Local planting guide · Great Plains
zip 77263
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 delivers a 300-day growing season, the longest in the continental US. The last spring frost arrives February 13, and the first fall frost doesn't occur until December 9. This extended window is the defining feature of gardening here. Cold is almost never a limiting factor. Instead, heat and humidity are the dominant constraints. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 95°F, and the coastal humidity creates ideal conditions for fungal diseases and insect populations that thrive in warm, wet conditions.
The combination favors subtropical and heat-tolerant crops. Figs, Asian persimmons, pomegranates, and jujubes produce reliably and require less cooling-season dormancy than temperate fruit trees found in cooler zones. Tomatoes, peppers, and other warm-season vegetables can be grown in succession across two or three plantings. This capability is unavailable to northern gardeners. The growing season is long enough to support spring, summer, and fall crops of the same variety, or to rotate between crops entirely.
The primary challenge is not extending the season but managing heat stress, disease pressure, and irrigation during summer. Success in Houston requires crop selection matched to heat tolerance and disease resistance, not frost protection techniques.
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-winter freeze damage is the most common setback. Although February 13 marks the statistical last frost date, freezes can occur in early January or late March when new growth is tender. Young shoots on figs, Asian persimmons, and pomegranates are particularly vulnerable to temperatures below 28°F. Powdery mildew and other fungal diseases flourish in Houston's humid summers, especially on grapes, dogwoods, and roses. Irrigation is another persistent challenge. Water restrictions are common during dry years, and clay soil common to the area drains poorly after heavy rain. Finally, tomato diseases including early blight and late blight can devastate plants if summer rainfall is heavy, particularly during the prolonged humid months.
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
Start tomato seeds indoors in late January for a spring crop and again in late June for a fall crop, making full use of Houston's extended growing season. Protect tender fruit trees, especially Asian persimmons and pomegranates, with row covers or cold frames in late January and early February whenever a freeze is forecast. These protective measures are essential because new growth is vulnerable even though the last statistical frost date is February 13. Choose mildew-resistant varieties for peppers and eggplants, and space all plants generously to encourage air circulation. Humidity is relentless during the summer months, making management through cultivation practices more reliable than fungicide applications.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the best fruit trees to grow in Houston?
Figs, Asian persimmons, pomegranates, and jujubes are reliable performers. Peaches and pears are possible but require more attention to fungal diseases and chill hours. Avoid high-chill apples and cherries; zone 9b winter temperatures (25–30°F) and warm falls don't provide enough dormancy.
- When should I plant tomatoes in Houston?
Plant transplants in late February to early March for the spring crop, and again in late June to early July for fall production. Houston's 300-day season supports two full tomato crops. Early varieties mature faster and avoid the heaviest summer disease pressure.
- What's the biggest frost risk in Houston?
Late-January and early-February freezes damage tender new growth on subtropical fruit trees before the February 13 last frost date. Monitor forecasts and cover young plants with frost cloth if temperatures drop below 28°F.
- How do I prevent powdery mildew on vegetables and ornamentals?
Space plants generously for air circulation, avoid overhead irrigation, and choose mildew-resistant varieties when available. Summer humidity in zone 9b is relentless. Prevention through cultivation is more reliable than fungicides.
- Can I grow peppers year-round in Houston?
Peppers grow most vigorously from late spring through fall. They'll overwinter outdoors and may produce lightly, but growth slows significantly in cooler months (December to February). Treating them as perennials can extend productive life, though most gardeners replant annually for vigor.
- What's the best strategy for summer irrigation?
Water deeply but infrequently to encourage deep rooting. Houston's heavy clay soil benefits from raised beds or amendment with compost. During water restrictions, focus on establishing plants in spring; mature fruit trees and established vegetable plants are more drought-tolerant than seedlings.
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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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