April Planting Guide & Checklist
PLAN:
Normal and record freeze dates for Lubbock, TX:
The average last freeze in spring is April 10.
The recorded earliest last freeze in spring was February 24, 2012.
The recorded latest last freeze in spring was May 8, 1938.
PLANT:
- Plant ground covers and warm season annuals and perennials as soil temperatures warm and the danger of frost has passed.
- WAIT UNTIL NEXT MONTH TO PLANT HOT SEASON ANNUALS! (around Mother’s Day in our area.)
- Plant Bermuda grass seed ONLY when nighttime temperatures average 65 degrees. (Farmers will be planting cotton!)
- (click the links to go to specific directions on the Gardenate.com website)
- Beans – Plant in garden. Harvest from June.
- Cucumber Plant in garden. Harvest from June.
- Eggplant – Plant in garden. Harvest from June.
- Jerusalem Artichokes – Plant in garden. Harvest from August.
- Mint – Plant in garden. Harvest from May.
- Okra – Plant in garden. Harvest from July.
- Oregano – Plant in garden. Harvest from May.
- Peas Plant in garden. Harvest from June.
- Pumpkin Start undercover in seed trays and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Harvest from July.
- Rosemary Plant in garden. Harvest from 12 months.
- Sage Plant in garden. Harvest from 18 months.
- Snow Peas Plant in garden. Harvest from July.
- Spinach Plant in garden. Harvest from May.
- Squash Plant in garden. Harvest from June.
- Strawberry Plants Plant in garden. Harvest from July.
- Sunflower Plant in garden. Harvest from June.
- Sweet corn Plant in garden. Harvest from July.
- Sweet Marjoram Start undercover in seed trays and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Harvest from June.
- Sweet Potato Plant in garden. Harvest from July.
- Thyme – Plant in garden. Harvest from February.
- Tomatillo Plant in garden. Harvest from June.
- Tomato Plant in garden. Harvest from May.
- Watermelon Plant in garden. Harvest from June.
- Yam/Oka Plant in garden. Harvest from July.
- Zucchini Plant in garden. Harvest from May.
- Thanks to Gardenate.com for this list!
PRUNE:
- Prune spring blooming shrubs and vines after they finish flowering.
- Allow foliage on spring bulbs to die back and dry before removing, so they can store food for next year
GARDEN MAINTENANCE:
- Mow grasses weekly or as needed.
- Use broad-leafed weed control products to eliminate spring weeds such as dandelions, henbit, and chickweed.
- Use 3 – 4 inches of mulch on all flower, shrub and vegetable beds