What to plant this week in New Orleans, LA
With average minimums holding steady at 25°F and the last frost date firmly behind us on January 30, New Orleans gardeners can dive straight into warm-season planting this week. The heat is already building, making it the perfect time to sow beans, squash, and melons that will thrive in our humid subtropical environment.
The next 7 days
New Orleans, LAGrowing in New Orleans right now
- Our clay-heavy soils retain moisture well but require careful amendment with compost before sowing heavy seeds like okra or bush beans to prevent rotting.
- Take advantage of the upcoming wet season by installing drip irrigation now; overhead watering on these hot, windy days promotes fungal issues in our dense neighborhoods.
- Since we have no transplant window currently, focus strictly on direct seeding for crops like sweet corn and cucumbers which struggle to establish after being moved.
- Watch for rapid weed germination as temperatures rise; a pre-plant mulch of straw or pine straw will suppress growth around your emerging squash vines.
Sow this week
26 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cantaloupe
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Edamame
- Fennel
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Lima Bean
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Pole Bean
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Summer Savory
- Sweet Corn
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
36 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cantaloupe
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Edamame
- Fennel
- Flour Corn
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Garlic
- Gourd (Ornamental/Bottle)
- Honeydew Melon
- Lima Bean
- Loofah (Luffa)
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Pole Bean
- Pumpkin
- Roselle (Cranberry Hibiscus)
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Summer Savory
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Watermelon
- Winter Squash
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Seasonal tips
- Sow heat-loving seeds directly into warm soil after the last frost date passes.
- Thin out dense seedlings like beans and corn to ensure proper air circulation.
- Apply a light layer of mulch around established plants to retain moisture as temperatures rise.
Pest & disease watch
- Spider mites are becoming active in the rising heat, especially on the undersides of tomato leaves if you have any protected winter crops still running.
- Aphid colonies can explode quickly on newly sprouted pole beans and okra, so inspect seedlings daily for early infestations.
- Thrips may appear on Zinnias and Cosmos as they bloom; keep plants spaced widely to improve air circulation and reduce humidity pockets.
Watering this week
Provide deep, consistent watering at the soil line to encourage strong root development in these heat-loving annuals.
Succession sow bush beans every two weeks throughout this spring window to ensure a continuous harvest all summer long.
New Orleans gardening questions
3Can I still start my garlic bulbs in the ground this week?
No, garlic is a fall crop that requires cold stratification to form bulbs correctly. While it appears on your harvest list for early spring pickup, you should wait until September or October to plant new bulbs in New Orleans soil.
How deep should I plant my Bush Beans and Pole Beans?
Sow bean seeds about 1 inch deep in loose, amended soil; they germinate quickly but need good drainage so the heavy clay doesn't waterlog them during our afternoon rains.
Is now too late to start my first cantaloupe crop?
Not at all—this is actually an ideal time. Plant cantaloupes right after a hard freeze risk passes (confirmed Jan 30), spacing them well apart to handle the intense summer sun and humidity.
Other cities in zone 9b
10See the full zone 9b guide → · Plan your New Orleans garden in SproutGuide →