What to plant this week in Corpus Christi, TX
With average lows holding steady at 30°F and the last frost officially behind us on Jan 15, Corpus Christi gardeners are in full swing sowing heat-lovers like okra, watermelon, and bush beans this week. The coastal breeze and sandy, fast-draining soils demand you plant deep into mulch to retain moisture while fighting the salt air that can scorch tender new leaves.
The next 7 days
Corpus Christi, TXGrowing in Corpus Christi right now
- Push plants hard against the soil line in your sandy Corpus Christi dirt; shallow planting lets roots dry out too quickly under our intense Gulf sun.
- Apply a heavy layer of organic mulch immediately around young crops like cantaloupe and cucumbers to lock in moisture before the mid-month heat spike hits.
- If you have clay pockets near the bay or higher elevations, amend with compost first, as native sand drains too fast for deep-rooted squash varieties.
- Water early morning only; evening watering encourages fungal issues on our humid nights and washes nutrients off leaves during the breezy afternoons.
Sow this week
33 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cantaloupe
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Edamame
- Fennel
- Flour Corn
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Gourd (Ornamental/Bottle)
- Honeydew Melon
- Lima Bean
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Pole Bean
- Pumpkin
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Summer Savory
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Watermelon
- Winter Squash
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
35 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cantaloupe
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Edamame
- Fennel
- Flour Corn
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Gourd (Ornamental/Bottle)
- Honeydew Melon
- Lima Bean
- Loofah (Luffa)
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Pole Bean
- Pumpkin
- Roselle (Cranberry Hibiscus)
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Summer Savory
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Watermelon
- Winter Squash
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Seasonal tips
- Succession sow bush beans and pole beans every two weeks to ensure a steady harvest throughout the growing season.
- Pinch back the tips of basil and summer savory regularly to encourage bushier growth and prevent flowering.
- Apply a light layer of mulch around newly transplanted squash and pumpkins to retain moisture as soil warms up.
Pest & disease watch
- Spider mites are exploding on okra and tomatoes this week due to low humidity pockets between the coastal wind and our heat dome.
- Aphid colonies are forming rapidly on zinnias and cosmos; check undersides of leaves daily as they reproduce faster in 10a warmth.
- Salt spray damage from recent storms can mimic pest feeding on basil edges; rinse plants with fresh water if you notice bleached tips.
Watering this week
Water deeply at the base of plants every 2-3 days during this hot season to keep roots cool and productive.
Harvest young zucchini fruits daily when they are small to signal the plant to continue producing more fruit.
Corpus Christi gardening questions
3Can I plant cold-weather crops like lettuce or peas now in Corpus Christi?
No, the soil has already warmed past 60°F and air temps are too high for these cool-season greens. Wait until late fall to sow those; right now focus on your harvest-ready beans and melons.
My zucchini plants aren't flowering—should I fertilize with nitrogen?
Stop adding nitrogen-rich fertilizer immediately, as it promotes leafy growth at the expense of blooms in our zone 10a heat. Switch to a low-nitrogen, high-phosphorus formula or compost tea to encourage those summer squash flowers.
How often should I water my newly sown bush beans on sandy soil?
Water deeply every other day rather than daily shallow watering to encourage deep roots in our fast-draining sand. Morning is best, but if a storm passes over at noon, check moisture before your next irrigation.
Other cities in zone 10a
6See the full zone 10a guide → · Plan your Corpus Christi garden in SproutGuide →