Local planting guide · Great Plains
zip 77225
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 is defined not by cold but by heat and humidity. The last spring frost typically occurs around February 13, and the first fall frost arrives near December 9, giving the area a growing season of approximately 300 days, among the longest in the continental U.S. This exceptional length favors heat-loving crops that struggle in cooler climates: figs produce abundantly, Asian persimmons thrive, pomegranates and jujubes flourish, and peppers of all types grow vigorously. Tomatoes are reliably productive in spring and fall, though peak summer heat creates challenges. The dominant constraint in Houston is not freezing temperatures but the opposite: sustained heat and humidity throughout the growing season. This combination strongly favors crops adapted to tropical and subtropical conditions while demanding careful variety selection and disease management for temperate-origin crops. With typical winter lows in the 25 to 30 degree range, cold damage is rare; the real pressure comes from the intensity of summer conditions and the year-round disease pressure that high humidity exerts on foliage.
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
High humidity and sustained heat create three persistent challenges for Houston gardeners. Fungal diseases, particularly powdery mildew, rust, and leaf spots, thrive in the environment and frequently affect tomatoes and peppers in late summer. Heat and humidity also stress crops not fully adapted to tropical conditions: tomatoes develop blossom-end rot and sunscald in extreme heat, and early-spring tomatoes may bolt before reaching full production. The occasional hard freeze around February 13 can damage the flower buds of early-blooming figs and Asian persimmons just as they're beginning to set fruit. Insect populations remain active longer in the extended warm season; spider mites and whiteflies are persistent pests.
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
Select heat and humidity-tolerant varieties over generic zone recommendations. Figs, pomegranates, goji berries, and all types of peppers are consistently reliable; Asian persimmons outperform European pears and conventional apples. Plant tomatoes early in late January through early February for spring harvest, then again in mid-August for fall crops; the intense heat from June through August makes mid-season production unreliable. Provide afternoon shade or consistent irrigation during summer months, especially for young trees and tender crops; reliable soil moisture buffers plants against extreme heat and reduces fungal disease severity.
Frequently asked questions
- What crops grow best in Houston?
Figs, pomegranates, jujubes, Asian persimmons, and goji berries thrive in the heat and humidity. Peppers of all types excel. Tomatoes perform well in spring and fall, but production drops sharply during peak summer heat.
- When should I plant tomatoes in Houston?
Plant transplants in late January through early February for spring harvest, staying clear of the February 13 frost date. Plant again in mid-August for fall production. Direct seeding in summer is unreliable because intense heat stresses seedlings.
- What's the biggest weather risk for Houston gardeners?
The occasional late frost around February 13 can damage the flower buds of early-blooming figs and stone fruits just as they're setting fruit. Summer heat and humidity are constant but manageable with proper variety selection and irrigation.
- How do I handle the intense summer heat?
Provide afternoon shade or reliable irrigation (or both) from June through August. Apply heavy mulch to keep soil cool and moist. Shift to heat-loving crops like peppers and figs during peak summer rather than fighting the climate with marginal temperate crops.
- Can I grow apples or stone fruits in Houston?
Standard apples are marginal in zone 9b Houston due to humidity and inadequate winter chill. Asian pears, Asian persimmons, figs, and low-chill peach varieties are far more reliable. Avoid high-chill cultivars bred for northern regions.
- When is the best time to grow cool-season crops?
November through February is ideal for leafy greens, root crops, and herbs. With minimal frost risk after early March, this extended window offers months of excellent growing conditions for cool-season plantings.
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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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