Local planting guide · Great Plains
zip 77265
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 in USDA hardiness zone 9b, where winter temperatures rarely drop below 25°F. The last spring frost occurs around February 13, and the first fall frost doesn't arrive until December 9, yielding a 300-day growing season. This long season is Houston's greatest advantage, but it comes with challenges: the heat and humidity of Gulf Coast summers favor fungal diseases and pest population explosions, and the warm winters mean subtropical crops like figs, pomegranates, jujubes, and Asian persimmons thrive. Tomatoes and peppers can be grown nearly year-round with succession planting, though timing matters. The real constraint isn't winter survival but summer adaptation. Crops that demand cool nights or dry air (including some apple and pear varieties bred for colder climates) often struggle here not because they freeze, but because they cannot tolerate the sustained heat and moisture. Gardeners new to the region often underestimate humidity's role in disease pressure and air circulation's importance to plant health.
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
Houston's subtropical humidity creates constant fungal disease pressure: powdery mildew, leaf spot diseases, and root rot flourish in the warm, moist air. Poor air circulation around plants amplifies the risk, especially in dense shade or against walls. Second, the last spring frost arrives February 13, which is late enough that gardeners sometimes plant tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, warm-season herbs) in late January and lose them to a freeze. Third, peak summer heat (June through August) stresses crops that need cooler nights; even heat-tolerant varieties slow or stop producing in the worst weeks if they lack afternoon shade or consistent irrigation.
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
Successful gardening in Houston centers on three key practices. Timing warm-season transplants to go in late February or early March, after the February 13 frost date, allows root establishment before June heat. Crops planted later typically struggle through summer stress. Second, humidity-tolerant varieties (including heirloom tomatoes from Southern lineages, peppers from warm-humid regions, and disease-resistant rootstocks) establish well, and adequate spacing to promote air flow around foliage reduces fungal disease pressure. Dense planting accelerates mildew and leaf spot. Third, afternoon shade (30 to 50 percent coverage) during June, July, and August prevents fruit scald on tomatoes and peppers while maintaining productivity. Unshaded full sun in peak summer often halts fruit set entirely.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the best fruit trees to grow in Houston?
Fig, pomegranate, Asian persimmon, and jujube thrive in zone 9b's warm winters and long growing season. Peaches and plums are possible but often struggle with humidity; disease-resistant rootstocks improve outcomes. Cold-hardy apples and pears are generally poorly matched to Houston's heat and moisture unless specifically bred for hot, humid climates.
- When should I plant tomatoes in Houston?
Tomato transplants succeed when planted in late February or early March, after the February 13 frost date. A second crop can be started in July for a fall harvest (September through November) once peak summer heat breaks.
- What's the biggest weather risk in Houston?
The February 13 last spring frost often catches gardeners who plant tender crops too early. A subtler but equally significant risk is summer humidity, which creates fungal disease conditions that cripple or kill heat-stressed plants.
- Can I grow figs in Houston?
Figs thrive in zone 9b and tolerate Houston's heat and humidity better than most fruit trees. Well-draining soil and regular pruning to shape support reliable fruiting with minimal care.
- How do I manage fungal diseases in Houston's humidity?
Spacing plants for air circulation, watering at the base rather than overhead, removing fallen leaves promptly, and selecting disease-resistant varieties all reduce fungal load. In peak summer, light shade (30 percent or so) can lower humidity around foliage.
- Is a 300-day growing season long enough for long-season crops?
Yes. The 300-day season is one of Houston's major advantages. Even crops requiring 90+ days from transplant to harvest can be planted, mature, and harvested well before the December 9 frost date.
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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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