Local planting guide · Great Plains
zip 77220
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 Hardiness Zone 9b. Winter temperatures average 25 to 30°F, which are cold enough to kill tender tropicals but rarely severe enough to stress established trees and shrubs adapted to warm climates. The real gardening constraint in Houston is not winter but summer. The last spring frost arrives February 13 and the first fall frost doesn't come until December 9, yielding a 300-day growing season that's long enough for genuine year-round cultivation of the right crops. This extended season is Houston's chief advantage over cooler parts of zone 9b. Subtropicals flourish here: fig, pomegranate, jujube, and goji berry produce reliably in the sustained heat and humidity that would stress cooler-zone orchardists. Cool-season crops like broccoli and lettuce demand careful timing and shade cloth to sidestep the May-through-September heat wall, when daytime temperatures regularly exceed 90°F. Gardeners who lean into heat-loving crops and accept that traditional cool-season production requires succession planting and active management tend to find better results than those fighting the climate.
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
Gardeners in Houston often face three recurring obstacles. First, the late February frost (February 13) arrives after many tender plants have emerged, creating a classic spring freeze trap where early-blooming fruit tree buds can be damaged by hard freezes at the end of winter. Second, summer heat and humidity create hostile conditions for cool-season crops. Lettuce, broccoli, and peas bolt or wilt by May and remain nearly impossible to grow until October, which makes succession planting and shade cloth necessary for production during warm months. Third, the intensity of the growing season (300 days of heat and humidity) accelerates pest and disease cycles, meaning year-round pest pressure requires active monitoring rather than seasonal breaks.
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
Tomato production is best aligned with the heat cycle for maximum reliability. Spring plantings by early March mature and harvest through May before June heat arrives. For fall production, start seeds indoors by mid-June for transplants ready by late July; these mature through October until the first frost on December 9. This split-season approach yields more reliable harvests than maintaining plants through sustained summer heat. Early-blooming fruit tree buds often emerge during warm January spells and then suffer damage when cold returns in mid-February; frost protection via blankets is effective against these late freezes. The dormant season from December through February is ideal for pruning and grafting work, when trees are safely dormant and frost risk is manageable.
Frequently asked questions
- What crops are most reliable in Houston?
Subtropicals and heat-lovers thrive in Houston's long season and intense summer. Fig, Asian persimmon, pomegranate, jujube, and goji berry produce reliably without the frost stress affecting cooler zone 9b areas. Tomatoes and peppers are equally productive if started at the right time to avoid peak summer heat.
- When should I start tomato seeds for Houston?
Start spring tomatoes by early March for harvest through May before June heat arrives. For fall production, start seeds indoors by mid-June for transplants ready by late July; these mature through October until the first frost on December 9.
- What's the biggest challenge for Houston gardeners?
Summer heat and humidity from May through September make cool-season crops nearly impossible to grow without heavy shade and active cooling. Most gardeners shift focus to heat-loving crops during summer or use shade cloth and succession planting to extend cool-season production.
- What happens if frost hits in February?
The late spring frost on February 13 can damage early-emerging buds on fruit trees and ornamentals. Frost protection via blankets is effective when hard freezes are forecast. Most established trees and shrubs survive unprotected, but early bloomers benefit from coverage.
- How long is the growing season in Houston?
The growing season spans 300 days, from the last spring frost on February 13 through the first fall frost on December 9, one of the longest in the United States. This enables year-round production for heat-tolerant crops and succession planting of cool-season varieties in cooler months.
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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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