Local planting guide · Great Plains
zip 77218
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 zone 9b climate defines a fundamentally different gardening calendar than cooler zones. The last spring frost arrives by mid-February (Feb 13), establishing a hard stop for tender annuals, while the first fall frost doesn't arrive until December 9. This 300-day growing season is the longest in most of the continental US, but length alone doesn't predict success. The real constraint is summer. From June through September, temperatures regularly exceed 90°F with high humidity, creating a climate that favors certain crops while defeating others. Figs, Asian persimmons, pomegranates, and jujubes thrive in this heat, their flavor and productivity often superior to the same varieties in cooler zones. Tomatoes and peppers produce heavily in spring and fall but struggle through the peak summer months. The combination of heat and humidity drives fungal diseases (especially on stone fruits) that require variety selection and pruning strategy, not just spray schedules. A Houston gardener's success hinges less on fighting the season than on choosing crops suited to the local heat and timing plantings to avoid the worst of summer.
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
Three challenges define Houston gardening. First, the late-February frost date catches many home gardeners off-guard. With such a long season, it's tempting to plant tender crops in January, but a 5-degree night in mid-February will kill young tomato and pepper transplants started too early. Second, summer fungal diseases flourish in the combination of heat and humidity. Stone fruits, particularly peaches and plums, face relentless pressure from leaf curl, bacterial spot, and brown rot, especially during humid springs before the heat fully sets in. Third, the intense summer sun stresses plants that thrive in cooler climates. Blueberries, which perform excellently in zone 9b, often show sunscald and leaf burn if exposed to afternoon summer sun without afternoon shade. Recognizing which pests and conditions are regional (not universal to zone 9b) is essential for choosing effective solutions.
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 and peppers by late February or early March, after the Feb 13 frost date passes, to capture spring harvest before summer heat. Plan for a second crop by seeding transplants in mid-August; they'll mature from October through early December as temperatures cool. Provide afternoon shade for heat-sensitive perennials (blueberries, certain fig varieties) during summer to prevent sunscald and heat stress. Afternoon shade from existing trees or shade cloth reduces damage from the intense June-September heat. Begin fall vegetable plantings (lettuce, kale, root crops) by late August to take advantage of the 110-day window until December 9 first frost; seeds sown after late September won't mature in time.
Frequently asked questions
- What crops grow best in Houston zone 9b?
Heat-loving perennials thrive here: figs, Asian persimmons, pomegranates, jujubes, and goji berries produce reliably and often surpass their performance in cooler zones. For annuals, tomatoes and peppers produce heavily in spring and fall but need careful variety selection and summer shade or dormancy strategies.
- When should I start tomato transplants in Houston?
Start seeds indoors in late January or early February for transplanting after the Feb 13 last frost date in late February or early March. This timing captures the spring season before heat stress. For a fall crop, sow new seed or transplant seedlings in mid-to-late August so they mature as temperatures cool in October and November.
- What's the biggest frost risk in Houston?
The Feb 13 last frost date is earlier than many gardeners expect in a zone 9b city. Late-January or early-February plantings of tender crops often die in the inevitable early-March cold snap. Mark Feb 13 as your planting threshold for annuals and tender perennials.
- How do I protect stone fruits from disease in Houston's humidity?
Choose disease-resistant varieties when available. Space trees for airflow, prune aggressively in winter to reduce spring inoculum, and avoid overhead watering that prolongs leaf wetness. Fungal diseases are harder to manage than prevent in Houston's climate.
- Can I grow blueberries in Houston?
Yes, but provide afternoon shade in summer and acidic soil (blueberries prefer pH 4.5-5.5; Houston soils often run slightly alkaline). Plant under tree shade or use shade cloth from June onward to prevent sunscald and heat stress. Rabbiteye and Southern highbush varieties are the most heat-tolerant.
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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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