It’s the beginning of the end for our cool(ish) spring mornings when we can blissfully stroll our gardens as the birds sing. Gardening can still be fun in the summer, but it’s about to get… a lot hotter.

By planting the right plants in the month of May, your kitchen garden will thrive even when everything else is drooping in the heat.

hot season harvest

WHAT TO GROW IN CENTRAL TEXAS IN MAY

If you want to have a harvest basket that’s full to bursting with summer produce, then you can set your garden up for success now by only growing hot-season plant selections.

Here’s our short list of some heat-loving plants to add to your Central Texas garden in May.

Veggies

Arugula, Beans, Black-Eyed Peas, Cantaloupe, Cucumber, Honey Dew Melon, Eggplant, Malabar Spinach, New Zealand Spinach, Okra, Peppers, Pumpkin, Sweet Potatoes, Swiss Chard, Tomatillo (must have 2 plants for pollination), Watermelon, & Winter Squash

Herbs and Flowers

Basil, Bay Laurel, Catnip, Cora Vincas, Cosmos, Echinacea, Lamb’s Ear, Lavender, Lemon Balm, Lemon Verbena, Marigolds, Mint, Oregano, Petunias, Rosemary, Sage, Sunflowers, Thyme, & Zinnias

Pro Tip:

Plant earlier in the month rather than later. Seedlings will have a harder time tolerating the upcoming higher temps.

Central Texas Monthly Planting Guide

Take all the guesswork out of your seasonal planting.

$10

Gardening Tips for May

Beat the heat with these tips.

  • Watering deeply is just as important as watering regularly.

  • Walk through your garden first thing in the morning to hunt out any pests, prune, and make adjustments to watering schedule. (Irrigation timers are our friends!)

  • Crops are best enjoyed when picked in the early morning, before a plant is stressed from the day.