What’s Growing in Houston, Texas in the Month of May

At Rooted Garden, we talk about the kitchen garden being non-stop, and it’s so true.

And May is one of our very favorite months in the Houston garden. There’s so much to harvest, so much to plant, so much to enjoy.

Read on to learn what’s growing in the Houston kitchen garden in the month of May and be inspired to make the most of your space this month.

Sungold Cherry Tomatoes

Houston is so lucky to have two seasons to grow delicious, organic homegrown tomatoes.

Store bought tomatoes just don’t compare to the taste and flavor of tomatoes grown in your own kitchen garden.

Sungold Cherry is becoming one of the most popular hybrid varieties, due to their exceptional taste and prolific growth. These little tomatoes pack big flavor, are disease resistant and are ready to harvest early.

Surprisingly, in Houston, the Rooted Garden team starts planting tomatoes in our clients gardens in February. Tomatoes prefer temperatures under 85 degrees, and once it heats up in June, their production slows until our second warm season in the fall. Tomatoes are aggressive growers, that require a trellis at least 5 feet tall, regular pruning and tending and frequent fertilizing.

The Rooted Garden Shop offers several varieties of panel, arch and obelisk trellises for your own vining tomatoes. Check them out in our shop.

Green Peppers

Peppers are a great addition to the garden in May, because they don’t require a lot of space and are biennial, meaning they can last up to two years in the garden.

Peppers are a warm season vegetable, so they won’t produce in the winter, but will produce early in the spring if they are left in the garden through the winter.

Peppers come in several varieties, one of Rooted Garden’s favorites, is the California Wonder bell pepper. These peppers can be harvested when green, or kept on the plant for a longer period to become a sweeter, red pepper.

One detail to remember when growing your own peppers, is that homegrown will be smaller than those found in the grocery store. Organic methods mean that vegetables will be tastier, healthier and more nutritious compared to those grown in less organic ways.

Shishito Peppers

Shishito peppers originated in Asia and posses a unique, wrinkled exterior. Their flavor varies from sweet to spicy, depending on the amount of sun and other stresses while growing.

There are so many unique ways to enjoy these such as sautéed, stuffed, steamed or seared, not to mention the multitude of flavorings from sweet to savory that can be added.

We’ve found Shishitos are easier to grow in Houston’s humidity than larger bell peppers.

Eggplant

Did you know that eggplant are in the same family as tomatoes? It’s true, both are from the Nightshade Family and possess similar characteristics.

Eggplant can be planted in the garden in May, and is one of the vegetables that thrives in the heat and sun of the Houston summers.

As they grow, they will need some staking and support as the plant flowers and the fruit begins to grow. As with tomatoes, eggplants require regular tending, pruning and fertilizing for optimal results.

You’ll learn all about what to plant, how to tend and what to harvest each month in Houston in the Houston Kitchen Garden Club. Click here to learn more about the Club and grab a free download to get started.

Beans

Versatile and delicious, both pole and bush beans are a beloved garden favorite. Two of our favorites are the Blue Lake and the Contender varieties.

Pole beans require a garden trellis, while bush beans can be planted anywhere in the garden.

Rooted Garden suggests successive planting beans, which means to plant new seeds every two weeks for continual harvest during the season.

Okra

Believe it or not, it’s time to add okra to the garden by the end of this month. Okra is a heat loving vegetable that also loves to take up loads of space.

So, be sure to plant it at the back of your kitchen garden, be sure it’s got loads of sunlight and that you harvest okra early-otherwise it’s too tough to eat. More on harvesting okra in the months to come, but for now, get those okra babies planted.

Here at Rooted Garden we like to say that Houston provides a non-stop kitchen garden. Our city’s weather is one of a kind but whether you love it or don’t love it so much, the kitchen garden helps you make the most of it.

Because you can literally grow in the garden, ALL year long.

As it begins to heat up in Houston in May, the garden can still be a thriving place with tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, beans and more!

Ready to set up your own kitchen garden this month?

We’d love to set up a consultation with you this month. Our May calendar is filling quickly, so click the button below and schedule your initial meeting so we can help you turn your own space into a productive and beautiful non-stop kitchen garden.