In Houston, the average last spring frost is Jan 31 and the average first fall frost is Dec 27, a growing season of about 330 days (zone 9b). Start tomatoes indoors around Dec 20 and move them outside from Feb 14. For a fall and winter garden, sow peas and kale around Oct 18, lettuce around Nov 1, spinach around Nov 8 and radishes around Nov 22.
Houston at a glance
- Last spring frost
- Jan 31 (average)
- First fall frost
- Dec 27 (average)
- Frost-free season
- About 330 days
- Hardiness zone
- 9b (USDA)
- Weather stations
- Houston-Port, TX; Houston Hobby AP, TX; and Houston Clover Fld, TX, 1991 to 2020 normals. GrowSmart's dates are the median of these stations, to within 3 days
An average frost date means frost is still possible after it in about half of years. GrowSmart times tender crops like tomatoes, peppers and basil after this date, not on it.
What to plant in Houston this month (January)
- Start basil indoors: Jan 3
- Direct sow spinach: Jan 10
- Direct sow peas: Jan 10
- Direct sow radishes: Jan 10
- Transplant lettuce: Jan 17
- Direct sow carrots: Jan 17
- Start cucumbers indoors: Jan 17
- Start zucchini indoors: Jan 17
- Start winter squash indoors: Jan 17
- Direct sow beets: Jan 24
- Transplant kale: Jan 24
- Transplant broccoli: Jan 24
- Transplant cabbage: Jan 24
- Direct sow potatoes: Jan 24
- Transplant onions: Jan 31
Coming up in early February: transplant cucumbers (Feb 7), transplant zucchini (Feb 7), transplant winter squash (Feb 7), direct sow beans (Feb 7), transplant tomatoes (Feb 14), transplant peppers (Feb 14), transplant eggplant (Feb 14) and transplant basil (Feb 14).
What to plant in Houston this month (February)
- Transplant cucumbers: Feb 7
- Transplant zucchini: Feb 7
- Transplant winter squash: Feb 7
- Direct sow beans: Feb 7
- Transplant tomatoes: Feb 14
- Transplant peppers: Feb 14
- Transplant eggplant: Feb 14
- Transplant basil: Feb 14
What to plant in Houston this month (March)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Houston in March. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Oct 18.
What to plant in Houston this month (April)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Houston in April. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Oct 18.
What to plant in Houston this month (May)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Houston in May. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Oct 18.
What to plant in Houston this month (June)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Houston in June. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Oct 18.
What to plant in Houston this month (July)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Houston in July. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Oct 18.
What to plant in Houston this month (August)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Houston in August. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Oct 18.
What to plant in Houston this month (September)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Houston in September. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Oct 18.
What to plant in Houston this month (October)
- Sow peas for a fall harvest: Oct 18
- Sow kale for a fall harvest: Oct 18
Coming up in early November: sow lettuce for a fall harvest (Nov 1) and sow spinach for a fall harvest (Nov 8).
What to plant in Houston this month (November)
- Sow lettuce for a fall harvest: Nov 1
- Sow spinach for a fall harvest: Nov 8
- Plant garlic: Nov 15
- Start onions indoors: Nov 22
- Sow radishes for a fall harvest: Nov 22
What to plant in Houston this month (December)
- Start tomatoes indoors: Dec 20
- Start peppers indoors: Dec 20
- Start eggplant indoors: Dec 20
- Start lettuce indoors: Dec 20
- Start kale indoors: Dec 27
- Start broccoli indoors: Dec 27
- Start cabbage indoors: Dec 27
Coming up in early January: start basil indoors (Jan 3), direct sow spinach (Jan 10), direct sow peas (Jan 10) and direct sow radishes (Jan 10).
Houston planting calendar
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Dec 20 | Transplant Feb 14 | From May 3 |
| Peppers | Dec 20 | Transplant Feb 14 | From Apr 27 |
| Eggplant | Dec 20 | Transplant Feb 14 | From Apr 30 |
| Basil | Jan 3 | Transplant Feb 14 | From Mar 28 |
| Onions (from seed) | Nov 22 | Transplant Jan 31 | From May 11 |
| Lettuce | Dec 20 | Transplant Jan 17Fall: direct sow Nov 1 | From Feb 26Fall: from Dec 11 |
| Spinach | n/a | Direct sow Jan 10Fall: direct sow Nov 8 | From Feb 19Fall: from Dec 18 |
| Peas | n/a | Direct sow Jan 10Fall: direct sow Oct 18 | From Mar 11Fall: from Dec 17 |
| Radishes | n/a | Direct sow Jan 10Fall: direct sow Nov 22 | From Feb 4Fall: from Dec 17 |
| Carrots | n/a | Direct sow Jan 17 | From Mar 28 |
| Beets | n/a | Direct sow Jan 24 | From Mar 20 |
| Kale | Dec 27 | Transplant Jan 24Fall: direct sow Oct 18 | From Mar 20Fall: from Dec 12 |
| Broccoli | Dec 27 | Transplant Jan 24 | From Mar 30 |
| Cabbage | Dec 27 | Transplant Jan 24 | From Apr 4 |
| Cucumbers | Jan 17 | Transplant Feb 7 | From Apr 3 |
| Zucchini | Jan 17 | Transplant Feb 7 | From Mar 29 |
| Winter squash | Jan 17 | Transplant Feb 7 | From May 8 |
| Beans | n/a | Direct sow Feb 7 | From Apr 3 |
| Potatoes | n/a | Direct sow Jan 24 | From Apr 14 |
| Garlic | n/a | Plant cloves around Nov 15 | Around Apr 25 the next year |
Dates are for one planting of each crop, from Houston's average frost dates. Tomatoes are indeterminate, lettuce is looseleaf and beans are bush beans. Harvest dates are when the first picking is usually ready.
Fall planting in Houston
GrowSmart schedules garlic in Houston around Nov 15, six weeks before the average first fall frost of Dec 27, with harvest around Apr 25.
Shallots: GrowSmart's plan has you plant shallot sets in fall in zone 5 and warmer, and in spring in colder zones.
Cool-season crops GrowSmart schedules for a fall harvest in Houston:
- Peas: sow Oct 18, ready from about Dec 17
- Kale: sow Oct 18, ready from about Dec 12
- Lettuce: sow Nov 1, ready from about Dec 11
- Spinach: sow Nov 8, ready from about Dec 18
- Radishes: sow Nov 22, ready from about Dec 17
Nearby planting calendars
Houston planting questions
When is the last frost in Houston?
The average last spring frost in Houston is Jan 31, and the average first fall frost is Dec 27, from 1991 to 2020 climate normals at 3 nearby weather stations. Frost is still possible after the spring date in about half of years.
When should I start tomato seeds in Houston?
Start tomatoes indoors around Dec 20, 8 weeks before moving them outside around Feb 14, which is two weeks after the average last frost.
What can I plant in Houston in fall?
Fall and winter is a main growing season in Houston. Sow peas and kale around Oct 18, lettuce around Nov 1, spinach around Nov 8 and radishes around Nov 22, and plant garlic around Nov 15.