Houston County, TX — Planting Guide

Houston County is in USDA Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is March 2 and the first fall frost is November 23, giving you a growing season of approximately 266 days.

At an elevation of 379 ft, Houston County receives approximately 59.2 in of rainfall annually. Summer highs average 94°F with winter lows around 40°F. The predominant soil type is Sandy Loam.

🌡️ Zone

8a (10°F to 15°F min)

❄️ Last Frost

March 2

🍂 First Frost

November 23

📅 Growing Season

266 days

⛰️ Elevation

379 ft

🌧️ Annual Rainfall

59.2 in

Houston County, TX Long season

266 days

❄

Last Spring Frost March 2

➔ 266 growing days ➔

❄

First Fall Frost November 23

Houston County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

6.0-7.0

Drainage

Well Drained

Last Frost: Mar 2 First Frost: Nov 23

Soil & Growing Conditions in Houston County

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Warms quickly and drains well. Add organic matter regularly to retain nutrients.

Watering Needs

With 59.2 inches of annual rainfall, supplemental watering is typically only needed during summer dry spells.

Season Tips

266-day frost-free season

Your long season supports multiple successions and heat-demanding crops like melons, sweet potatoes, and peppers. Plant warm-season crops as soon as soil warms.

Free Garden Planner

Plan your entire garden season — organize planting dates, track what you're growing, and know exactly when to start seeds, transplant, and harvest.

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Recommended for Your Garden

🫧

Vermiculite $12-22

Retain moisture and nutrients in sandy soils with expanded vermiculite.

🧪

Soil Test Kit $12-25

Test your soil pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels before planting.

📏

Digital pH Meter $10-20

Get instant, accurate soil pH readings to fine-tune your amendments.

🥬 Vegetables to Grow in Houston County

115 vegetables that grow well in Zone 8a with planting dates for Houston County.

