Local planting guide · Great Plains
zip 77289
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 with winter lows between 25 and 30°F, a temperature band that seldom occurs in practice. The last spring frost arrives around February 13, while the first fall frost holds off until December 9, creating a 300-day growing season that rivals subtropical regions. This long frost-free window is Houston's defining advantage: cool-season crops can stretch into early spring, and heat-lovers like figs, pomegranates, jujubes, and Asian persimmons reach full maturity before autumn. The constraint isn't cold but heat and humidity. Afternoon temperatures routinely reach 90°F and higher from June through September, and sustained humidity fosters fungal disease pressure that challenges even adapted plants. Soil across much of the area tends heavily toward clay, which demands amendment for fruit trees and vegetables. Success in Houston gardening turns on embracing heat-loving crops, managing the humid season with spacing and airflow, and accepting that spring and fall, not summer, are the primary growing windows for cool-season plants.
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 paired with high humidity drives fungal diseases that rarely trouble growers in drier zones. Powdery mildew, rust, and leaf spot are routine in June through September, even on resistant varieties, because warm nights and high dew point create ideal conditions. Late February freezes occasionally surprise growers; although frost risk drops after mid-February, a cold snap in late February or early March can damage tender new growth on figs or emerging flower buds on fruit trees. Heavy clay soil, typical across greater Houston, compacts easily and drains poorly, creating root rot hazard in poorly sited plantings. Afternoon sun stress intensifies the heat challenge: newly planted trees or shallow-rooted crops like peppers wilt rapidly without midday shade or mulch.
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 spring tomato and pepper planting for early March, several weeks after the February 13 average frost date but before the April heat ramp accelerates fruit abortion and reduces set. This window captures reliable soil warmth without the reproductive stress of midsummer planting. Manage fungal disease pressure by spacing plants widely and pruning out lower branches to improve air circulation; do not wet foliage during humid afternoon hours. Succeed with summer crops by shifting focus to shade-tolerant varieties and crops: Asian persimmons and figs tolerate partial shade in July and August, extending their productive window and reducing heat stress.
Frequently asked questions
- What's the best time to plant tomatoes in Houston?
Plant in early March, after the February 13 average last frost date. Spring-planted tomatoes produce heavily in May and early June before heat stress reduces fruit set. For fall crop, start seed in late July for transplant in August, targeting September through November harvest.
- Which crops thrive in Houston's summer heat?
Figs, pomegranates, jujubes, goji berries, and Asian persimmons are reliable heat-lovers that mature well. Okra, yard-long beans, and Southern peas excel. Peppers tolerate heat if shaded during afternoon and mulched; variety selection matters more than zone.
- Why do my plants get powdery mildew and fungal diseases?
Houston's humidity and warm nights rarely dropping below 70°F in summer create ideal conditions for fungal spores. Improve airflow with wide spacing, remove lower leaves, avoid overhead watering, and choose resistant varieties when available.
- What's the biggest frost risk in Houston?
Late February and early March freezes occasionally strike after the February 13 average frost date. Tender growth on newly sprouting fig trees or early-blooming fruit trees is vulnerable. Delay tender crop planting until mid-March as a safety margin.
- Do fruit trees grow well in Houston's long season?
With 300 days between frosts, most fruit crops mature fully. Cool-season types like most apple and pear varieties struggle without sufficient winter chill, but heat-adapted types like Asian persimmons, figs, and jujubes are ideally suited to the climate.
- What peppers handle Houston heat best?
Hot peppers such as jalapeños, serranos, and Thai chilies produce consistently in heat. Sweet bell peppers need afternoon shade or positioning to prevent fruit blistering and sun scald during peak summer.
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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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