Rows of vegetables growing in raised beds under a live oak in Houston

Houston · Zone 9a

What's Growing in Houston?

Our growing calendar is built around the Gulf Coast: long seasons, hot summers, humidity, heavy rain, occasional freezes, and clay soil. Here's what that looks like month by month.

August in Houston · Summer

What Should I Plant This Month?

Survival season. Focus on maintenance, shade, water, and planning the fall garden — often the best season of the year here.

Plant Now

· Okra
· Southern peas
· Peppers (holding)
· Sweet potatoes
· Basil
· Rosemary

Start From Seed

· Fall tomatoes (indoors, late June–July)
· Pumpkins (July)

Garden Tasks

· Provide afternoon shade
· Mulch heavily
· Plan the fall garden
· Solarize or rest empty beds

Watch For

· Spider mites
· Whiteflies
· Grasshoppers

Watering: Deep, early watering is critical. Containers may need daily attention. Soil: Keep soil covered — bare soil bakes and crusts quickly.

Shop what to plant now

See the full Houston growing calendar

The Houston growing calendar

Season by season

June–August

Summer

Survival season. Focus on maintenance, shade, water, and planning the fall garden — often the best season of the year here.

Recommended vegetables

· Okra
· Southern peas
· Peppers (holding)
· Sweet potatoes

Recommended herbs

· Basil
· Rosemary
· Oregano
· Mint (shaded)

Recommended flowers

· Zinnia
· Salvia
· Purslane
· Vinca

Seeds to start

· Fall tomatoes (indoors, late June–July)
· Pumpkins (July)

Plants to transplant

· Fall tomato and pepper transplants in late summer

Garden tasks

· Provide afternoon shade
· Mulch heavily
· Plan the fall garden
· Solarize or rest empty beds

Pest considerations

· Spider mites
· Whiteflies
· Grasshoppers

Watering

· Deep, early watering is critical. Containers may need daily attention.

Soil

· Keep soil covered — bare soil bakes and crusts quickly.

Shop this season

Conditions vary considerably between neighborhoods, coastal areas, and north of Houston. Use this as a guide and adjust for your own microclimate.

Heat

Plan for a summer pause. Heat-tolerant crops and afternoon shade keep the garden going.

Rain & clay

Drainage matters as much as watering. Compost and raised beds do the heavy lifting.

Freezes

Rare but real. Keep row cover on hand and water well before a cold front arrives.