What to plant this week in Shreveport, LA
With the last frost officially behind us on March 1st, Shreveport gardeners are in full swing for warm-season crops as we settle into our stable Zone 8b heat. This week marks a critical window to get your okra, summer squash, and sweet corn seeds directly into the rich, clay-heavy soil before the mercury climbs too high.
The next 7 days
Shreveport, LAGrowing in Shreveport right now
- Push aside your morning newspaper or cardboard mulch immediately; Shreveport's heavy red clay retains moisture well but dries out rapidly under direct sun once May hits.
- Amend your garden beds liberally with compost now to help break up the native clay, which otherwise slows drainage and can suffocate young bean and melon roots.
- Water deeply in the late evening rather than morning to reduce evaporation loss during our typical dry spells between rain events.
Sow this week
30 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cantaloupe
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Edamame
- Fennel
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Honeydew Melon
- Lima Bean
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Pole Bean
- 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
39 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cantaloupe
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Edamame
- Fennel
- Flour Corn
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Garlic
- Ghost Pepper (Bhut Jolokia)
- Gourd (Ornamental/Bottle)
- Honeydew Melon
- Lima Bean
- Lisianthus (Prairie Gentian)
- Loofah (Luffa)
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Pole Bean
- Pumpkin
- Roselle (Cranberry Hibiscus)
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Summer Savory
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Sweet Potato
- 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 for continuous harvests.
- Mulch around young summer squash and watermelons to retain soil moisture as temperatures rise.
- Pinch back the tips of zinnias and cosmos to encourage bushier growth and more blooms.
Pest & disease watch
- Watch for early-season aphids clustering on the undersides of your new basil and shiso plants, which thrive quickly in our humid climate.
- Scout tomato cages (if started indoors) for flea beetles that will target leafy greens like Malabar spinach as temperatures rise above 75°F.
Watering this week
Water deeply in the morning to keep roots hydrated and reduce evaporation during hot afternoons.
Harvest bush beans when pods are tender but before they begin to flower or turn woody.
Shreveport gardening questions
3Can I transplant my seedlings now or do I need to wait?
You can skip the indoor start entirely and sow everything directly into the ground right now, including bush beans, cucumbers, and sweet corn. Since our last frost date is March 1st, there is no risk of freezing damage for these warm-weather favorites.
My okra plants look small after two weeks; are they growing too slowly?
This is normal for Shreveport's clay soil where roots struggle to penetrate until amended with organic matter. Keep the soil consistently moist and ensure you aren't over-fertilizing with nitrogen-heavy amendments that boost foliage but delay fruit production.
When should I start thinking about winter squash storage?
You can plant Winter Squash seeds this week, but remember they need 80-120 days to mature before the first frost on December 1st. Harvest them only after the vines have fully yellowed and died back naturally to ensure the skins are tough enough for long-term cellaring.
Other cities in zone 8b
12See the full zone 8b guide → · Plan your Shreveport garden in SproutGuide →