Show all 115 vegetables with planting dates

Plant	Start Indoors	Direct Sow	Transplant	Harvest	Days to Maturity
Acorn Squash	Feb 2	Mar 9	Mar 16	Jun 8 – Jul 13	80–100
Amaranth	Jan 12	Mar 9	Mar 16	Jun 15 – Aug 3	90–120
Artichoke	—	—	Mar 16	Jul 20 – Sep 28	120–180
Arugula	Jan 26	Feb 16	Mar 2	Apr 6 – Jun 8	30–50
Asparagus	—	—	Mar 16	—	730–1095
Beets	—	Feb 16	—	Apr 13 – May 11	50–70
Belgian Endive	Jan 26	Feb 16	Mar 2	Jun 22 – Aug 17	110–150
Bitter Melon	Jan 12	Mar 9	Mar 16	May 18 – Jun 29	60–90
Black Beans	—	Mar 9	—	Jun 8 – Jul 27	90–120
Bok Choy	Jan 26	Feb 16	Mar 2	Apr 13 – May 18	40–60
Broccoli	Jan 26	Feb 16	Mar 2	May 4 – Jun 15	60–90
Broccoli Rabe	Jan 26	Feb 16	Mar 2	Apr 13 – May 18	40–60
Brussels Sprouts	Jan 26	Feb 16	Mar 2	Jun 1 – Jul 27	90–130
Butternut Squash	Feb 2	Mar 9	Mar 16	Jun 15 – Jul 20	85–110
Cabbage	Jan 26	Feb 16	Mar 2	May 4 – Jun 29	60–100
Calabash	Jan 12	Mar 9	Mar 16	Jun 8 – Aug 3	80–120
Cardoon	—	—	Mar 16	Jul 20 – Aug 31	120–150
Carrots	—	Feb 16	—	Apr 20 – May 25	60–80
Cauliflower	Jan 26	Feb 16	Mar 2	Apr 27 – Jun 29	55–100
Celeriac	Jan 26	Feb 16	Mar 2	Jun 15 – Jul 20	100–120
Celery	Jan 26	Feb 16	Mar 2	May 25 – Jul 20	80–120
Celtuce	Jan 26	Feb 16	Mar 2	May 4 – Jun 15	60–90
Chard	Jan 26	Feb 16	Mar 2	Apr 27 – Jun 15	50–60
Chayote	Jan 12	Mar 9	Mar 16	Jul 20 – Sep 28	120–180
Chickpeas	Jan 26	Feb 16	Mar 2	May 25 – Jul 6	80–110
Chicory	Jan 26	Feb 16	Mar 2	May 4 – Jun 15	60–85
Chinese Cabbage	Jan 26	Feb 16	Mar 2	Apr 27 – May 25	50–70
Christmas Lima Beans	Jan 12	Mar 9	Mar 16	Jun 8 – Jul 13	80–100
Collard Greens	Jan 26	Feb 16	Mar 2	Apr 27 – Jun 29	55–75
Corn	—	Mar 9	—	May 11 – Jul 6	60–100
Cowpeas	—	Mar 9	—	May 11 – Jun 22	60–90
Cress	Jan 26	Feb 16	Mar 2	Mar 16 – Apr 6	14–21
Crookneck Squash	Feb 2	Mar 9	Mar 16	May 4 – Jun 1	45–60
Crosne	—	Feb 16	—	Jul 20 – Sep 21	150–200
Cucumber	Feb 2	Mar 9	Mar 16	May 11 – Jul 6	50–70
Daikon	—	Feb 16	—	Apr 13 – May 11	50–70
Delicata Squash	Feb 2	Mar 9	Mar 16	Jun 8 – Jul 13	80–100
Edamame	—	Mar 9	—	May 25 – Jul 6	75–100
Eggplant	Dec 29	Mar 9	Mar 16	May 25 – Jul 27	65–85
Endive	Jan 26	Feb 16	Mar 2	Apr 20 – May 25	45–65
Escarole	Jan 26	Feb 16	Mar 2	Apr 27 – May 25	50–70
Fava Beans	Jan 26	Feb 16	Mar 2	May 18 – Jun 29	75–100
Fennel	Jan 12	Mar 9	Mar 16	May 18 – Jun 29	60–90
Garlic	—	—	—	—	90–240
Ginger	Jan 12	Mar 9	Mar 16	Nov 16 – Nov 30	240–300
Green Beans	—	Mar 9	—	May 4 – Jun 29	50–65
Horseradish	—	—	Mar 16	Jul 20 – Sep 28	120–180
Hot Peppers	Dec 29	Mar 9	Mar 16	May 25 – Aug 31	70–120
Hubbard Squash	Feb 2	Mar 9	Mar 16	Jun 29 – Aug 3	100–120
Jicama	Jan 12	Mar 9	Mar 16	Jul 20 – Sep 28	120–180
Kabocha	Feb 2	Mar 9	Mar 16	Jun 15 – Jul 13	85–100
Kai Lan	Jan 26	Feb 16	Mar 2	Apr 20 – May 18	45–60
Kale	Jan 26	Feb 16	Mar 2	Apr 27 – Jun 22	50–70
Kidney Beans	—	Mar 9	—	Jun 8 – Jul 13	85–110
Kohlrabi	Jan 26	Feb 16	Mar 2	Apr 20 – May 25	45–65
Komatsuna	Jan 26	Feb 16	Mar 2	Apr 6 – May 11	35–50
Leeks	Jan 26	Feb 16	Mar 2	Jun 1 – Aug 17	90–150
