Local planting guide · Great Plains
zip 77253
Houston is in USDA hardiness zone 9b, with average winter lows of 25°F to 30°F. The local growing season runs roughly 01/30 through 12/28 (~330 days). This zip falls within the Great Plains growing region.
- USDA zone
- 9b 25°F to 30°F
- Last spring frost
- 01/30
- First fall frost
- 12/28
- Growing season
- 330 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 330-day growing season is one of North America's longest, a gift that often feels like a curse during the brutal summer months. The true gardening constraint here is not cold but heat and humidity. Winter freezes rarely dip below 25°F, and the last spring frost arrives by January 30, meaning subtropical and tropical fruit trees thrive where they would fail in cooler zone 9b locations. Figs, Asian persimmons, pomegranates, and jujubes produce reliably; warm-season crops like tomatoes, peppers, and goji berries run for months. The catch is the long, oppressive summer. High heat combined with persistent humidity creates ideal conditions for fungal diseases, including powdery mildew, leaf spots, and rust, that are less common in drier parts of the zone. Houston's naturally alkaline soil adds another complication, making some plants finicky. Success here requires choosing fungal-resistant varieties, spacing for air circulation, and accepting that some traditionally summer crops are actually easier to grow in spring and again in the fall.
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
Fungal diseases dominate Houston's pest pressure. Powdery mildew appears on roses, grapes, and squash from May through September, costing hours of preventive spraying or resistant variety selection. Leaf spot fungi and rusts thrive in the humid, 90°F+ nights of summer. Late spring freezes between mid-January and early February can damage tender plants left exposed; early-blooming figs and stone fruits occasionally take frost damage in February after an unseasonably warm January. Alkaline soil (Houston's pH typically ranges from 7.5 to 8.2) limits the viability of acid-loving plants like blueberries without significant amendment or container growing. Water restrictions during drought cycles, common in southeast Texas, force irrigation timing around municipal schedules during the driest months (late August through October).
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
Space plants far apart for maximum airflow: fungal disease pressure drops noticeably when humidity is managed through wide spacing and pruning for light penetration. Tomato and pepper success depends entirely on timing and variety selection. Plant early-season varieties by late February for spring harvest by June, then stop planting for the summer months; heat stress reduces yield and invites disease pressure. Succession-plant again in late July or August with heat-tolerant, humidity-resistant varieties selected specifically for fall harvest (September through November) when cooler temperatures and lower humidity finally arrive. Treat early January as the primary planting season rather than dormancy. Frost risk drops sharply after January 30; this is the ideal window for establishing tender perennials, subtropical fruits, and warm-season annuals before summer heat begins.
Frequently asked questions
- What can I grow year-round in Houston?
Cool-season crops like lettuce, kale, spinach, and root vegetables thrive October through April. Evergreen subtropical fruits (figs, persimmons, citrus) produce year-round depending on variety. Tomatoes and peppers need careful timing to avoid summer heat; focus on spring and fall harvests.
- When should I plant tomatoes in Houston?
Plant early-season varieties by late February for spring harvest through June. Avoid summer planting entirely; instead, succession-plant heat-tolerant varieties in late July or August for a robust fall crop (September through November) when heat and humidity subside.
- What's the biggest weather risk in Houston?
Summer fungal diseases driven by heat and humidity are the primary threat to diverse crops. Secondary risk: late spring freezes. January 30 is the average last frost date, but unexpected February freezes can damage tender plants. Choose varieties with proven cold tolerance.
- Why do my plants get powdery mildew?
High humidity and warm nights create ideal conditions for the fungus. Prevent it by spacing plants far enough to allow air circulation, watering at the soil line only, and choosing disease-resistant varieties. If mildew appears, prune affected foliage and improve ventilation.
- Can I grow acid-loving plants like blueberries in Houston?
Yes, but Houston's alkaline soil requires amendment. Blend sulfur into soil before planting to lower pH, or grow blueberries in large containers with potting soil adjusted to pH 5.0 to 6.0. Select heat-tolerant types suited to warm climates.
- Is January or February the best time to plant in Houston?
Both are ideal. Frost risk drops sharply after January 30. Late January through February is the peak window for establishing tender perennials, subtropical fruits, and warm-season crops before the heat arrives in May.
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Frost data: NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020, station USW00012918. Local microclimates can shift these dates by a week or more.
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