Still Not Too Late, Y’all
So… you were gonna plant a garden this year. Back in March, you told your neighbor you were getting your seeds ready. In April, you bought a pack of tomato plants that died in the back seat of your truck. Then May hit, and now here we are—standing in the backyard, holding a half-used bag of potting soil, squinting at the sun like it personally wronged us.
Good news: you’re still not too late. Welcome to The Procrastinator’s Guide to Gardening in Oklahoma, Part II—a proud tribute to the late bloomers, the well-meaning, and the perpetually behind.
Out here in Beckham County, the weather doesn’t just change—it argues with itself. We’ve got soil that bakes like cornbread and winds that’ll blow your seed packets into the next time zone. But despite all that, Oklahoma summers are forgiving in one special way: you can still plant stuff. You just gotta pick the right stuff—and water it like it owes you money.
Let’s talk about what still grows in late May and early June. Okra’s a champion—it thrives on heat and neglect. Squash and zucchini grow so fast they’ll make you feel like a gardening wizard. Cucumbers are still fair game, especially if you like pickles. Bush green beans grow fast, and blackeyed peas will hang in there long after you’re ready to quit.
For the herb lovers who forgot they were herb lovers, basil’s your best bet. Dill’s still good if you’ve got pickling dreams, and cilantro might bolt in the heat, but hey—so would most of us.
Late bloomers in the flower category? You’re in luck. Zinnias and marigolds are drought-tolerant, Oklahoma- tough, and look like they came from a seed catalog even when you plant them out of guilt. And sunflowers? Plant them now and act surprised when they’re taller than your fence by July.
You don’t need fancy tools— just a hat that blocks the sun, a hose that doesn’t kink, a bag of mulch big enough to hide your shame, and a prayer for rain that doesn’t flood.
Don’t overthink it. You’re already late. Just dig, drop, and cover. Water early or late, ignore the neighbors with perfect raised beds, and remember that in Western Oklahoma, everything bites, stings, or eats your tomatoes. Stay vigilant.
So go ahead—dust off your shovel, pull on those mismatched gloves, and plant like you meant to all along. Because in Western Oklahoma, it’s never too late to grow something great… even if you forgot until now.
And remember: gardening is cheaper than therapy and comes with free vegetables.
TOP 5 FASTEST THINGS TO GROW RIGHT NOW
1. Zucchini – Practically explodes from the ground overnight.
2. Bush Beans – Quick to germinate and fast to harvest.
3. Okra – Thrives in heat and starts producing quickly.
4. Basil – Germinates in a few days and ready to snip in 2–3 weeks.
5. Cucumbers – Especially pickling types, with a short maturity window.