Lentils	Jan 26	Feb 16	Mar 2	May 25 – Jul 6	80–110
Lettuce	Jan 26	Feb 16	Mar 2	Apr 6 – Jun 15	30–60
Lima Beans	—	Mar 9	—	May 11 – Jun 22	60–90
Loofah	Jan 12	Mar 9	Mar 16	Jun 29 – Aug 31	100–150
Luffa	Jan 12	Mar 9	Mar 16	Jun 15 – Aug 31	90–150
Mache	Jan 26	Feb 16	Mar 2	Apr 13 – May 18	40–60
Malabar Spinach	Jan 12	Mar 9	Mar 16	May 11 – Jun 8	55–70
Melon	Feb 2	Mar 9	Mar 16	May 25 – Jul 13	70–100
Microgreens	Jan 26	Feb 16	Mar 2	Mar 9 – Apr 6	7–21
Mitsuba	Jan 26	Feb 16	Feb 23	Apr 20 – Jun 15	50–70
Mizuna	Jan 26	Feb 16	Mar 2	Apr 6 – May 4	30–45
Mustard Greens	Jan 26	Feb 16	Mar 2	Apr 6 – Jun 8	30–50
Napa Cabbage	Jan 26	Feb 16	Mar 2	Apr 27 – Jun 1	55–75
New Zealand Spinach	Jan 12	Mar 9	Mar 16	May 11 – Jun 8	55–70
Okra	Jan 12	Mar 9	Mar 16	May 11 – Jul 6	50–65
Onion	Jan 26	Feb 16	Mar 2	Jun 1 – Jul 20	90–120
Pac Choi	Jan 26	Feb 16	Mar 2	Apr 13 – May 11	40–55
Parsnip	—	Feb 16	—	Jun 1 – Jul 13	100–130
Patty Pan Squash	Feb 2	Mar 9	Mar 16	May 4 – Jun 1	45–60
Peas	Jan 26	Feb 16	Mar 2	Apr 27 – Jun 22	55–70
Peppers	Dec 29	Mar 9	Mar 16	May 18 – Jul 27	60–90
Pole Beans	Jan 12	Mar 9	Mar 16	May 11 – Jul 6	55–70
Potatoes	Jan 12	Mar 9	Mar 16	May 25 – Aug 3	70–120
Pumpkin	Feb 2	Mar 9	Mar 16	Jun 15 – Aug 3	85–120
Purslane	Jan 26	Feb 16	Mar 2	Apr 13 – May 18	40–60
Radicchio	Jan 26	Feb 16	Mar 2	May 4 – Jun 8	60–80
Radish	—	Feb 16	—	Mar 16 – Apr 6	22–35
Rhubarb	—	—	Mar 23	—	365–730
Romanesco	Jan 26	Feb 16	Mar 2	May 18 – Jun 29	75–100
Rutabaga	—	Feb 16	—	May 11 – Jun 15	80–100
Salsify	—	Feb 16	—	Jun 1 – Jul 13	100–130
Savoy Cabbage	Jan 26	Feb 16	Mar 2	May 11 – Jul 6	70–110
Scallions	Jan 26	Feb 16	Mar 2	Apr 27 – May 25	50–70
Scarlet Runner Beans	Jan 12	Mar 9	Mar 16	May 18 – Jun 22	60–80
Shallot	Jan 26	Feb 16	Mar 2	Jun 1 – Jul 20	90–120
Shiso	Jan 12	Mar 9	Mar 16	May 11 – Jul 6	50–70
Snap Peas	Jan 12	Mar 9	Mar 16	May 11 – Jul 6	55–70
Snow Peas	Jan 26	Feb 16	Mar 2	Apr 27 – Jun 22	50–65
Soybeans	—	Mar 9	—	Jun 1 – Jul 27	80–120
Spaghetti Squash	Feb 2	Mar 9	Mar 16	Jun 15 – Jul 13	85–100
Spinach	Jan 26	Feb 16	Mar 2	Apr 6 – Jun 8	35–50
Squash (Summer)	Feb 2	Mar 9	Mar 16	May 4 – Jul 6	45–65
Squash (Winter)	Feb 2	Mar 9	Mar 16	Jun 8 – Aug 3	80–120
Sunchoke	—	—	Mar 16	Jul 6 – Aug 31	110–150
Sunflower	Jan 12	Mar 9	Mar 16	May 25 – Jul 13	70–100
Sweet Corn	—	Mar 9	—	May 11 – Jun 22	60–90
Sweet Potatoes	Jan 12	Mar 9	Mar 16	Jun 15 – Aug 3	90–120
Tatsoi	Jan 26	Feb 16	Mar 2	Apr 6 – May 11	35–50
Tomatillo	Jan 12	Mar 9	Mar 16	May 18 – Jul 27	60–85
Tomatoes	Jan 12	Mar 9	Mar 16	May 18 – Jul 27	60–85
Turmeric	Jan 12	Mar 9	Mar 16	Nov 16 – Nov 30	240–300
Turnip	—	Feb 16	—	Mar 30 – May 4	40–60
Watercress	Jan 26	Feb 16	Mar 2	Apr 13 – May 18	40–60
Watermelon	Feb 2	Mar 9	Mar 16	May 25 – Jul 13	70–100
Wax Beans	—	Mar 9	—	May 4 – Jun 29	50–65
Winter Melon	Jan 12	Mar 9	Mar 16	Jun 15 – Aug 3	90–120
Yard Long Beans	Jan 12	Mar 9	Mar 16	May 11 – Jun 22	55–80
Zucchini	Feb 2	Mar 9	Mar 16	May 4 – Jun 29	45–60

