What to plant this week in Shreveport, LA
With the last frost officially averaging March 1st, Shreveport gardeners are well past the danger of late spring chills and should focus on maximizing this Week 8b growing window before winter returns in December. This week marks a critical harvest peak for your early beans and melons, while also being the ideal time to sow heat-loving crops like okra and cucumbers that thrive in our humid lowlands.
The next 7 days
Shreveport, LAGrowing in Shreveport right now
- Our heavy clay loam soils in Bossier and Caddo Parishes hold moisture well but require consistent breaking up to prevent waterlogging during our frequent spring afternoon thunderstorms.
- Given the high humidity typical of North Louisiana, ensure your squash and zucchini plants have excellent airflow by spacing them widely to reduce fungal pressure before the peak summer heat arrives.
- Take advantage of the mild December frost-free tail end of the season by sowing Malabar Spinach and Bush Beans now for a fall harvest that will mature just as temperatures cool down in late autumn.
Sow this week
13 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cucumber
- French Marigold
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Pole Bean
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Summer Savory
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zucchini
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
36 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cantaloupe
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Edamame
- Fennel
- Flour Corn
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Garlic
- 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 pole beans every two weeks for a continuous harvest throughout summer.
- Mulch around newly planted squash and zucchini to retain moisture as days get warmer.
- Thin out crowded seedlings of sunflowers and sweet corn to ensure proper air circulation.
Pest & disease watch
- Watch closely for bean leaf beetles on your newly sown pole beans, which can strip foliage quickly if not managed early in our warm spring weather.
- Spider mites often explode in populations during hot, dry stretches of summer; check the undersides of your French Marigold and Zinnia leaves weekly for webbing.
- Root-knot nematodes remain a persistent challenge in our local sandy-loam pockets, so practice crop rotation with heavy feeders like corn to keep soil health balanced.
Watering this week
Water deeply in the morning to encourage strong root growth while keeping foliage dry to prevent disease.
Snip off spent flowers from your yellow summer squash plants every few days to keep them producing more fruit.
Shreveport gardening questions
3When should I plant my okra seeds this week?
You can sow okra directly into the ground right now since our last frost date is March 1st and the soil has warmed sufficiently for this warm-season crop.
Is it safe to transplant any of these plants listed for harvest soon?
No, the zone facts indicate no specific transplants are recommended at this time; instead, focus on harvesting your existing crops like watermelon and sweet corn or sowing new seeds immediately.
How do I protect my garlic from our December frost?
Since the first average frost is not until December 1st, you can harvest your garlic soon if bulbs are mature, but ensure any late sowings are mulched heavily to survive potential early cold snaps.
Other cities in zone 8b
12See the full zone 8b guide → · Plan your Shreveport garden in SproutGuide →