Louisiana State Garden Week

First Week in June

Adopted in 1988

In Louisiana, something can be planted everyday of the year, so make use of all the garden space year-round. As soon as one crop is through bearing, pull it out, rework the row and plant something else.

Planting date – With the spring planting, the southern-most parishes may use the earliest dates given for their first plantings. Gardeners in central Louisiana should plant about two weeks later than the earliest dates given and north Louisiana about four weeks later. For example, snap beans may be planted on February 15 in New Orleans, but around March 1 in Alexandria and about March 15 in Shreveport or Monroe area. Generally, with the spring vegetables, the first planting should be made after the danger of frost is over

June is a pivotal time for Louisiana vegetable gardens. It's the transition from spring to hot summer conditions. At this time many crops are fully in harvest or have been pulled out to make room for new crops.

As the heat intensifies, fruit mature faster and are generally smaller. Where you can, harvest fruit a little earlier and allow ripening indoors or in the shade to avoid sun damage from high heat exposure.

For other crops, summer choices are slim. You can, however, fill your garden with productive okra, collards, Malabar spinach and southern peas. Many vine crops will do well also, such as cucumber, squash, pumpkins and melons. Plant some yard-long beans for a late-summer snap bean substitute.