🌱 Houston Seasonal Planting Guide

(What to Plant & When – Zone 8b/9a)

Houston’s long growing season makes it possible to garden almost year-round. Knowing what to plant each season helps families, teachers, and beginners grow confidently — even in our heat and humidity.

🌸 SPRING (January – April)

Spring is for cool-season vegetables first, then warm-season favorites once frost danger passes (around early March).

🌿 What to Plant

January–February (Cool Season)

• Lettuce

• Spinach

• Radishes

• Carrots

• Beets

• Kale

• Swiss chard

• Broccoli & cabbage (transplants)

March–April (Warm Season)

• Tomatoes (transplants)

• Peppers (transplants)

• Green beans

• Cucumbers

• Squash

• Sweet corn

🛠 Helpful Tools

• Seed starter trays

• Indoor grow light for early starts

• Raised garden bed kits

👉 Great for beginners: a seed-starting kit with humidity dome helps kids see seeds sprout quickly.

☀️ SUMMER (May – August)

Houston summers are hot — choose heat-loving plants and protect soil moisture.

🌿 What to Plant

• Okra

• Southern peas (black-eyed peas, cowpeas)

• Sweet potatoes

• Eggplant

• Peppers

• Basil

• Malabar spinach

💡 Tip: Many gardeners take a short break in July–August, then prepare for fall planting.

🛠 Helpful Tools

• Shade cloth for raised beds

• Soaker hoses or drip irrigation

• Garden mulch (pine bark or straw)

👉 Kid-friendly tip: Let kids help set up a watering timer so plants stay hydrated during summer heat.

🍁 FALL (September – November)

Fall is one of the best gardening seasons in Houston.

🌿 What to Plant

• Lettuce

• Spinach

• Arugula

• Mustard greens

• Radishes

• Turnips

• Carrots

• Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage (transplants)

• Onions (from seed or sets)

🛠 Helpful Tools

• Garden soil thermometer -compost piles

• Floating row covers

• Garden journals for kids

👉 Fall gardens grow fast and are perfect for school gardens and home projects.

❄️ WINTER (December – February)

Houston winters are mild, but freeze protection matters.

🌿 What to Plant or Maintain

• Kale

• Spinach

• Swiss chard

• Carrots

• Beets

• Radishes

• Peas

• Herbs: parsley, cilantro, thyme, rosemary

🛠 Helpful Tools

• Frost cloth or plant covers

• Cold-weather gardening gloves

• Raised beds (warm faster than ground soil)

👉 Even one freeze blanket can save an entire garden during cold snaps.

👩‍🌾 Teacher Talk

This seasonal guide works beautifully for:

• Science units on plant life cycles

• School garden planning

• Observation journals

• Family gardening projects

Students love tracking what grows best each season in Houston.

👨‍👩‍👧 Parent Tip

Start small! A single raised bed or container garden builds confidence and success — especially for young gardeners.

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