US Grow Zones

Houston, Texas: planting zone & frost dates

Houston is in USDA plant hardiness zone 9b, where the average coldest winter night reaches 25 to 30°F (-3.9 to -1.1°C). The typical last spring frost is around Feb 18 and the first fall frost around Dec 8.

Hardiness zone9B25 to 30°F
Last spring frostFeb 1830% chance of frost after
First fall frostDec 830% chance of frost before
Growing season327 daysmedian frost-free days

Frost dates

ProbabilityLast spring frost (32°F)First fall frost (32°F)
Safer (10% risk)Mar 5Nov 27
Typical planning date (30% risk)Feb 18Dec 8
Median (50%)Feb 2Dec 25

How to read this: after the spring "10% risk" date, a 32°F frost happens in only about 1 year in 10. In fall, the "10% risk" date is the early end — a frost before it happens about 1 year in 10.

Frost data comes from NOAA station HOUSTON-PORT, TX (USC00414326), 7.1 mi (11.4 km) from the city center and 33 ft lower than the city center (-10 m). Record used for the 1991–2020 normals: 14 years.

Hardiness zone across Houston

All 79 ZIP codes covering Houston are in zone 9b.

ZIP codes in Houston and their zones
ZIPZoneShare of city land
770329b2.9%
770779b2.6%
770849b2.6%
773399b2.3%
770349b2.2%
770439b2.2%
770489b1.8%
770759b1.8%
770459b1.7%
770139b1.5%
770179b1.5%
770829b1.5%
770169b1.4%
770289b1.4%
770299b1.3%
770889b1.3%
770929b1.3%
773459b1.3%
770079b1.2%
770159b1.2%
770209b1.2%
770479b1.2%
770519b1.2%
770619b1.2%
770789b1.2%
770799b1.2%
770939b1.2%
773389b1.2%
774509b1.2%
770189b1.1%
770369b1.1%
770419b1.1%
770449b1.1%
770559b1.1%
770599b1.1%
770729b1.1%
770899b1.1%
770919b1.1%
773969b1.1%
770089b1.0%
770099b1.0%
770249b1.0%
770269b1.0%
770429b1.0%
770809b1.0%
770879b1.0%
770219b0.9%
770229b0.9%
770239b0.9%
770339b0.9%
770359b0.9%
770629b0.9%
770749b0.9%
770859b0.9%
770969b0.9%
770999b0.9%
770049b0.8%
770549b0.8%
770259b0.7%
770579b0.7%
770609b0.7%
770639b0.7%
770769b0.7%
770129b0.6%
770199b0.6%
770719b0.6%
770119b0.5%
770569b0.5%
770819b0.5%
770039b0.4%
770069b0.4%
770279b0.4%
770309b0.4%
770319b0.4%
770029b0.3%
770989b0.3%
772049b0.1%
770109b0.0%
770469b0.0%

Vegetable planting calendar for Houston

Dates are counted from the 30%-risk frost dates above (last frost Feb 18, first frost Dec 8). Shift a week later in cold spots or low-lying ground.

CropStart indoorsTransplant / plant outDirect sowFall crop sow/plant
TomatoDec 24 – Jan 7Feb 25 – Mar 11——
PepperDec 10 – Dec 24Mar 4 – Mar 18——
Lettuce
Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring.
Jan 7 – Jan 21Feb 4 – Feb 25Jan 21 – Mar 4Sep 29 – Oct 27
Green Beans——Feb 25 – Apr 1Sep 15 – Sep 29
Sweet Corn——Feb 25 – Mar 25—
Zucchini & Summer SquashJan 21 – Jan 28Feb 25 – Mar 11Feb 25 – Mar 18Sep 15 – Sep 29
CucumberJan 21 – Jan 28Mar 4 – Mar 11Feb 25 – Mar 18Sep 15 – Sep 29
Carrot
Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring.
——Jan 28 – Mar 4Sep 15 – Sep 29
Onion
Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring.
Nov 26 – Dec 10Jan 21 – Feb 4——
Potato
Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring.
—Jan 21 – Feb 11——
BasilJan 7 – Jan 21Mar 4 – Mar 18Mar 4 – Mar 25—
Spinach
Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring.
——Jan 7 – Feb 4Oct 13 – Nov 10
Kale
Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring.
Dec 24 – Jan 7Jan 21 – Feb 11Jan 21 – Feb 11Sep 29 – Oct 27
Broccoli
Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring.
Dec 24 – Jan 7Feb 4 – Feb 25—Sep 15 – Sep 29
Peas
Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring.
——Jan 7 – Jan 28Sep 29 – Oct 13
EggplantDec 10 – Dec 24Mar 4 – Mar 18——
Cabbage
Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring.
Dec 24 – Jan 7Jan 21 – Feb 4—Sep 15 – Sep 29
Radish
Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring.
——Jan 14 – Mar 4Oct 27 – Nov 24
Strawberry—Jan 21 – Feb 11——
Beets
Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring.
——Jan 28 – Mar 11Sep 29 – Oct 13

Nearby cities in Texas

More: all Texas cities · other zone 9b cities: Phoenix, AZ, Jacksonville, FL, San Jose, CA, Fresno, CA, Sacramento, CA, Mesa, AZ, Bakersfield, CA, New Orleans, LA