Local planting guide · Great Plains
zip 77280
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 warmth and 300-day growing season create opportunities for subtropical crops that struggle elsewhere. The last spring frost arrives as late as February 13, and the first fall frost does not occur until December 9, granting an unusually extended autumn for continued production. Figs, Asian persimmons, pomegranates, and jujubes thrive in the local heat that would stress crops adapted to cooler zones. However, the defining constraint is not frost but rather the intensity and duration of summer heat combined with high humidity. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 90°F from June through September, creating stress on tender crops and accelerating disease cycles. The challenge is less about surviving cold and more about selecting heat-tolerant varieties, timing planting to avoid peak summer stress, and managing irrigation during prolonged dry spells. Tomatoes and peppers perform well here if planted varieties suited to sustained heat and if timing allows fruit set before the worst summer weather. The long season is the asset; learning to harness it requires matching crop choices and planting dates to local heat patterns.
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 dominate the growing season. Tomato varieties bred for cooler climates often drop flowers and fail to set fruit once night temperatures exceed 75°F, a condition Houston regularly encounters from late June through August. Heat stress also reduces pepper fruit quality and plant vigor. Humidity drives persistent fungal disease pressure, particularly on fruit crops and leafy greens; powdery mildew, leaf spot, and stem rot are chronic problems requiring active management. Spring heat also arrives with remarkable speed. Cool-season crops thrive when planted in fall or winter through late April, but spring-planted cool-season crops (lettuce, brassicas, peas) bolt prematurely when temperatures spike in May. Pest populations accelerate with heat; spider mites, whiteflies, and scale insects proliferate rapidly in sustained warmth.
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
Plant heat-tolerant tomato varieties (Sungold, Heatwave II, Roma VF) from mid-March through April so flowering and fruit set occur before sustained heat arrives in late June; this timing is critical for fruit production. Succession-plant cool-season crops in late August through September to capture the extended fall and mild winter season; fall-planted brassicas and leafy greens produce prolifically through February, extending the effective growing season. Apply shade cloth at 30 to 50% density to fruiting crops from July through August; this reduces plant stress while maintaining adequate light for photosynthesis, sharply improving both fruit set and quality.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the best crops to grow in Houston?
Figs, Asian persimmons, pomegranates, and jujubes all thrive in zone 9b heat. Tomatoes and peppers perform well with heat-tolerant varieties. The long frost-free season (February 13 to December 9) supports year-round gardening with strategic crop selection.
- When should I plant tomatoes in Houston?
Plant heat-tolerant tomato varieties in mid-March through April so plants flower before sustained heat arrives in June. Spring-planted tomatoes often fail to set fruit once night temperatures exceed 75°F, which typically occurs by late June.
- What's the biggest weather risk in Houston?
Summer heat and humidity, not frost, are the primary challenges. Prolonged temperatures above 90°F combined with high humidity create stress on fruit set, accelerate fungal diseases, and favor rapid pest reproduction.
- Can I grow vegetables year-round in Houston?
Yes. Plant cool-season crops (lettuce, brassicas, peas) in late August through October to harvest through February. Time warm-season crops (tomatoes, peppers) for spring harvest before summer peak. The 300-day season supports overlapping cycles.
- How do I protect plants during Houston's summer?
Use 30 to 50% shade cloth over vulnerable fruiting crops from July through August. Maintain consistent irrigation during heat waves. Choose varieties bred for heat tolerance rather than attempting to shade-modify cooler-climate varieties.
- What happens to my garden if it freezes in winter?
Frost risk is minimal; the last spring frost is February 13 and first fall frost is December 9. Plant frost-tender perennials (subtropical fruit trees, herbs) knowing they are unlikely to experience damaging cold. Year-to-year variation occurs, but widespread killing freezes are rare.
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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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