Local planting guide · Great Plains
zip 77282
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 zone 9b where winter lows average 25 to 30°F. The signature feature is an exceptionally long growing season: 300 days between the last spring frost (February 13) and the first fall frost (December 9). This span (nearly 10 months) makes Houston unusual even within zone 9b, where much shorter seasons are common. The tradeoff is heat and humidity. Summers regularly exceed 95°F with 70–80% relative humidity, creating ideal conditions for fungal diseases and heat stress in cool-season crops. Figs, Asian persimmons, pomegranates, and jujubes thrive because they handle heat and humidity well and don't require the extended chilling hours that colder zones provide. Tomatoes and peppers do reliably in spring and fall but struggle mightily in peak summer. The practical growing strategy in Houston is inverse to northern zones: prioritize the cool season (October through April) for tomatoes, peppers, and leafy greens, while summer becomes the resting period for heat-sensitive crops. Winter cold snaps, while rare, can still damage tender growth that has begun to emerge in late February.
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 the Houston growing calendar, especially powdery mildew and leaf spot fungi that thrive in the humid environment. This becomes acute in late spring and early fall when daytime warmth meets nighttime moisture. A second challenge is the February freeze risk: the last frost date of February 13 sounds early until an unseasonable warm spell in late January triggers new growth, only to be killed by a snap back to 25-28°F in mid-February. Peppers and young figs are particularly vulnerable to this pattern. Third is summer heat prostration in heat-sensitive crops. Tomatoes planted in spring will produce through early summer, then stop setting fruit entirely once nighttime temperatures exceed 75°F, a condition that persists from June through August.
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
Treat the October-to-April period as Houston's primary growing season. This is when soil is cool enough for direct sowing root crops, when tomatoes and peppers thrive without heat stress, and when cool-season greens and brassicas do their best. Succession-plant lettuce and spinach every three weeks from September through February to maintain steady harvest. Second, delay spring planting of frost-sensitive crops (peppers, eggplant, tender herbs) until mid-March, after the risk of the February rebound freeze has passed. Starting too early in January or February may look promising but often leads to frost damage. Third, for summer vegetables and heat-loving perennials like figs, focus on establishing plants in fall or early winter so they're mature and robust before peak summer heat arrives. A fig planted in October has time to root in, while one planted in spring goes into heat stress immediately.
Frequently asked questions
- What's the best time to grow tomatoes in Houston?
October through May. Spring tomatoes planted in March produce through early summer, but stop flowering once nighttime temperatures exceed 75°F, typically by late May. Fall tomatoes (planted in late August or early September) produce abundantly from October through December. Both seasons beat summer planting entirely, since summer heat will prevent fruit set.
- Can I grow figs year-round in Houston?
Fig trees thrive in zone 9b and handle Houston's heat and humidity. They're productive from June through October. In rare hard freezes below 20°F, top growth may die back, but the root crown usually survives and regrows. Plant in early winter so roots establish before summer heat.
- Is the February 13 frost date really the last freeze of the year?
It's the statistical last 50% probability frost, but warm spells in late January sometimes trigger frost-sensitive growth, followed by freezes in mid-February. Pepper and eggplant transplants set out too early may be damaged. Wait until mid-March when the risk of a rebound freeze drops sharply.
- What about powdery mildew in Houston?
Humidity creates ideal conditions, especially in spring and fall. Choose resistant varieties of squash, cucumbers, and peppers where possible. Ensure good air circulation by spacing plants widely and thinning crowded foliage. Sulfur dust or neem oil helps if infection starts, but resistant varieties are the more reliable defense.
- Can I grow pomegranates or jujubes in Houston?
Yes, both handle the heat and humidity well and produce reliably. Pomegranates fruit from August through October. Jujubes fruit late (September through November) but need less water and attention once established. Both prefer winter planting for good root establishment before summer.
- What about cool-season crops in summer?
Direct seed or transplant cool-season crops (lettuce, spinach, broccoli, cabbage) in late August through early September so they establish before serious heat. Once summer heat arrives (June-July), they bolt or struggle. Treat summer as a rest period for these crops, not a growing season.
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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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