Local planting guide · Great Plains
zip 77297
Houston is in USDA hardiness zone 9b, with average winter lows of 25°F to 30°F. The local growing season runs roughly 01/30 through 12/28 (~330 days). This zip falls within the Great Plains growing region.
- USDA zone
- 9b 25°F to 30°F
- Last spring frost
- 01/30
- First fall frost
- 12/28
- Growing season
- 330 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 zone 9b with winter lows between 25 and 30°F, but the real story is the 330-day growing season and the subtropical humidity. The last spring frost arrives January 30 and the first fall frost isn't until December 28, meaning frost is rarely the limiting factor for what grows here. Instead, the heat and humidity of June through September define the gardening calendar. This climate favors crops intolerant of prolonged cold (figs, Asian persimmons, pomegranates, jujubes, and goji berries thrive with minimal winter protection), but the flip side is that summer heat stress, fungal diseases, and pest pressure from the long warm season can eliminate varieties that lack regional adaptation. Tomatoes and peppers are reliable when planted for spring and fall harvests, but mid-summer plantings often struggle. The zone is genuinely tropical enough that a home gardener can harvest something nearly every month of the year, but the window for cool-season crops (leafy greens, brassicas, root crops) is compressed into November through March.
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
Houston gardens face three recurring frustrations. First, late-spring freezes after early leaf-out: the January 30 frost date is early, and warm spells in February or March trick fruit trees into blooming or leafing out, then a freeze kills the new growth and eliminates the crop. Second, the combination of extreme summer heat (routinely over 95°F) and high humidity creates pressure from fungal diseases (powdery mildew, rust, early blight on tomatoes) that deciduous-climate gardeners rarely encounter. Fungicide or varietal resistance becomes non-negotiable for many crops. Third, the flat terrain and heavy rainfall mean poor drainage is common in home gardens; standing water and root rot follow. Peppers and tomatoes planted in raised beds or well-amended soil outperform those in clay.
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
First, delay planting spring-sensitive crops like figs and tender citrus until mid-February to hedge against late freezes; a January 30 frost date doesn't mean late February freezes won't happen. Second, choose heat-tolerant varieties explicitly: 'Surefire' or 'Phoenix' tomatoes and Thai or habanero peppers will fruit through Houston summers, while cool-season cultivars bolt or drop flowers. Third, plant tomatoes and peppers twice: a spring crop for early summer harvest, and a second planting by mid-June for a fall crop that matures before the December 28 frost.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the best fruit trees to grow in Houston?
Figs, Asian persimmons, pomegranates, and jujubes thrive in zone 9b with minimal winter protection. Goji berries are less common but also reliable. Citrus is possible with freeze protection in January and February.
- When should I plant tomatoes in Houston?
Plant in late February to early March for spring harvest before July heat, and again in June for fall harvest by December 28. Mid-summer planting (July-September) rarely produces before frost.
- What's the biggest weather threat to Houston gardens?
Late-spring freezes in February or March, after warm spells trigger early bloom or leaf-out in fruit trees. Frost cloth or sprinkler irrigation protection is often necessary.
- How do I manage summer fungal diseases?
Houston's heat and humidity favor powdery mildew, rust, and blight. Grow disease-resistant varieties, ensure air circulation, and avoid overhead watering. Fungicides are commonly needed.
- When can I grow cool-season crops like leafy greens?
Optimal window is November through March. Plantings outside this period struggle with the heat and rarely reach harvest.
- How long is the growing season in Houston?
330 days from late January to late December allows harvesting or planting nearly every month. This extended season is one of zone 9b's biggest advantages for productivity.
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Frost data: NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020, station USW00012918. Local microclimates can shift these dates by a week or more.
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