Frost dates & planting calendar for Houston, TX
Frost dates
Feb 2
Last spring frost, typical
In half of the years that freeze, the last frost comes later.
Safer date: Mar 5. Only 1 freeze year in 10 has a frost after this.
Dec 25
First fall frost, typical
In half of the years that freeze, it comes earlier.
Early date: Nov 27. Only 1 freeze year in 10 freezes before this.
327
Days, typical frost-free season
From NOAA’s 1991–2020 climate normals for this station.
9b
USDA hardiness zone
Coldest night of the winter, averaged over 1991–2020: 25 to 30°F (−3.9 to −1.1°C).
Zone for ZIP 77009, the ZIP nearest the city center; zones can vary within a city. What zone 9b means.
A 32°F freeze happens in about 90% of years here. These dates describe the years that do freeze; in the other years there is no frost at all.
What to plant right now
As of Nov 9, 2026
Typical frost-free season: 327 days. Station: Houston-Port, TX, 11 km away. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (32°F threshold).
Hardiness zones: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed 9 Nov 2026.
Can I plant tomatoes now?
Not yet. Start tomato seeds indoors from Jan 8 to Jan 22, then plant them out from Mar 5 to Mar 19.
Planting calendar
Windows are counted from the safer dates (Mar 5 in spring, Nov 27 in fall). Going by the typical dates instead gains you about 4 weeks in spring, with more risk.
January
The next window opens in January.
Tomatotender
Next: start indoors from Jan 8
- Start indoors
- Jan 8 – Jan 22
- Transplant outdoors
- Mar 5 – Mar 19
Eggplanttender
Next: start indoors from Jan 8
- Start indoors
- Jan 8 – Jan 22
- Transplant outdoors
- Mar 5 – Mar 19
Broccolihardy
Next: start indoors from Jan 8
- Start indoors
- Jan 8 – Jan 22
- Transplant outdoors
- Feb 5 – Mar 5
- Sow outdoors
- Feb 5 – Feb 19
- Sow for fall
- Sep 4 – Sep 18
Cabbagehardy
Next: start indoors from Jan 8
- Start indoors
- Jan 8 – Jan 22
- Transplant outdoors
- Feb 5 – Mar 5
- Sow outdoors
- Feb 5 – Feb 19
- Sow for fall
- Sep 4 – Sep 18
Cauliflowerhalf hardy
Next: start indoors from Jan 8
- Start indoors
- Jan 8 – Jan 22
- Transplant outdoors
- Feb 19 – Mar 5
- Sow outdoors
- Feb 12 – Mar 5
- Sow for fall
- Sep 4 – Sep 18
Brussels sproutshardy
Next: start indoors from Jan 8
- Start indoors
- Jan 8 – Jan 22
- Sow outdoors
- Feb 12 – Feb 12
- Sow for fall
- Sep 4 – Sep 18
Marigoldtender
Next: start indoors from Jan 8
- Start indoors
- Jan 8 – Jan 8
- Transplant outdoors
- Mar 5 – Mar 5
Calendulahalf hardy
Next: start indoors from Jan 8
- Start indoors
- Jan 8 – Jan 22
- Sow outdoors
- Feb 26 – Mar 5
Mexican sunflowertender
Next: start indoors from Jan 8
- Start indoors
- Jan 8 – Jan 22
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 5 – Mar 5
Leaf lettucehardy
Next: sow outdoors from Jan 22
- Transplant outdoors
- Feb 5 – Feb 19
- Sow outdoors
- Jan 22 – Feb 19
Head lettucehardy
Next: sow outdoors from Jan 22
- Transplant outdoors
- Feb 5 – Feb 19
- Sow outdoors
- Jan 22 – Feb 19
Zinniatender
Next: start indoors from Jan 22
- Start indoors
- Jan 22 – Feb 5
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 5 – Mar 5
Nasturtiumtender
Next: start indoors from Jan 22
- Start indoors
- Jan 22 – Feb 5
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 5 – Mar 5
Sunflowertender
Next: start indoors from Jan 22
- Start indoors
- Jan 22 – Feb 5
February
The next window opens in February.
