Houston, We Have a Planting Plan

May in my town of Houston and other warmer regions is a wonderful, busy time in the garden. We approach the closing of spring and look forward to the sunny days of summer. There is so much you can plant at this time in our climate, but there are things to keep in mind as well with regards to the heat, humidity and drought.

I will discuss below some different edibles, flowers and landscape plants that make great additions at this time, as well as give you some tips for handling our hot southern summers.

Your Southern Kitchen Garden

There are a vast array of edibles you can plant both by seed and by transplant at this time of the year. May means a transition from a warm climate to a hot, humid climate, so you want to choose things that love the high heat of summer. Let's look at some good options:

What to plant by seed outdoors in May:

• Asparagus
• Basil
• Beans
• Cucumber
• Garlic chives
• Luffa
• Malabar Spinach
• Okra
• Peas
• Pumpkins
• Squash
• Thyme

What to transplant as seedlings outdoors in May:

• Eggplant
• Ginger tuber
• Rosemary
• Sweet potato set
• Turmeric root

My Favorite Plants to Grow in a Summer Kitchen Garden

I have to say my two favorites for the climate in Houston are okra (pictured above) and green beans. Okra especially loves heat, and both of these do so well for months on end. Just make sure you are spacing things out to provide maximum air flow and prevent issues with mold and mildew.

Warm season plants that might linger in the hot season

As for plants that can hang from spring into summer, you can keep your tomatoes, peppers, beans, arugula, herbs, and strawberries for a bit longer, but the high heat towards the end of summer, especially in August, will likely wipe most of these out.

Your Southern Flower Garden and Landscaping in May

May is also still a good time to add in colorful flowers and other plants to your garden and landscaping, though you'll want to choose plants that can handle high heat, as well as moderate to high humidity. 

Native plants are always an excellent choice since they are used to our climate.

Popular native plants for Houston include:

• Purple coneflower
• Black-eyed Susans
• Carolina jessamine
• Coral honeysuckle
• Southern wax myrtle
• Pride of Houston Yaupon holly
• Texas lantana
• Texas olive
• Red Turk’s cap
• Pink Muhly Grass

My personal favorites for Houston summers are sunflowers, lantana, salvia, and zinnias (pictured above). Sunflowers can still be planted by seed at this time, but the others should be transplanted. All of these have no problem with heat and some humidity, but be sure to give them plenty of air circulation to prevent mildew or mold.

Here are some other great options for your warm/hot flower garden and landscape:

• Aster
• Bee balm
• Bougainvillea
• Coleus
• Hibiscus
• Lavender
• Marigold
• Ornamental Pepper
• Purslane
• Verbena

12 Tips for Dealing with the Heat and Humidity in Your Garden

Summer can be such a fun time in the garden, but it can also be frustrating thanks to our climate. Who among us doesn’t know that feeling of walking outside and immediately feeling like you're in a steam room? But never fear; you can still enjoy working outside and keep your gardens bountiful and beautiful if you follow these tips.

Tip #1

It gets very hot quickly once the sun is up, so try to do most of your garden work early in the morning or later in the evening.

Tip #2

Be sure to dress cool, drink plenty of water, and wear sunscreen. Also, consider a hat and other skin protection.

Tip #3

Your plants will likely need more water in high heat and times of drought. Now is a great time to set up an automatic drip irrigation system so you are not outside hand watering for hours on end.

Tip #4

If you are hand watering, water deeply and be sure to water at the base of plants. Overhead watering, especially in high humidity, can lead to issues like mold and mildew. You want your plants to stay as dry as possible while still getting a long, cool drink to their roots.

Tip #5

Water early in the morning. During the heat of the day, water will evaporate quicker from the soil.

Tip #6

Consider row covers to prevent heat-loving insects from taking shelter in your garden (and eating all your plants). These covers can serve as shade cloth to extend your harvests. Warm season veggies like tomatoes and peppers find our summers a bit rough, but a bit of shade cloth can keep them going longer.

Tip #7

Space out your plants to improve air flow and allow for the occasional breeze to cool them off. When you place things too close together, you invite problems like powdery mildew.

Tip #8

If you do see any plants that appear as though they've started to become diseased, remove them immediately to prevent spread.

Tip #9

Look into crop rotation to prevent disease. Tomatoes can be susceptible to blight in the summer, and especially if planted in the same area again and again. Move your veggies around year to year.

Tip #10

Mulch, mulch, mulch! This helps retain moisture, keeps the soil cooler, and prevents splattering of mold spores onto your plants.

Tip #11

Consider going native! Houston native plants are well adapted to our heat and humidity and won’t look stressed and tired over the summer.

Tip #12

Add trellises to maximize your space and improve airflow. Cucumbers, squash, pole beans, and smaller pumpkins love growing vertically.

And there you have it! Whether this is your first year gardening or your fiftieth, May is a lovely time to get outside. Grab your kids, hit up the nursery, and enjoy the start of summer.

Dani Boss — Summer Skye Gardens

Dani is a Gardenary-certified garden coach and proud owner of Summer Skye Gardens in Spring, Texas. Located just outside of Houston, Dani knows a thing or two about growing in a hot, humid climate! She loves giving tips for how to beat the heat or how to set up your own pollinator garden, complete with cut flowers and roses.

As a garden coach, she's passionate about helping families get started growing their own food with confidence and success in their very own backyard gardens. She offers design service, one-on-one coaching, and consultations.

Follow Summer Skye Gardens on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and Pinterest to see how Dani is helping others grow in health and happiness. If you're in the Spring area, sign up on her website to receive a free seasonal planting guide and see how Dani can help you make your kitchen garden dreams come true!

Thanks to Dani for supplying the beautiful pictures in this article.