Local planting guide · Great Plains
zip 77251
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 at the warm end of zone 9b, where the minimum winter temperature range of 25 to 30°F rarely poses a severe threat to most temperate fruit and vegetable crops. The real constraints are not cold but heat and humidity, which define the growing experience in ways that gardens in northern zone 9b locations rarely encounter. With a 300-day growing season stretching from February 13 (last spring frost) through December 9 (first fall frost), Houston offers an unusually extended window compared to northern zones. This long season effectively splits into two distinct growing periods: a mild cool season from November through April when temperatures favor most crops, and a hot, humid summer from June through September when many traditional crops falter. Crops like figs, Asian persimmons, pomegranates, and jujubes thrive in this climate, producing reliable harvests year after year with minimal maintenance. Tender tropical plants that freeze in zone 8 winters survive outdoors here. The trade-off is that traditional summer crops like tomatoes often struggle during the peak heat months, shifting the meaningful harvest focus to spring and fall production.
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
Summer heat and humidity create cascading stress. Tomatoes and peppers experience reduced pollination and blossom-end rot when sustained by peak summer temperatures from June through August. The Gulf humidity creates ideal conditions for fungal diseases like powdery mildew and leaf spot, particularly on annual vegetable crops crowded together in beds. The second challenge arrives in early spring: February 13 is late enough to seem safe for frost-tender plantings, but a hard freeze can still damage tender seedlings and young transplants planted too early. Houston's heavy clay soils compound the problem, retaining water and resisting drainage. A third recurring issue is that growers new to the area assume frost protection is unnecessary and plant tropical or subtropical perennials too early in spring, only to lose them when the periodic February freezes arrive.
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, shift the productive tomato harvest to fall and spring by starting seeds in late summer (mid-August) for transplanting in September, targeting a harvest from November through January when cooler nights improve flavor and pollination. Spring tomatoes planted in early March can produce through May before summer heat arrives. Second, prioritize crops naturally suited to the long cool season. Figs, pomegranates, and Asian persimmons thrive here and require minimal pest management compared to traditional summer vegetables. Third, address soil drainage by amending Houston's heavy clay with compost and gypsum. A 2 to 3 inch layer of compost worked into the top 8 inches will noticeably improve water movement and reduce root rot risk, especially important during the humid summer months when soil stays wet.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the best crops for Houston?
Figs, Asian persimmons, pomegranates, jujubes, and goji berries thrive in zone 9b's long season and warm winters. For vegetables, peppers (both sweet and hot) and fall tomatoes (planted in August for a November-January harvest) produce far more reliably than spring tomatoes.
- When should I plant tomatoes in Houston?
Plant in two windows: early March for a spring harvest (May and June), and mid-August for transplants ready by September, targeting a fall harvest from November through January when cooler nights improve flavor and pollination. Summer plantings typically fail due to heat stress.
- What's the biggest weather risk in Houston?
Summer heat (not cold) is the dominant constraint, causing tomato and pepper stress from June through September. Secondary risk: late spring frosts near February 13 can damage tender early plantings and frost-sensitive perennials planted too early in the season.
- Do I need to protect plants from frost?
Frost protection is rarely needed for established perennials and fruit trees given the 25 to 30°F minimum. However, monitor the February 13 frost date if planting tender subtropicals or starting warm-season crops very early; cold snaps are infrequent but can occur.
- How do I manage humidity and fungal disease pressure?
Choose disease-resistant varieties, improve soil drainage to avoid standing water, and thin plantings for air circulation. Avoid overhead watering in evening hours. Focus vegetable gardening on the cool season (November-April) when fungal pressure is naturally lower.
- Can I grow tropical or subtropical plants outdoors year-round?
Many tropical plants survive Houston winters outdoors. Figs, pomegranates, and some citrus varieties overwinter reliably. However, the occasional dip to 25°F means tender tropicals like avocado and mango need winter protection or indoor cultivation.
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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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