Cucumbertender
Next: start indoors from Feb 5
- Start indoors
- Feb 5 – Feb 19
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 5 – Mar 12
Summer squashtender
Next: start indoors from Feb 5
- Start indoors
- Feb 5 – Feb 19
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 5 – Mar 12
Winter squashtender
Next: start indoors from Feb 5
- Start indoors
- Feb 5 – Feb 19
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 12 – Mar 19
Watermelontender
Next: start indoors from Feb 5
- Start indoors
- Feb 5 – Feb 19
- Transplant outdoors
- Mar 12 – Mar 19
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 12 – Mar 19
Cantaloupetender
Next: start indoors from Feb 5
- Start indoors
- Feb 5 – Feb 12
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 12 – Mar 19
Peahardy
Next: sow outdoors from Feb 5
- Sow outdoors
- Feb 5 – Feb 19
Spinachhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Feb 5
- Sow outdoors
- Feb 5 – Feb 19
Kohlrabihardy
Next: sow outdoors from Feb 5
- Sow outdoors
- Feb 5 – Feb 19
- Sow for fall
- Sep 4 – Sep 18
Radishhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Feb 5
- Sow outdoors
- Feb 5 – Feb 19
Beethalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Feb 5
- Sow outdoors
- Feb 5 – Mar 5
Turniphardy
Next: sow outdoors from Feb 5
- Sow outdoors
- Feb 5 – Feb 19
Bulb onionhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Feb 5
- Sow outdoors
- Feb 5 – Feb 19
Green onionhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Feb 5
- Sow outdoors
- Feb 5 – Feb 19
Kalehardy
Next: sow outdoors from Feb 12
- Sow outdoors
- Feb 12 – Feb 12
- Sow for fall
- Sep 4 – Sep 18
Collardshardy
Next: sow outdoors from Feb 12
- Sow outdoors
- Feb 12 – Feb 12
- Sow for fall
- Sep 4 – Sep 18
Swiss chardhalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Feb 19
- Sow outdoors
- Feb 19 – Mar 5
Carrothalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Feb 19
- Sow outdoors
- Feb 19 – Mar 5
Potatohalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Feb 19
- Sow outdoors
- Feb 19 – Mar 5
Parsniphalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Feb 19
- Sow outdoors
- Feb 19 – Mar 5
Dillhalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Feb 19
- Sow outdoors
- Feb 19 – Feb 26
March
The next window opens in March.
Bush beantender
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 5
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 5 – Mar 5
Pole beantender
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 5
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 5 – Mar 5
Sweet corntender
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 5
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 5 – Mar 5
Basiltender
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 5
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 5 – Mar 5
Marjoramtender
Next: transplant outdoors from Mar 5
- Transplant outdoors
- Mar 5 – Mar 5
Pumpkintender
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 12
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 12 – Mar 19
Lima beantender
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 19
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 19 – Mar 19
October
The next window opens in October.
Sweet alyssumhardy
Next: sow for fall from Oct 16
- Sow for fall
- Oct 16 – Oct 16
No window listed
No frost-based window for these crops.
Mustard greenshalf hardy
No frost-based window listed.
No frost-based sowing window is listed for mustard greens.
Crop guidance from university extension services; see each crop page for sources.
Questions
- When is the last frost in Houston?
- The typical last spring frost (32°F) in Houston is Feb 2. In 1 out of 10 years that freeze, a frost still comes after Mar 5. A freeze happens in about 90% of years.
- When is the first frost in Houston?
- The typical first fall frost is Dec 25. In 1 out of 10 years that freeze, it arrives before Nov 27.
- When should I start tomato seeds in Houston?
- Start tomato seeds indoors between Jan 8 and Jan 22, counting back from the safer last-frost date.
- What planting zone is Houston in?
- Houston is in USDA hardiness zone 9b on the 2023 map, going by ZIP 77009, the ZIP nearest the city center. Zones can vary within a city. The zone describes how cold winter nights get, not when to plant; for that, use the frost dates on this page.
Nearby cities
- San Antonio, TX 305 km
- Dallas, TX 359 km
- Fort Worth, TX 382 km
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