and harvested before mid-July; heat-tolerance peaks in cool seasons, so fall planting after August 1 avoids mid-summer stress and often yields better production than spring plantings. Managing humidity and fungal disease depends on spacing, airflow, and soil-level watering rather than overhead wetting. Nighttime humidity in Houston's subtropical climate favors foliar diseases, so avoiding leaf wetness from dawn watering is critical for disease suppression.
Frequently asked questions
- When should I plant tomatoes in Houston?
Late March planting after March 15 yields the best spring crop, targeting harvest before heat peaks in early June. Most spring tomatoes falter by July, but fall plantings after August 1 as temperatures cool often prove more productive and reliable.
- What fruits grow best in zone 9b Houston?
Figs, Asian persimmons, pomegranates, jujubes, and low-chill peaches thrive in the 300-day season and warm winters. Citrus also succeeds if occasional freeze damage is tolerated; cold-hardy selections reduce risk after rare freeze events.
- Is February 13 the real last frost date here?
It is the statistical average, but late freezes occur into early March. Cold-sensitive crops like peppers and eggplant are safer planted after mid-March. Early spring bloomers on fruit trees remain vulnerable even when air temperature rises above 32°F.
- How do I manage summer fungal diseases?
Wide plant spacing, soil-level watering only, and dry foliage keep disease pressure low. Avoiding dawn watering that wets leaves is critical in Houston's humid subtropical climate. Removing infected leaves promptly and fungicide applications serve as supporting tactics.
- What makes late freezes dangerous after February?
February warm spells trigger dormancy break in trees and early flower bud development. An arctic cold front in late February or early March then damages that tender new growth. The statistical frost date captures long-term averages, not the variability in late-winter weather.
- Should I grow hot peppers or sweet peppers?
Both thrive in Houston heat. Hot peppers often tolerate peak summer stress better than sweet varieties. Sweet peppers set fruit reliably when planted by late March and harvested before mid-July; fall plantings after August 1 avoid mid-summer stress entirely.
+−
+−
+−
+−
+−
+−
Frost data: NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020, station USW00012960. Local microclimates can shift these dates by a week or more.
Related