Local planting guide · Great Plains
zip 78572
Mission is in USDA hardiness zone 10a, with average winter lows of 30°F to 35°F. The local growing season runs roughly 01/09 through 01/03 (~365 days). This zip falls within the Great Plains growing region.
- USDA zone
- 10a 30°F to 35°F
- Last spring frost
- 01/09
- First fall frost
- 01/03
- Growing season
- 365 days
- Compatible crops
- 28
- Growing region
- Great Plains
Right now in Mission
Week 18 priorities
On the docket: transplant out after last frost · direct sow after last frost. See the full calendar →
Gardening in Mission
Mission's position in zone 10a provides one of the longest growing seasons in the continental US: essentially year-round cultivation with only brief cold risk in January. The minimum winter temperature range of 30 to 35°F is warm enough to allow frost-sensitive crops like figs, pomegranates, and Asian persimmons to establish as permanent landscape features rather than season-to-season annuals. Winter frost, when it arrives, is mild and brief. The real limiting factor for gardening in Mission is not cold but heat and humidity. Summer highs regularly exceed 95°F, with peak intensity from June through August, and this extended period of intense heat fundamentally shapes what grows well and when to plant it. This climate strongly favors heat-loving crops (tomatoes, peppers, eggplant) while requiring deliberate variety selection and strategic timing for everything else. Many crops that struggle through harsh winters elsewhere thrive here when given proper summer management, shade, and consistent water. The primary gardening challenge is planning around extreme heat rather than extreme cold. Frost protection is rarely necessary; heat management is.
Regional context · Great Plains
What the Great Plains brings to Mission
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 10a, drawn from the broader USDA zone profile.
- ▸ No chilling for traditional temperate fruit
- ▸ Hurricane exposure
- ▸ Heat-tolerant cultivars only
What defeats new gardeners in Mission
Summer heat and humidity create three interconnected problems for Mission gardeners. First, blossom drop on tomatoes and peppers peaks in June and July when nighttime temperatures stay above 75°F, even though the plants are otherwise healthy. Second, fungal diseases (leaf spots, powdery mildew, anthracnose) accelerate in the warm, humid environment, particularly on susceptible varieties. Third, persistent summer heat exhausts irrigation systems and soil moisture before typical fall rains arrive, requiring consistent deep watering to maintain production. Alkaline soil, common across the Rio Grande Valley, also complicates nutrient availability, particularly for acid-loving plants. Late January frost, though rare, can still damage tender new growth on recently planted or fast-growing plants.
Crops that grow in Mission
28 crops from our catalog match zone 10a, grouped by type.
Tree fruit
12 crops
zone 10a Fig
Ficus carica
zones 7a–10b
zone 10a Asian Persimmon
Diospyros kaki
zones 7a–10a
zone 10a Pomegranate
Punica granatum
zones 7b–10a
zone 10a Lemon
Citrus limon
zones 9a–11b
zone 10a Orange
Citrus sinensis
zones 9a–11b
zone 10a Lime
Citrus aurantiifolia
zones 9b–11b
zone 10a Grapefruit
Citrus paradisi
zones 9a–11b
zone 10a Avocado
Persea americana
zones 9b–11b
Berries
3 crops
Nuts
1 crop
Vegetables
10 crops
zone 10a Tomato
Solanum lycopersicum
zones 3a–10b
zone 10a Sweet Pepper
Capsicum annuum
zones 4a–10b
zone 10a Hot Pepper
Capsicum species
zones 4a–10b
zone 10a Eggplant
Solanum melongena
zones 5a–10b
zone 10a Cucumber
Cucumis sativus
zones 3b–10a
zone 10a Summer Squash
Cucurbita pepo
zones 3b–10a
zone 10a Melon
Cucumis melo
zones 5a–10a
zone 10a Watermelon
Citrullus lanatus
zones 5b–10a
Herbs
2 crops
Plan the year
Planting calendar for Mission
Year-view of seed starting, transplanting, planting, pruning, fertilizing, harvest, and pest-watch windows tuned to Mission's local frost dates.