🍓 Fruits to Grow in Houston County

27 fruits that grow well in Zone 8a with planting dates for Houston County.

Show all 27 fruits with planting dates

Plant	Start Indoors	Direct Sow	Transplant	Harvest	Days to Maturity
Alpine Strawberries	—	—	Mar 23	Jun 22 – Oct 5	90–180
Aronia	—	—	Mar 23	—	730–1095
Blackberries	—	—	Mar 23	—	365–730
Blueberries	—	—	Mar 23	—	730–1095
Boysenberries	—	—	Mar 23	—	365–730
Cantaloupe	—	—	Mar 23	Jun 1 – Jul 6	70–90
Che Fruit	—	—	Mar 23	—	1095–1825
Elderberries	—	—	Mar 23	—	730–1095
Figs	—	—	Mar 23	—	730–1825
Goji Berries	—	—	Mar 23	—	730–1095
Gooseberries	—	—	Mar 23	—	730–1095
Grapes	—	—	Mar 23	—	730–1095
Ground Cherry	—	—	Mar 23	Jun 1 – Jul 27	65–80
Hardy Kiwi	—	—	Mar 23	—	1095–1825
Honeydew	—	—	Mar 23	Jun 15 – Jul 27	80–110
Jostaberry	—	—	Mar 23	—	730–1095
Kiwi	—	—	Mar 23	—	1095–1825
Loquat	—	—	Mar 23	—	730–1825
Medlar	—	—	Mar 23	—	1095–1825
Mulberries	—	—	Mar 23	—	730–1825
Pawpaw	—	—	Mar 23	—	1095–2555
Persimmon	—	—	Mar 23	—	1095–2555
Pomegranate	—	—	Mar 23	—	730–1095
Quince	—	—	Mar 23	—	1095–1825
Raspberries	—	—	Mar 23	—	365–730
Serviceberries	—	—	Mar 23	—	730–1095
Strawberries	—	—	Mar 23	Jun 22 – Dec 7	90–365

🌿 Herbs to Grow in Houston County

42 herbs that grow well in Zone 8a with planting dates for Houston County.

