Houston Gardening Guide (2026)

Hot, humid; long warm season, warm-season lawns.

USDA zone
9
Typical last frost
02/20
Typical first frost
12/01

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

full sun
Tomato (heat-set types) · Pepper · Okra · Sweet potato
humid
Cucumber · Squash · Southern peas · Basil
fall
Broccoli · Cauliflower · Lettuce · Cabbage (fall/winter)
shade
Coleus · Impatiens · Ferns

Your Houston planting calendar

Pre-filled with Houston's frost dates. Choose a crop to print your plan.

In Texas (typical zone 610, last frost ≈ Feb 20, first frost ≈ Dec 1, 284-day season), your Tomato plan:

Start seeds indoors
Jan 9
Sow / transplant outdoors
Mar 6
First harvest
May 15
Spacing / depth
24″ / 0.25

Month-by-month (Texas, 2026)

MonthAction
JanStart indoors
Feb
MarSow · Transplant
Apr
MayHarvest
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Start indoors 6 weeks before last frost; transplant after soil warms. Zones 313 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

Targets
Lawns, beds, people/pets
Signs
Mounded nests; painful sting.
Organic / IPM first
Broadcast beneficial nematodes; boiling water (small mounds); diatomaceous earth.
Chemical option (follow label)
Bait containing spinosad or hydramethylnon; treat entire yard.
Prevention
Two-step bait program in spring and fall; keep lawn healthy.

Crops that fit zone 9

Vegetables and herbs suited to your metro zone — open any for a state-specific planting card: