North East Texas Hardiness Zone Map
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Planting
Plant heat-loving annuals including copper plant, firebush, gomphrena, lantana, pentas, purple fountaingrass and ornamental sweet potato in sunny areas. Buy “hardened” plants that are acclimated to sun.
In shady spots, plant caladium and elephant ear bulbs, begonias, coleus, impatiens (mildew-resistant types).
Seeds of celosia, cosmos, marigold, morning glory, portulaca and zinnia can be sown directly in the beds. Keep seeded area moist until seeds germinate. Achimenes, cannas, dahlias and other summer flowering bulbs can also be planted in May.
Establish new lawns before summer heat sets in. Sow seeded varieties of Bermudagrass early in the month; or sod Bermuda or St. Augustine grass. Water daily for first few weeks to develop a good root system.
Fertilizing and Pruning
Manually thin the fruit on peaches, pears, plums and apples to 5-6 inches apart early in the month.
Fertilize tomatoes and most other vegetables every other week for productive and vigorous plants.
Prune spring-flowering shrubs and vines soon after flowering. Keep the natural shape of the plant in mind as you prune, and avoid excessive cutting except where necessary to control size. Deadhead roses and other reblooming plants.
Feed fruit trees, perennials, annuals, ground covers and vines with a lawn fertilizer (3-1-2 or 4-1-2 ratio).
Allow foliage of daffodils and other spring-flowering bulbs to mature and yellow before removing.
Garden Watch
Allow bluebonnets and other reseeding, annual wildflowers to die and the seeds to dry before mowing the stubble. Delay mowing until end of growing season if other wildflowers are growing in the area.
Maintain a 2-3 inch layer of shredded hardwood or other wood mulch in beds and around all plants to conserve moisture and reduce weeds.
Check tomatoes for signs of early blight (yellow blotches on lower leaves). Apply a labeled fungicide if needed. Keep soil adequately moist to prevent blossom-end rot (browned tissue on bloom end of fruit).
Look for squash bugs in early morning. Destroy eggs found on underside of leaves by hand. Vegetable pests can often be controlled by mechanical, biological or organic means rather than by chemicals.
Watch for bagworms on junipers and other narrow-leafed evergreens. Apply Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) or general insecticide at first sign of larvae feeding. Remember that once the bag has formed, your only option is to manually pull them off.
Make initial application of Image® or SedgeHammer 5 to control nutsedge (or “nutgrass”) in
established warm-season lawns.
The Shumard Oak is a large, deciduous tree reaching heights of 120 feet and a width of 50-60 feet. The Shumard Oak tolerates full sun and low to medium water requirements. This Texas native produces acorns eaten by wildlife. The Shumard Oak is a fast growing tree with orange to deep red fall color. Oak wilt can be a disease problem.
The CBMGA Annual Plant Sale and Expo is the first weekend in May. Come by, get a bargain, learn some stuff, get some more plants.
| Asterisk (*) means transplant vegetable starter plants. For seeds, start 2-3 weeks earlier |
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| Crop | Spring Planting Date |
Fall Planting Date |
Seed or Plants Per 100 ft of Row |
Inches Between |
Number of Days Before |
Average Yield Per 100 Feet |
Average Days of Harvest |
| Asparagus | 2/1 to 3/1 | Not Rec. | 1 ounce | 18 | 730 | 30 pounds | 60 |
| Cabbage* | 2/1 to 3/1 | 8/1 to 9/15 | 1/4 ounce | 14 to 24 | 60 to 90 | 150 pounds | 40 |
| Garlic | 2/1 to 3/1 | 9/1 to 10/15 | 1 pound | 2 to 4 | 140 to 150 | 40 pounds | |
| Kohlrabi | 2/1 to 3/1 | 8/15 to 9/15 | 1/4 ounce | 4 to 6 | 55 to 75 | 75 pounds | 14 |
| Onion (plants) | 2/1 to 3/1 | Not Rec. | 400 to 600 plants | 2 to 3 | 80 to 120 | 100 pounds | 40 |
| Peas, English | 2/1 to 3/1 | 8/15 to 9/15 | 1 pound | 1 | 55 to 90 | 20 pounds | 7 |
| Spinach | 2/1 to 3/1 | 9/1 to 10/15 | 1 ounce | 3 to 4 | 40 to 60 | 3 bushels | 40 |
| Turnip | 2/1 to 3/1 | 9/15 to 10/15 | 1/2 ounce | 2 to 3 | 30 to 60 | 75 pounds | 35 |
| Beets | 2/1 to 4/1 | 9/1 to 10/1 | 1 ounce | 2 | 50 to 60 | 150 pounds | 30 |
| Radish | 2/1 to 4/1 | 9/15 to 10/15 | 1 ounce | 1 | 25 to 40 | 100 bunches | 7 |
| Carrots | 2/10 to 3/1 | 8/1 to 10/1 | 1/2 ounce | 2 | 70 to 80 | 100 pounds | 21 |
| Collard / Kale | 2/10 to 3/1 | 8/1 to 10/1 | 1/4 ounce | 8 to 16 | 50 to 80 | 100 pounds | 60 |
| Potatoes, Irish | 2/15 to 3/1 | 8/1 to 9/1 | 6 to 10 pounds | 10 to 15 | 75 to 100 | 100 pounds | |
| Cabbage, Chinese * | 2/15 to 3/10 | 8/1 to 9/15 | 1/4 ounce | 8 to 12 | 65 to 70 | 80 pounds | 21 |
| Lettuce | 2/15 to 3/15 | 9/1 to 10/1 | 1/4 ounce | 2 to 3 | 40 to 80 | 50 pounds | 21 |
| Broccoli * | 3/1 to 3/15 | 8/1 to 9/15 | 1/4 ounce | 14 to 24 | 60 to 80 | 100 pounds | 40 |
| Cauliflower * | 3/1 to 3/15 | 8/1 to 9/15 | 1/4 ounce | 14 to 24 | 70 to 90 | 100 pounds | 14 |
| Muskmelon | 3/15 to 5/1 | 7/15 to 8/1 | 1/2 ounce | 24 to 36 | 85 to 100 | 100 fruit | 30 |
| Chard, Swiss | 3/20 to 4/15 | 8/1 to 10/1 | 2 ounces | 6 | 45 to 55 | 75 pounds | 40 |
| Squash, Summer | 3/20 to 5/1 | 7/15 to 8/15 | 1 ounce | 18 to 36 | 50 to 60 | 150 pounds | 40 |
| Cucumber | 4/1 to 4/15 | 8/1 to 9/1 | 1/2 ounce | 24 to 28 | 50 to 70 | 120 pounds | 30 |
| Eggplant * | 4/1 to 4/15 | 7/15 to 8/1 | 1/8 ounce | 18 to 24 | 80 to 90 | 100 pounds | 90 |
| Squash, Winter | 4/1 to 4/15 | 7/1 to 8/1 | 1/2 ounce | 24 to 48 | 85 to 100 | 100 pounds | |
| Tomato (plants) | 4/1 to 4/15 | 7/1 to 8/1 | 1/8 ounce | 18 to 36 | 70 to 90 | 100 pounds | 40 |
| Beans, Bush | 4/1 to 5/1 | 8/1 to 8/15 | 1/2 pound | 3 to 4 | 45 to 60 | 120 pounds | 14 |
| Beans, Pole | 4/1 to 5/1 | 8/1 to 8/15 | 1/2 pound | 4 to 6 | 60 to 70 | 150 pounds | 30 |
| Beans, Lima | 4/1 to 5/1 | 8/1 to 8/15 | 1/4 pound | 3 to 4 | 80 | 50 pounds | 40 |
| Corn, Sweet | 4/1 to 5/1 | 7/15 to 8/1 | 3 to 4 ounces | 12 to 18 | 70 to 90 | 10 dozen ears | 10 |
| Mustard | 4/1 to 5/1 | 7/10 to 9/1 | 1/4 ounce | 6 to 12 | 30 to 40 | 100 pounds | 30 |
| Potatoes, Sweet | 4/1 to 5/15 | Not Rec. | 75 to 100 plants | 12 to 16 | 100 to 130 | 100 pounds | |
| Watermelon | 4/1 to 5/15 | 7/1 to 7/15 | 1/2 ounce | 36 to 96 | 80 to 100 | 40 fruits | 30 |
| Pepper | 4/10 to 5/1 | 7/1 to 8/1 | 1/8 ounce | 18 to 24 | 60 to 90 | 60 pounds | 90 |
| Pumpkin | 4/15 to 5/15 | 7/1 to 8/1 | 1/2 ounce | 36 to 48 | 75 to 100 | 100 pounds | |
| Peas, Southern | 4/15 to 6/1 | 7/1 to 8/1 | 1/2 pound | 4 to 6 | 60 to 70 | 40 pounds | 30 |
| Watermelon | 4/15 to 6/1 | 7/1 to 7/15 | 1/2 ounce | 36 to 96 | 75 to 100 | 40 fruits | 30 |
| Okra | 4/15 to 7/1 | Not Rec. | 2 ounces | 24 | 55 to 65 | 100 pounds | 90 |
| Brussel Sprouts | Not Rec. | 8/1 to 10/1 | 1/4 ounce | 14 to 24 | 90 to 100 | 75 pounds | 21 |
| Parsley | Not Rec. | 8/10 to 10/1 | 1/4 ounce | 2 to 4 | 70 to 90 | 30 pounds | 90 |
This page last updated or reviewed [220721]
