Houston Gardening Guide (2026)
Hot, humid; long warm season, warm-season lawns.
Quick answer (Houston): Gardeners here work in about a 284-day frost-free window around zone 9. State context: Texas (zones 6–10). Start warm crops indoors ~6 weeks before the last frost of 02/20.
🌆 Houston microclimate
- Hot, humid subtropical (9a)
- Long warm season
- Two main growing seasons
What to grow here, by environment
Your Houston planting calendar
Pre-filled with Houston's frost dates. Choose a crop to print your plan.
In this ZIP (typical zone 6–10), last frost ≈ Feb 20, first frost ≈ Dec 1 (284-day season), your Tomato plan:
Month-by-month (this ZIP, 2026)
| Month | Action |
|---|---|
| Jan | Start indoors |
| Feb | — |
| Mar | Sow · Transplant |
| Apr | — |
| May | Harvest |
| Jun | — |
| Jul | — |
| Aug | — |
| Sep | — |
| Oct | — |
| Nov | — |
| Dec | — |
Start indoors 6 weeks before last frost; transplant after soil warms. Zones 3–13 suitable. Dates are typical; confirm with your county extension and watch the 10-day forecast.
Common pests near Houston
Pre-filled to Texas. Pick a pest for signs, organic-first treatment, and a printable IPM card.
Fire Ant
Crops that fit zone 9
Vegetables and herbs suited to your metro zone — open any for a state-specific planting card:
Houston year at a glance
A month-by-month rhythm built from Houston's typical frost window (last frost 02/20, first frost 12/01). Dates shift with weather — watch the 10-day forecast before planting tender crops.
| Month | Typical Houston garden work |
|---|---|
| Jan | Plan the season, order seeds, start slow crops (onions from seed) indoors under lights. |
| Feb | Start peppers and early tomatoes indoors ~6-8 weeks before last frost; harden off later crops. |
| Mar | Sow hardy greens; prepare beds; start tomatoes indoors if not yet done. |
| Apr | Plant early warm crops after frost; direct-sow beans, corn, cucumbers. |
| May | Direct-sow the rest of the warm season (tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, melons); keep transplants watered and mulched. |
| Jun | Keep up with harvests (lettuce, radishes, peas); succession-sow beans and quick greens. |
| Jul | Plant fall brassicas (broccoli, kale) for autumn; keep watering steady through heat. |
| Aug | Start fall greens; sow carrots and beets for late harvest; stay on top of pests. |
| Sep | Plant fall crops of lettuce and spinach; harvest summer crops at peak. |
| Oct | Harvest tender crops before frost; plant garlic; protect late tomatoes. |
| Nov | Clean up beds, add compost, cover soil; store root crops; plan cover crops. |
| Dec | Order next year's seeds; review what worked; start spring garden notes. |