All seed libraries will be equipped with a Seed Library Reference Binder packed with information on what to grow in our area and when to start planting. Reference binders include the LSU Ag Center’s Louisiana Vegetable Planting Guide, which provides information on recommended planting dates, depth and spacing of seeds, and the average number of days before you can harvest. As the guide promises, here in south Louisiana, we can grow and harvest all year round. It’s just a matter of determining the best crops for your space and how to rotate crops for successful gardening throughout the year.

Reference binders also include monthly planting guides specific to New Orleans.

In April, there are several crops ready for direct sowing (coded DS), which simply means to plant the seeds directly in your garden bed. These include some of our favorite vegetables in Louisiana –– collard greens, beans, and okra, just to name a few. It’s also a great time to plant melons like watermelon and cantaloupe.

If your garden isn’t quite ready for direct sowing yet, check the monthly planting guides for crops that can be seeded in trays before transplanting into a garden bed (look for the codes SI and ST). In April, these include a wide variety of flavorful herbs such as basil, dill, fennel, marjoram, parsley, sage, and thyme — all of which are available for checkout from our seed libraries. If you don’t have seed trays on hand, egg cartons are a great free option for starting your seedlings before they’re ready to plant in your garden.