HOUSTON – Wondering what to plant in your garden now that it’s late April or early May? It all comes down to understanding the weather and the last freeze. By now, we’re well past our last frost date, typically mid-March. Here’s why sweet potatoes, cucumbers, basil, and rosemary are perfect picks:
Sweet Potatoes:
They need a warm growing season of around 90–120 days, which means if you plant now, they’ll be ready in the fall, right before colder weather makes its way back to us.
Cucumbers:
Marketmore cucumbers grow faster in warmer weather, while ‘Straight Eight’ grows better in colder weather. How do you tell the difference between the two? Marketmore is darker, slender, and longer compared to Straight Eight, which is a little lighter and shorter. The difference is in the taste. If you plant the wrong one in the wrong season, it will taste more bitter.
Basil:
Basil thrives in warm weather, but you’ll want to plant it now, or your herbs might struggle in our intense summer heat.
Rosemary:
It can thrive all year long because it’s drought-tolerant, but if you’re already growing basil, why not throw in rosemary? This way, they’ll both be ready at the same time.