Show all 42 herbs with planting dates

Plant	Start Indoors	Direct Sow	Transplant	Harvest	Days to Maturity
Angelica	Jan 26	Feb 16	Feb 23	—	365–730
Anise	Jan 26	Feb 16	Feb 23	May 25 – Aug 10	90–120
Basil	Jan 12	Mar 9	Mar 16	May 11 – Jul 13	50–75
Bee Balm	—	—	Mar 9	Jun 8 – Aug 24	90–120
Borage	Jan 26	Feb 16	Feb 23	Apr 20 – Jun 8	50–60
Caraway	Jan 26	Feb 16	Feb 23	—	365–450
Catnip	—	—	Mar 9	May 11 – Jul 13	60–80
Chamomile	Jan 26	Feb 16	Feb 23	Apr 27 – Jul 6	60–90
Chervil	Jan 26	Feb 16	Feb 23	Apr 6 – Jun 8	40–60
Chives	—	—	Mar 9	May 11 – Jul 20	60–90
Cilantro	Jan 26	Feb 16	Feb 23	Apr 6 – Jun 8	40–60
Comfrey	—	—	Mar 9	May 11 – Jul 20	60–90
Cumin	Jan 26	Feb 16	Feb 23	Jun 8 – Aug 10	100–120
Dill	Jan 26	Feb 16	Feb 23	Apr 6 – Jun 8	40–60
Echinacea	—	—	Mar 9	Jul 13 – Oct 19	120–180
Epazote	Jan 12	Mar 9	Mar 16	May 4 – Jun 29	45–60
Fennel (herb)	Jan 26	Feb 16	Feb 23	Apr 27 – Jul 6	60–90
Feverfew	—	—	Mar 9	Jun 8 – Aug 24	90–120
Garlic Chives	—	—	Mar 9	May 11 – Jul 20	60–90
Horehound	—	—	Mar 9	May 25 – Jul 20	75–90
Hyssop	—	—	Mar 9	May 18 – Jul 20	70–90
Lavender	—	—	Mar 9	Jun 8 – Nov 9	90–200
Lemon Balm	—	—	Mar 9	May 11 – Jun 29	60–70
Lemon Thyme	—	—	Mar 9	May 18 – Jul 20	70–90
Lemon Verbena	Jan 12	Mar 9	Mar 16	May 18 – Jul 27	60–90
Lemongrass	Jan 12	Mar 9	Mar 16	Jun 1 – Aug 31	75–120
Lovage	—	—	Mar 9	May 18 – Jul 20	70–90
Marjoram	—	—	Mar 9	May 11 – Jul 20	60–90
Mint	—	—	Mar 9	May 11 – Jul 20	60–90
Oregano	—	—	Mar 9	May 11 – Jul 20	60–90
Parsley	Jan 26	Feb 16	Feb 23	Apr 27 – Jun 29	60–80
Rosemary	—	—	Mar 9	Jun 1 – Oct 19	80–180
Rue	—	—	Mar 9	May 18 – Jul 20	70–90
Sage	—	—	Mar 9	May 25 – Jul 20	75–90
Savory	—	—	Mar 9	May 4 – Jun 29	50–70
Sorrel	Jan 26	Feb 16	Feb 23	Apr 6 – Jun 8	40–60
Stevia	Jan 12	Mar 9	Mar 16	May 18 – Jul 27	60–90
Tarragon	—	—	Mar 9	May 11 – Jul 20	60–90
Thai Basil	Jan 12	Mar 9	Mar 16	May 11 – Jul 13	50–75
Thyme	—	—	Mar 9	May 18 – Jul 20	70–90
Valerian	—	—	Mar 9	Jul 13 – Oct 19	120–180
Yarrow	—	—	Mar 9	Jun 8 – Aug 24	90–120

Monthly Planting Guide for Houston County

Gardening Guides & Resources

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Frequently Asked Questions

What planting zone is Houston County, TX?

Houston County is in USDA Hardiness Zone 8a. This zone classification determines which perennial plants survive winter and sets the baseline for frost timing across the county.

When is the last frost in Houston County, TX?

Based on 30 years of NOAA weather station data, the median last spring frost in Houston County falls around March 2. Plan transplants and direct-sow dates relative to this date.

When is the first fall frost in Houston County, TX?

The median first fall frost in Houston County arrives around November 23. Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops — tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash — before this date.

🌱

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