Local planting guide · Great Plains
zip 77210
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 climate presents a gardener's paradox: a winter freeze window lasting from January 30 to December 28 provides a 330-day growing season, nearly the entire year, yet the dominant constraint is not cold but heat and humidity. Minimum winter temperatures of 25 to 30°F are mild enough to support frost-tender crops like figs, pomegranates, Asian persimmons, and jujubes, which struggle in colder zones. The long season enables a two-crop vegetable cycle: spring tomatoes, peppers, and warm-season plants finish by mid-summer, then replant in late August for a fall harvest before winter dormancy. The real challenge is the Gulf Coast's extreme summer heat and humidity. From June through September, afternoon temperatures regularly exceed 95°F, and the high humidity creates ideal conditions for fungal diseases on fruit trees and foliar diseases on vegetables. Most cool-season crops are infeasible during peak summer. Successful gardeners in Houston treat the calendar in thirds: early spring planting (January through March), a summer break or shade-growing period (June through August), and a robust fall garden (August through November). The growing season length masks a distinct bimodal rhythm.
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 summer heat is the leading cause of crop failure. Tomatoes, peppers, and most vegetables stop setting fruit once nighttime temperatures exceed 75°F, typically from late June through early August. Plants don't die but simply cease production during the hottest stretch. Fungal and bacterial diseases thrive in the high humidity, particularly on fruit trees. Fire blight can strike during spring warm spells, and powdery mildew affects grapes and cucurbits year-round. Late-winter cold snaps, though rare, can still catch early bloomers on stone fruit in February, negating the season's head start. Soil pH in the Houston area tends toward alkalinity (7.5 to 8.5), limiting nutrient availability for acid-loving plants unless amended heavily with sulfur.
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
Start tomatoes in late January or early February to secure fruit set before June heat sets in; transplants should reach productive size by mid-May. Use shade cloth (30 to 50 percent density) over tomatoes and peppers from June onward to lower soil and air temperature and keep plants producing through early fall. Plan a second vegetable planting in mid to late August: cool-season crops (lettuce, brassicas, carrots) and heat-tolerant crops (eggplant, okra, southern peas) can be transplanted to establish by September and harvest through November. Space fruit trees widely to maximize air circulation and reduce humidity-driven disease pressure; thin canopies during humid months to allow better light penetration and faster leaf drying after rain or irrigation.
Frequently asked questions
- What crops grow best in Houston?
Heat-loving perennial fruits like figs, pomegranates, Asian persimmons, and jujubes thrive with the mild winters (25 to 30°F lows). For vegetables, tomatoes and peppers dominate in spring and fall, while okra, southern peas, and eggplant handle summer heat. Cool-season crops (lettuce, broccoli, carrots) are reliable only from September through March.
- When should I plant tomatoes in Houston?
Sow seeds in late January indoors, transplant in mid-February, and aim for first fruit by May. This timing ensures fruit set before summer heat shuts down production in June. For a second crop, sow seeds again in June or July for transplanting in late August; fall tomatoes typically produce through November.
- What's the biggest weather risk in Houston gardening?
Summer heat halts fruit set on tomatoes and peppers, not because plants die but because stress stops flowering. Unpredictable late-winter cold snaps (rare but possible) can kill early-blooming stone fruit. Humidity-driven fungal diseases are chronic, not acute, but threaten yield over time.
- How do I get peppers to produce through late fall?
Plant in February for spring harvest, then reapply shade cloth in June when heat peaks. Pepper plants often survive the summer lull if mulched and watered consistently, then resume flowering when temperatures drop in late August. A second transplanting in August also works if you want fresh plants for fall production.
- How do I manage humidity-related diseases?
Space plants widely for air circulation, avoid overhead watering (drip irrigation is preferable), and prune canopies to thin dense growth. Fungicides applied preventively during high-humidity months (May through October) reduce powdery mildew and bacterial spot on fruit. Mulch prevents soil-borne pathogens from splashing onto leaves.
- Is the January 30 frost date really my last freeze risk?
Yes, statistically; it's based on 30 years of NOAA data. However, rare cold snaps can occur into February. Early-blooming stone fruit is at risk if frozen blossoms develop after an unseasonal warm spell in January. Later bloom times on heat-demanding crops reduce this risk.
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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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