Local planting guide · Great Plains
zip 77221
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 occupies zone 9b with minimum winter temperatures between 25 and 30°F. The landscape is dominated by a 300-day growing season, stretching from a last spring frost of February 13 to a first fall frost of December 9. This length is a significant asset, but it masks a constraint: the late frost date compresses early spring planting into a narrow window before heat and humidity intensify.
The Gulf Coast climate that defines Houston gardening centers on two forces: sustained heat and high humidity. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 90°F, and tropical moisture hangs in the air from June through September. These conditions naturally favor frost-tender fruits and heat-loving crops. Figs, jujubes, pomegranates, and Asian persimmons thrive where many northern fruit trees struggle. Tomatoes, peppers, and other heat-demanding vegetables grow exuberantly once soil warmth arrives.
The trade-off is fungal and bacterial disease pressure, particularly during the humid months. Powdery mildew, fire blight, and sooty mold are not minor annoyances in Houston; they are seasonal facts. Successful gardening here means accepting humidity as a permanent feature and selecting varieties and practices accordingly.
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 frost risk persists into mid-February. Early-blooming fruit trees like pear and peach can set flowers in January, only to lose them to a 28°F night in early February or even early March. This timing is particularly challenging: warm January days trigger bloom, then frost arrives while the tree is exposed.
Summer heat and humidity create a parallel bottleneck. Bacterial leaf scorch and scale insects thrive in sustained warmth. Powdery mildew and leaf spot diseases flourish in stagnant humid air. Many northern fruit tree varieties lack resilience in these conditions. Additionally, cool-season crops like lettuce, brassicas, and spinach struggle during the hot months (June through August), compressed into narrow spring and fall windows. Between February's frost risk and summer's heat, spring planting windows shrink quickly.
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
Plant heat-loving crops in succession. Tomatoes and peppers can go in the ground after the February 13 frost risk passes, roughly late February. Succession plant every 3 to 4 weeks through May to stagger harvest and avoid peak-summer heat stress during mid-summer plantings.
Choose fire blight and powdery mildew-resistant varieties for fruit trees. Standard pears and apples suffer badly in Houston humidity. Figs, jujubes, and pomegranates sidestep the problem by nature; other fruit trees benefit from varieties bred for warm, humid regions.
Leverage the December 9 first fall frost date to extend fall crops. Cool-season vegetables can be seeded or transplanted as late as September and October, giving a full autumn and early winter harvest window. This offsets the compressed spring.
Frequently asked questions
- What fruit trees grow best in Houston?
Figs, jujubes, pomegranates, and Asian persimmons are naturally suited to zone 9b heat and humidity. These species rarely encounter frost damage and resist the fungal pressure that plagues many traditional fruit trees. Look for varieties specifically selected for warm, humid climates.
- When should I plant tomatoes in Houston?
Plant after the February 13 last frost date, typically late February into early March. Succession plant every 3 to 4 weeks through May. Avoid planting in midsummer; heat stress reduces fruit set. Fall tomatoes planted in late July can mature before the December 9 first frost.
- What's the biggest weather risk in Houston gardening?
Late frost in February and early March can kill early blooms on fruit trees that leaf out during warm January days. Protect flowering branches with frost cloth if a freeze is forecasted. Summer humidity, not cold, is the chronic challenge; select humidity-tolerant varieties and ensure good air circulation.
- Can I grow cool-season crops in Houston?
Spring cool-season crops like lettuce, broccoli, and spinach grow quickly between February and late April before heat arrives. Fall planting from August onward is more reliable; these crops thrive in September through December and mature before the December 9 first frost.
- How do I manage humidity and fungal disease pressure?
Space plants for air circulation, water at soil level to keep foliage dry, and prune trees to open the canopy. Choose varieties resistant to powdery mildew and fire blight. Avoid dense plantings and overhead watering, which trap moisture.
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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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