Local planting guide · Great Plains
zip 77208
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 330-day growing season and early last spring frost (January 30) create one of Texas's most extended gardening windows. The subtropical climate, not cold, is the defining factor. Winter lows in zone 9b reach 25 to 30°F, cold enough to kill tender perennials but rare enough that protection is seldom needed. Heat and humidity are the real constraints. Summer temperatures consistently exceed 90°F and often reach 95°F or higher, with humidity levels that favor fungal disease. The combination makes Houston ideal for heat-loving crops like figs, Asian persimmons, pomegranates, and jujubes that struggle elsewhere in the zone. Tomatoes and peppers thrive in the warm season, though mid-summer intensity can cause heat stress on fruit set. The long first-fall-frost window (December 28) permits cool-season crops through much of the winter, a secondary growing season unavailable to northern parts of zone 9b. Soil in the Houston area trends alkaline, which narrows the crop palette for acid-loving plants and may require amendment.
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
Heat stress on developing fruit in midsummer (June through August) is common when daytime temperatures exceed 95°F and overnight lows stay above 75°F. Pepper and tomato plants may drop flowers or abort fruit in peak summer, requiring shade cloth or strategic timing of plantings to avoid this window. Fungal and bacterial diseases thrive in the high humidity; fire blight, powdery mildew, and root rot pressures exceed those in drier zones. Late-season pest buildup, especially spider mites and whiteflies, can devastate late-summer and fall crops if not monitored closely. Irrigation is a recurring tension; the long growing season tempts frequent watering, but the humid subtropical climate creates root-rot risk if drainage isn't excellent. Many home gardeners overwater or choose shallow-rooted crops when deeper-rooted, drought-tolerant options would succeed with less input.
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
Stagger tomato and pepper plantings in three cycles: early spring for an April to June harvest before heat stress peaks, a light summer planting in late July for fall fruit, and a fall planting (late August) for winter harvest. This avoids the heat-stress window and spreads pest pressure across shorter crop windows. Use 30 to 50% shade cloth from June through September on heat-sensitive crops like Asian persimmons and certain apple varieties; full sun in this window exceeds their tolerance. In late October, after the January frost risk has passed, transition to cool-season crops (brassicas, greens, root crops) and make the most of the extended winter growing season through December, a window most northern zone 9b gardeners don't have.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the best fruit trees for Houston?
Figs, Asian persimmons, pomegranates, and jujubes are exceptionally well-suited to zone 9b's heat and humidity. Citrus thrives if protected from occasional hard freezes. Peaches and plums require winter chill that Houston barely reaches; they're marginal and often disappoint.
- When should I plant tomatoes in Houston?
Plant early in spring (January to February) for a May to July harvest, or in late July for a fall crop maturing in October to November. The mid-summer heat (June through August) causes flower drop and poor fruit set, so avoid planting into that window.
- Is freezing a real risk in Houston?
Hard freezes (below 28°F) are rare, roughly once every 2 to 5 years. The last spring frost date (January 30) is unusually early for zone 9b, allowing very early spring planting. Tender perennials like citrus benefit from a sheltered microclimate or frost cloth as insurance.
- How do I handle the summer heat?
Shade cloth (30 to 50%), mulch to cool the soil, and drip irrigation on a timer reduce heat stress. Choose heat-tolerant varieties of peppers and tomatoes. For fruit trees, thinning fruit in early summer can improve size and quality of remaining fruit, reducing tree stress.
- Can I grow cool-season crops in Houston?
Yes, and this is a major advantage. Plant brassicas, leafy greens, and root crops from October through February. The mild winter (lows of 25 to 30°F) permits year-round gardening in many microclimates, unlike northern zones.
- What soil amendments does Houston need?
Local soil is often alkaline (pH 7.5 to 8.0). Acid-loving crops like blueberries require sulfur or compost additions. For most crops, well-draining raised beds or compost incorporation improve fertility and reduce root rot in humid conditions.
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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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