What to plant this week in Houston, TX
With Houston's last frost officially averaged out for January 30th, this week marks the tail end of winter cleanup and a full sprint into late spring planting. Gardeners are currently in peak season to harvest summer staples like zucchini, okra, and melons while simultaneously sowing daikon radishes and fast-growing annuals like cosmos and marigolds for the long hot season ahead.
The next 7 days
Houston, TXGrowing in Houston right now
- Houston's clay-heavy soils stay wet longer than usual after heavy rains, so ensure drainage holes in raised beds are enlarged to prevent root rot on squash and beans.
- The city's intense afternoon sun requires shade cloth or mulching for newly sown daikon radishes and delicate fillers like nasturtiums to survive the heat spike before summer monsoons.
- Watch local rainfall patterns closely; if you receive over an inch of rain this week, hold off on transplanting any late-blooming flowers to avoid washing out shallow roots in heavy clay.
- Take advantage of the mild transition period now to prepare seedbeds for next year's garlic crop, which thrives in our distinct winter chill before the summer heat sets in.
Sow this week
1 crops- Daikon Radish
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
44 crops- Acorn Squash
- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Butternut Squash
- Cantaloupe
- Celosia (Cockscomb)
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Delicata Squash
- Edamame
- Fennel
- Flour Corn
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Garlic
- Gomphrena (Globe Amaranth)
- Gourd (Ornamental/Bottle)
- Honeydew Melon
- Lima Bean
- Loofah (Luffa)
- Malabar Spinach
- Morning Glory
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Pole Bean
- Pumpkin
- Purslane
- Roselle (Cranberry Hibiscus)
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Spaghetti Squash
- Summer Savory
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Watermelon
- Winter Squash
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Seasonal tips
- Start succession planting cool-season greens now that the ground has warmed up slightly after the last frost date.
- Apply a light layer of mulch around established squash and melons to retain moisture as summer heat approaches.
- Divide and transplant perennials like borage and verbena while they are still dormant or just starting to grow.
Pest & disease watch
- Spider mites are becoming active on ornamental pines and vegetable foliage as humidity fluctuates, requiring regular hose-downs or neem oil sprays.
- Cucumber beetles are aggressively attacking early cucumber and melon plants, necessitating row covers until flowers open.
- Aphid outbreaks are common on young sunflower and cosmos seedlings this week, best managed by introducing beneficial ladybugs rather than chemical intervention.
Watering this week
Water deeply in the early morning to conserve heat and reduce evaporation during these mild days.
Harvest your acorn and butternut squash soon while the skin is still hardening to ensure long-term storage success.
Houston gardening questions
3Can I still start my tomato or pepper seeds indoors right now in Houston?
It is too late for starting cool-season tomatoes indoors if you plan to transplant them directly into the ground this week. However, warm-season crops like beans, corn, and squash can be sown directly outside now since our soil has warmed up sufficiently after January's frost risk.
When should I plant my garlic in Houston?
Garlic is currently listed as a crop to harvest soon because you planted it last fall. If you missed the autumn window, you will need to wait until late September or October next year for optimal bulb formation, rather than trying to force it into the ground now.
How do I protect my okra and beans from the upcoming summer storms?
Install sturdy trellises immediately for pole beans and place cages around your okra plants before the heavy monsoon rains arrive later this month. These structures will prevent wind damage to tall stalks and allow you to harvest without breaking fragile branches in the storm.
Other cities in zone 9b
10See the full zone 9b guide → · Plan your Houston garden in SproutGuide →