Local planting guide · Great Plains
zip 77284
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 classification captures the frost profile (minimum temperatures typically 25 to 30°F), but it understates what makes gardening here distinct. The last spring frost falls on February 13, releasing tender perennials and frost-sensitive vegetables only mid-February. The first fall frost doesn't arrive until December 9, yielding a 300-day growing season, among the longest in the continental US. The real constraint is not frost but heat and humidity. Summer temperatures consistently exceed 95°F from June through September, and evening temperatures rarely drop below 75°F during this stretch. Humidity hovers near 70% most of the year, creating ideal conditions for fungal diseases.
The upside: subtropical crops like figs, pomegranates, jujubes, and Asian persimmons establish reliably here, alongside the standard warm-season vegetables (tomatoes, peppers, sweet potato). The long season also permits two or even three plantings of quick-maturing crops like radishes, beans, and succession lettuce (in winter).
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 above 95°F stalls growth of heat-sensitive crops. Tomatoes and peppers flower prolifically in June but often shed blooms in late July and August unless shaded or irrigated aggressively; recovery begins in September when nighttime temperatures drop below 75°F. Fungal diseases proliferate in the humid air. Powdery mildew affects some fruit trees and perennials; root rot can strike in poorly drained soils during heavy summer rains.
The final challenge is the short, mild winter. A hard freeze (below 25°F) happens only once every 4 to 5 years, so frost-tender plants sometimes survive years of mild winters and then perish in a single hard year. This unpredictability makes zone 9b placement more risky for borderline-hardy tropicals than it appears.
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
Time vegetable plantings to avoid peak summer heat. Spring tomatoes and peppers should be established and flowering before late May; summer plantings made in late June for August through October harvest, when cooler nights return. For winter crops (cool-season greens, brassicas, root crops), plant from mid-August through October to avoid the worst heat.
Use shade cloth (30 to 50% density) over tender crops in July and August; this simple step can increase fruiting and prevent sunscald on peppers and tomatoes.
For frost-tender perennials (citrus, avocado, tropical guava), protect against late-winter cold in late January or early February by covering with blankets or frost cloth on nights when frost is forecast. The February 13 average last frost is a guide, not a guarantee.
Frequently asked questions
- What crops are easiest to grow year-round in Houston?
Figs, Asian persimmons, and pomegranates thrive with minimal care once established. In winter (November to March), cool-season crops like spinach, lettuce, kale, and broccoli are reliable. Warm-season tomatoes and peppers produce from May through October with proper heat management.
- When should I plant tomatoes and peppers in Houston?
Spring plantings should be in the ground by late March, well before the heat of June. Set them where they receive afternoon shade or use 30% shade cloth in summer. Alternatively, plant in late June for August through October harvest, when nights cool below 75°F and the crop avoids the most stressful heat.
- How do I protect plants from the February cold snap?
The average last frost is February 13, but hard freezes below 25°F occur only every 4 to 5 years. For frost-tender evergreens (citrus, avocado, tropical guava), keep frost blankets on hand and deploy them on nights when a freeze is forecast in late January or early February. Established trees are usually fine; young or recently planted ones are at risk.
- What's the best strategy for a second crop of vegetables?
The December 9 first-fall-frost date leaves plenty of time for winter crops. In late August or September, sow radishes, turnips, lettuce, spinach, and brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, kale). These mature quickly in cooling fall weather and produce through winter.
- How do I prevent fungal diseases in Houston's humidity?
Space plants for air circulation, avoid overhead watering (use drip irrigation), and remove lower leaves to reduce moisture contact. In summer, when humidity peaks, thin crowded foliage and consider neem oil or sulfur spray on susceptible crops like squash and cucumbers.
- Can I grow citrus in zone 9b Houston?
Citrus grows well in Houston, but a freeze below 25°F can kill tender varieties. Cold-hardy citrus (satsuma, hardy orange) requires little or no protection. For grapefruit, sweet orange, and lemon, provide frost cloth in late January or February on forecast freeze nights, especially for young trees.
+−
+−
+−
+−
+−
+−
Frost data: NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020, station USW00012960. Local microclimates can shift these dates by a week or more.
Related