What to plant this week in New Orleans, LA
With the last frost officially behind us on Jan 30, New Orleans gardeners are in full swing for warm-weather crops this week. While your soil might still be cool from winter rains, it is the perfect time to sow Daikon radish seeds and begin harvesting those summer favorites like acorn squash and bush beans that have been ripening all season.
The next 7 days
New Orleans, LAGrowing in New Orleans right now
- New Orleans clay can stay soggy after our frequent spring thunderstorms; dig in generous amounts of compost or aged pine straw before planting your late-sown peas or beans to improve drainage.
- The high humidity typical of this week favors rapid growth for okra and Malabar spinach, but ensure you water deeply in the early morning to prevent fungal issues on basil and borage.
- Don't let the humid heat stop you from sowing Daikon radish now; they thrive in our mild winters and will provide a crisp harvest before the peak summer heat sets in later this month.
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
- Watch for aphids clustering on the new growth of your transplanted Cosmos and Zinnia as temperatures climb above 75°F.
- Spider mites can become active quickly in dry spells within our humid climate, especially on the fine leaves of Garden Verbena and Fennel.
- Slugs will be very active this week in our low-lying neighborhoods; hand-pick them from your Celosia and Nasturtium plants early in the morning.
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.
New Orleans gardening questions
3When should I plant my garlic this season?
Although you are currently harvesting mature garlic, it is time to sow new cloves soon for a fall harvest. Plant hardneck varieties now so they can establish roots before our first frost around December 15th.
Can I still start tomatoes and peppers indoors if I haven't done so yet?
It is too late to start cool-season starts like tomatoes and peppers indoors for a summer harvest in New Orleans; these are best started by mid-March. Instead, focus your indoor space on starting warm-weather crops like eggplant or okra now.
My Butternut Squash and Delicata are ready, how do I tell when they are truly ripe?
Look for a deep, matte skin color and check that the rind is hard enough to be punctured only by thumbnail pressure. Ensure the stem has dried out and turned brown before cutting them from the vine to maximize shelf life.
Other cities in zone 9b
10See the full zone 9b guide → · Plan your New Orleans garden in SproutGuide →