Houston Hobby Airport, TX Frost Dates & Growing Season

The two dates every Houston Hobby Airport garden is planned around, plus ready-computed planting windows for the most popular crops.

Last spring frost
Jan 30
~50% chance of frost after
First fall frost
Dec 28
~50% chance of frost before
Growing season
332 days
frost-free stretch
USDA zone
≈ 9b
estimated from nearby reference
Risky (1 year in 10)MedianSafe (9 years in 10)
Last spring frost Dec 29 Jan 30 Mar 1
First fall frost Jan 27 Dec 28 Nov 27
Hard freeze (28°F), median last Jan 17 · first Jan 8

Computed from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at the HOUSTON HOBBY AP station. "Safe" means frost past that date happens only about one year in ten. Your exact garden can still run days either way with elevation and terrain — check your own ZIP with the frost date lookup.

Planting windows for Houston Hobby Airport

Computed from Houston Hobby Airport's own frost dates. Click any crop for the full zone-9 growing guide — varieties, spacing, fall plantings, and more.

CropStart seeds indoorsTransplantDirect sow
🍅 Tomatoes Dec 5 – Dec 19 Feb 6 – Feb 13
🫑 Peppers Nov 21 – Dec 5 Feb 13 – Feb 20
🥬 Lettuce Dec 19 – Jan 2 Jan 2 – Jan 16 Jan 2 – Jan 30
🫛 Peas Dec 19 – Jan 2
🥕 Carrots Jan 9 – Jan 30
🥦 Broccoli Dec 12 – Dec 26 Jan 9 – Jan 23
🥬 Kale Dec 19 – Jan 2 Jan 2 – Jan 16 Jan 2 – Jan 16
🥒 Cucumbers Jan 2 – Jan 9 Feb 6 – Feb 13 Feb 6 – Feb 13
🥒 Zucchini Jan 2 – Jan 9 Feb 6 – Feb 13 Feb 6 – Feb 13
🫘 Green Beans (Bush) Feb 6 – Feb 13
🌽 Sweet Corn Feb 6 – Feb 13
🌿 Basil Dec 19 – Jan 2 Feb 6 – Feb 13 Feb 13 – Feb 20
🧄 Garlic Fall: Nov 16 – Dec 14

Want this for all 50 crops, or as a printable seed-shelf schedule? Use the planting calendar and the seed starting scheduler — both can use Houston Hobby Airport's dates automatically after a lookup.

Reading the season in Houston Hobby Airport

With roughly 332 frost-free days, Houston Hobby Airport gardens fit long-season crops — melons, winter squash, sweet potatoes — with room left for spring and fall rounds of greens and roots. The first frost around Dec 28 is late enough that fall planting is a full second season, not an afterthought.

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Houston Hobby Airport, TX?

The average last spring frost in Houston Hobby Airport is around Jan 30, based on 1991–2020 climate normals. That's a median — about half of years see a later frost, so tender crops are safest going out a week or two after this date.

When is the first frost in Houston Hobby Airport, TX?

The average first fall frost in Houston Hobby Airport arrives around Dec 28. Crops still in the garden need to mature before then, and frost-tender plants need harvesting or protection as the date approaches.

How long is the growing season in Houston Hobby Airport?

About 332 frost-free days on average, from Jan 30 to Dec 28. That comfortably fits long-season crops like melons and winter squash, plus spring and fall plantings of cool-season vegetables.

What USDA zone is Houston Hobby Airport in?

USDA zone 9b on the 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Note that zones describe winter cold, not frost timing — these frost dates are the numbers to plan plantings around.