Local planting guide · Great Plains
zip 77299
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 a frost-free zone for most of the year, with a spring frost date around mid-February and fall frost not arriving until early December. This 300-day growing season is a significant advantage over much of the country, permitting year-round cultivation of both cool-season and warm-season crops, and allowing gardeners to pursue frost-sensitive plants like figs, Asian persimmons, pomegranates, and jujubes that fail outright in colder zones. The constraint in zone 9b Houston is not cold but heat and humidity. Summer daytime temperatures regularly exceed 90°F and humidity stays high for months at a time. These conditions favor fungal and bacterial diseases (powdery mildew, rust, Southern blight, early blight on tomatoes). The real opportunity lies in choosing heat-tolerant varieties and timing plantings to avoid the worst of the summer surge. Winter, often overlooked in zone 9b, is actually a prime season for cool-season crops here, with mild temperatures and lower disease pressure extending a second planting cycle.
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
The February 13 spring frost date catches many gardeners off guard. Early-blooming fruit trees (particularly figs and stone fruits) set flower buds during warm winter spells, then lose them to late freezes. Second challenge is summer disease surge. Tomatoes, peppers, and many brassicas encounter wet summer conditions and high humidity that accelerate fungal and bacterial blights. Third is year-round pest pressure; the absence of a killing winter frost means that spider mites, scale insects, whiteflies, and various beetles never fully cycle out of the garden. Integrated pest management rather than seasonal dormancy is the operating model.
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
Variety selection is the first line of defense: choose tomato varieties with strong disease resistance ratings, seek out heat-tolerant pepper cultivars, and select figs and persimmons bred for humid climates. Second tip is to stagger tomato plantings across two windows: late January through February for an early-summer harvest before peak heat and humidity, and again in late May or early June for a fall-to-winter crop that avoids the worst summer disease pressure. Third tip is to prioritize air circulation in the garden. Space plants widely, prune lower leaves off tomatoes and peppers once established, and plant where afternoon shade and air flow meet. This single change reduces fungal pressure significantly.
Frequently asked questions
- What crops thrive in Houston?
Heat-tolerant fruit trees like figs, Asian persimmons, pomegranates, and jujubes are excellent choices with minimal frost risk. For vegetables, select heat and disease-resistant varieties; peppers generally handle summer heat better than tomatoes, which benefit from two planting windows. Winter and spring (September through April) are ideal for cool-season crops: brassicas, leafy greens, peas, and root vegetables. The year-round growing season is Houston's advantage; match crop type to season for best results.
- When should I plant tomatoes in Houston?
Two windows work best: late January through February for an early-summer harvest before peak heat and humidity, and again in late May or early June for a fall-into-winter crop. The later planting often produces better quality fruit due to cooler, drier conditions in fall. Summer plantings are generally too late to avoid Houston's humidity and disease pressure.
- How do I protect my fruit trees from the February freeze?
The mid-February frost date is late enough that most dormant trees are safe. Risk rises if a warm spell triggers early bloom, then a freeze follows. Avoid pruning late in winter, which can stimulate tender new growth. For at-risk crops like figs, choose a site with a north-facing slope or tree shelter to delay spring growth and reduce frost damage odds.
- What's the biggest disease threat in Houston gardens?
Summer fungal and bacterial diseases, particularly early blight and powdery mildew on tomatoes and peppers, thrive in the heat and humidity. Southern blight affects a wide range of crops. Resistant varieties, wide spacing, air circulation, and careful water management (water at soil level, not on foliage) are essential.
- Can I grow cool-season crops in Houston?
Yes, and it's one of zone 9b's great assets. Winter and early spring are ideal for brassicas, leafy greens, peas, root crops, and cool-season herbs. Plant from September through February for a long harvest window. This second growing season often outperforms the summer window in both yield and quality.
- How do I manage year-round pest pressure?
Integrated pest management is essential since pests never fully die back. Scout regularly, remove heavily infested leaves, encourage beneficial insects, use row covers for spring crops, and apply neem or other organic sprays as needed. Crop rotation and timing plantings to avoid peak pest seasons help reduce chemical dependency.
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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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