What to Plant Now: May 12 - 19

We just passed the New Moon phase and are now approaching the First Quarter and are in Waxing Crescent. It’s a good time to plant leafy greens, cereal grains, and herbs that do well in heat. During the waxing of the moon (the period extending from the day the moon is new to the day it reaches its fullest point), the moon pulls moisture upwards. Seeds do well during this time because moisture is available at the surface of the soil. It’s always best to try to transplant and seed-in with the coming rains that are in the forecast.
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Direct Seed or Transplant Warm Season Greens

• Edible Amaranth

• Egyptian Spinach (Molokhia)
• Lamb’s Quarter 
• Longevity Spinach
• Malabar Spinach
• New Zealand Spinach

Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Leafy Greens Growing Guide.

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Seed in Cereal Grains & Cover Crops
For the health of your soil, moisture retention, and to prevent weeds, keep your soil covered at all times with cover crops, compost and mulch. Bare soil invites weeds. Consider planting summer cover crops, such as buckwheat or black-eyed peas, or flax. Add compost, then mulch, to other bare soil areas. An inch or two of compost, and then two or three inches of mulch. 

• Buckwheat
• Millet
• Sorghum​

​​Transplant or Seed-in Herbs
​A lot of herbs were damaged in the snow storm. If yours are not showing signs of life, here are some warm season herbs that can be transplanted.

• Basil
• Bay Laurel
• Borage
• Catnip
• Comfrey
• Fennel
• Feverfew
• Horseradish
• Lemongrass
• Lemon Balm
• Lemon Verbena
• Mexican Mint Marigold
• Oregano
• Peppermint
• Rosemary
• Shiso

For more ideas on Ornamentals, Perennials, and Herbs, visit the Central Texas Gardener and The Natural Gardener lists online. Download the Texas A&M Extension Planting Chart and Varieties Chart on our website.