Local planting guide · Great Plains
zip 77248
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 gardeners operate with a major advantage: an exceptionally long frost-free window stretching from mid-February through early December, delivering 300 days of potential growing season. Winter cold rarely interrupts work; the zone 9b minimum of 25-30°F means frost arrives late (December 9) and departs early (February 13), permitting heat and frost-tolerant crops like figs, pomegranates, and jujubes to thrive where they struggle elsewhere. However, the real gardening constraint is not temperature but humidity and summer heat. The combination of 90+ degree days, high moisture, and clay-based soils creates an environment where fungal diseases accelerate and some crops stop setting fruit when temperatures spike above 95°F. Successful Houston gardeners choose disease-resistant varieties, manage air circulation aggressively, and exploit the long season by planting cool-season crops in fall and warm-season crops twice (early spring and mid-summer for fall harvest). The extended frost-free window is an asset; humidity management is the skill that separates consistent yields from annual disappointment.
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
Disease pressure from humidity is the dominant challenge. Powdery mildew, rust, early blight on tomatoes, and anthracnose thrive in Houston's warm, moist air, especially during the humid months from May through September. Variety selection and preventive fungicide schedules are non-negotiable. A second challenge is managing summer heat; peppers and tomatoes often drop flowers or slow fruit set when daytime highs exceed 95°F for sustained periods, concentrating the harvest into June and then requiring a late-summer replanting for fall production. Soil alkalinity is a third concern. Houston's clay soils often run pH 7.5-8.0, locking up iron and manganese and requiring sulfur amendments or chelated micronutrient foliar sprays to correct nutrient deficiencies.
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
First, exploit succession planting. Rather than a single tomato and pepper planting in spring, plant a flush in late January or early February for May-June harvest, then a second planting in mid-July for fall and winter fruit (before December 9). This captures mild spring and fall conditions and sidesteps the worst of summer heat. Second, prioritize air circulation and site selection. Afternoon shade (from a trellis or adjacent structure) for peppers and tomatoes planted after June reduces heat stress and lowers humidity around foliage; plant susceptible crops away from dense shade that traps moisture. Third, integrate sulfur applications into a monthly schedule during the June-September humidity peak to suppress powdery mildew. Scout weekly and apply at first sign of disease; waiting until mildew is heavy makes control much harder.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the best crops for Houston?
Figs, Asian persimmons, pomegranates, and jujubes do well in zone 9b and tolerate summer heat. Tomatoes and peppers (both sweet and hot) thrive with careful variety selection and timing. Cool-season brassicas and leafy greens prosper in fall and winter when humidity drops.
- When should I plant tomatoes in Houston?
Plant a spring crop in late January through early February for May-June harvest. For continuous production, plant a second crop in mid-July to fruit from October through December, before the December 9 first frost. This two-season approach avoids the hottest, most disease-prone mid-summer period.
- What is the biggest weather risk for gardening in Houston?
Not cold, but disease pressure from humidity. Fungal diseases like powdery mildew and early blight can devastate a planting in weeks during June-September. Summer heat above 95°F is a secondary stress that reduces fruit set in peppers and tomatoes.
- How do I handle Houston's humidity?
Choose disease-resistant varieties, space plants for air circulation, scout weekly for early disease signs, and apply preventive sulfur sprays monthly during the warm season. Remove lower foliage on tomatoes to reduce spore splash. Avoid overhead irrigation if possible.
- How long is the growing season in Houston?
Approximately 300 days between the February 13 last spring frost and December 9 first fall frost. This long window is Houston's major advantage, allowing extended fall and early-winter harvests that colder zones cannot match.
- What do I need to know about Houston's soil?
The clay-heavy, alkaline soils (typically pH 7.5-8.0) lock up iron and manganese. Amend with sulfur to lower pH if needed, or apply chelated micronutrient sprays to correct visible yellowing. Mulch heavily to improve soil structure over time.
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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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