Local planting guide · Great Plains
zip 77288
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 9b classification masks a unique growing environment. Winter cold is genuinely not limiting; the zone rarely drops below 25°F. The real story is the 300-day growing season paired with intense, humid heat from mid-May through August. This length of season is a genuine advantage, but only for crops bred for warmth.
Gardeners new to Houston often fight the climate instead of joining it. They plant cold-hardy apples and pears hoping for winter dormancy, then watch them decline under summer humidity and insufficient chill hours. Figs, Asian persimmons, pomegranates, and jujubes perform better because they expect the heat and need far less winter chill. Peppers, both sweet and hot, thrive where tomatoes struggle.
The last spring frost is Feb 13 (NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020), but this date is late by zone 9b standards and late freezes still occur in March. The Dec 9 first fall frost means the growing season extends almost to year-end, a tremendous advantage if you're planting heat-tolerant crops in succession.
The constraint in Houston isn't winter cold. It's mid-summer dormancy for cool-season crops and fungal disease pressure from humidity.
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-season freezes. The Feb 13 frost date is typical, but March cold snaps still hit Houston every few years and damage new growth on tender plants. Waiting until late March to set out frost-sensitive transplants (eggplant, okra, basil) reduces risk.
Summer humidity drives persistent fungal disease. Powdery mildew, downy mildew, and fire blight thrive in the combination of heat and moisture, especially on newly established trees. Fungicide rotation and resistant varieties are mandatory, not optional.
Tomatoes face a viability crisis in mid-summer. Spring-planted tomatoes mature in early June, then typically fail by mid-July as temperatures exceed their heat-set threshold. Many gardeners effectively abandon tomatoes for July and August, then restart plantings in late August for a fall crop. Cherry varieties tolerate heat slightly better than larger slicers.
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 tomatoes in two distinct windows: mid-March for an early crop (harvests by June), then restart in late August for a fall crop through November. This sidesteps the mid-summer heat collapse when cool-season varieties struggle. Cherry tomatoes and heat-tolerant cultivars extend the viable window.
Prioritize warm-climate fruits. Figs, Asian persimmons, pomegranates, and jujubes need minimal winter chill and handle Houston's humidity far better than apples, pears, or stone fruits. Peppers (sweet, chile, ornamental) thrive across the entire season.
Wait until late March to set out frost-tender transplants, even though the statistical frost date is Feb 13. Late freezes in early March are infrequent but severe enough to kill new growth. This buffer is worth the lost growing days.
Frequently asked questions
- What fruit trees actually perform in Houston's heat and humidity?
Figs, Asian persimmons, pomegranates, and jujubes need minimal winter chill and tolerate humidity well. Apples, pears, and cherries struggle with insufficient chill hours and fungal disease pressure. Peppers (sweet, hot, ornamental) are ideally suited to Houston's long, hot season.
- When do I plant tomatoes in Houston?
Early spring (by mid-March) for a crop harvesting by early June, then restart in late August for a fall crop extending into December. The mid-summer heat (typically 95°F+) causes dormancy or failure in most tomato varieties.
- Is frost a real concern in zone 9b?
Yes. While the last spring frost is Feb 13, late freezes in March still occur every few years. Waiting until late March to plant frost-tender crops (eggplant, basil, tender herbs) reduces risk of growth loss.
- What's the biggest challenge to growing here?
Summer humidity, not winter cold, is the dominant challenge. Fungal disease pressure is relentless from May through September, especially on newly established fruit trees. Variety selection for disease resistance and fungicide rotation are essential, not optional.
- Do traditional temperate fruits need winter chill in zone 9b?
Yes. Apples, pears, peaches, and cherries need 300+ winter chill hours to set fruit properly. Houston rarely delivers even 200 hours. Warm-climate varieties were bred for minimal-chill regions like yours and perform much better.
- Can I grow peppers nearly year-round?
Nearly. Pepper plantings survive from March through November or even into December before the Dec 9 first frost. Start seeds in December or January for spring plants, and again in July for fall harvest.
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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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