Week ? · loading
This week in Mission, TX (zone 10a)
Quiet week in Mission, TX (zone 10a). this week is a good time to step back and plan ahead.
Nothing critical on the calendar this week.
147 bars · 28 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 10a
Ranked by how many crops in your zone they affect. Click through for IPM controls and signs to watch for.
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.
Meloidogyne species
Microscopic soil-dwelling worm that forms galls on roots, reducing vigor and yield.
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.
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.
Tetranychus urticae
Tiny mite that feeds on leaf undersides, causing stippling and webbing during hot dry weather.
Ceratitis capitata
Quarantine pest in many regions. Adult females puncture ripening fruit to lay eggs; larvae tunnel through the flesh, causing premature drop and rot.
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.
Top diseases for zone 10a
Ranked by how many crops in your zone they affect. Click through for symptoms, controls, and resistant varieties.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Colletotrichum gloeosporioides
Most damaging mango disease worldwide. Fungal spores infect blossoms and developing fruit during humid weather, producing black sunken lesions that expand on ripening fruit.
Multiple species (Erysiphales)
Surface-feeding fungal disease producing white powdery growth on leaves and stems. Reduces yield by stealing photosynthate and accelerating senescence.
Companion planting suggestions
Beneficial pairings drawn from companion data, filtered to crops that grow in zone 10a.
- 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.
- Okra + Hot Pepper
Both heat-loving warm-season crops with similar water and fertility needs. Hot pepper at okra's base benefits from the slight afternoon shade in extreme summer heat.
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 Mission
Plant tomatoes and peppers in late February or early March for harvest before peak June heat, then again in late August for a robust fall crop when heat and humidity begin to ease. Use 30 to 50% shade cloth from May through September over beds containing heat-sensitive crops like lettuce and other greens, extending their productivity well past what full-sun exposure would allow. Select varieties bred for hot, humid climates: heat-tolerant tomato cultivars, disease-resistant peppers, and long-season crops like okra and yard-long beans that handle summer conditions more reliably than traditional varieties.
Frequently asked questions
- What's the best time to plant tomatoes in Mission?
Late February through March for a spring harvest before June heat peaks, and again in late August for a substantial fall crop. Tomatoes set fruit reliably during these windows but struggle with blossom drop when nighttime temperatures exceed 75°F from June through August.
- Why do tomatoes drop blossoms in summer?
High nighttime temperatures above 75°F disrupt pollen viability and fruit set, a physiological response to heat stress. This typically occurs June through August in Mission. Heat-tolerant varieties help, but timing plantings outside peak summer heat is more reliable.
- Which crops grow most reliably year-round in Mission?
Figs, pomegranates, Asian persimmons, and goji berries thrive with minimal frost risk. Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and sweet potato excel in spring and fall. Citrus, avocado, and other subtropical fruits also perform well with winter frost protection rarely needed.
- Is frost protection needed in Mission?
Rarely. The last spring frost occurs around January 9 and the first fall frost around January 3 of the next year, making January the only significant frost risk period. Tender new growth on recently transplanted or fast-growing plants may need temporary cover if a cold snap occurs.
- How do I manage the intense summer heat?
Use 30 to 50% shade cloth from May through September for heat-sensitive crops, water deeply and consistently to maintain soil moisture, and select varieties bred for hot, humid climates. Many traditional varieties fail in Mission summers, but heat-tolerant cultivars produce reliably.
- What about the alkaline soil in this area?
Rio Grande Valley soils tend toward alkalinity, which can lock up iron and other nutrients. Amend with sulfur or acidifying fertilizers if plants show nutrient deficiency symptoms, and choose varieties or crops that are less sensitive to higher pH levels.
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Frost data: NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020, station USW00012959. Local microclimates can shift these dates by a week or more.
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