What to plant this week in Fort Lauderdale, FL
In Fort Lauderdale's heat-soaked Zone 11a, the calendar has no frost dates to worry about; this week is purely about maximizing yield before the next tropical storm surge. Gardeners should focus on harvesting your mature melons and squash while sowing new fast-growers like cowpeas and cucumbers in the endless growing season.
The next 7 days
Fort Lauderdale, FLGrowing in Fort Lauderdale right now
- Fort Lauderdale's sandy, organic-poor soil requires heavy mulching to retain moisture against our intense afternoon sun and frequent irrigation needs.
- With zero frost risk year-round, focus your energy on heat-stress management for crops like okra and sweet corn rather than winterizing anything.
- Our high rainfall pattern means checking drainage is critical this week to prevent root rot in newly sown zinnias and cosmos after heavy showers.
- Be vigilant about washing salt spray residue from coastal leaves if you are gardening near the Intracoastal Waterway or ocean breezes.
Sow this week
18 crops- Basil
- Cantaloupe
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Sweet Corn
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
24 crops- Basil
- Cantaloupe
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Gourd (Ornamental/Bottle)
- Honeydew Melon
- Loofah (Luffa)
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Roselle (Cranberry Hibiscus)
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Watermelon
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Seasonal tips
- Succession sow beans or corn now to ensure a steady summer supply.
- Pinch back basil and Thai Basil regularly to encourage bushier growth before harvesting.
- Mulch around young vines like melons and squash to retain soil moisture and suppress weeds.
- Deadhead flowers like Cosmos and Zinnia frequently to promote more blooms throughout the season.
Pest & disease watch
- Aphid colonies are exploding on young basil and shiso plants, requiring immediate organic insecticidal soap applications.
- Powdery mildew is developing on cucumber vines due to high humidity combined with crowded planting in our compact urban lots.
- Cutworms are actively attacking sweet corn seedlings at night; inspect the base of stems daily and use paper collars for protection.
Watering this week
Water deeply at the base of plants in the morning to keep foliage dry and reduce disease risk during this warm season.
Don't forget that Okra and Cowpeas love heat, so give them plenty of space for their vigorous vines to spread out.
Fort Lauderdale gardening questions
3Can I plant my cold-weather favorites now, or should I wait?
No cold-hardy crops can grow here now because our minimum temperature stays above 40°F year-round. Instead, sow warm-season staples like Malabar spinach and Thai basil immediately for a quick harvest this week.
How do I handle the heavy rains we get in Fort Lauderdale without washing away seeds?
Use raised beds or mound your soil to ensure proper drainage since our sandy texture drains too quickly anyway. If you sow directly, cover the area with lightweight row covers or plastic during a predicted rain event.
My okra plants are growing fast but producing very few pods; what is wrong?
This is common in our heat when plants focus on vegetative growth rather than fruiting until temperatures drop slightly. Prune some of the older, lower leaves to improve airflow and encourage the plant to switch to pod production.
Other cities in zone 11a
2See the full zone 11a guide → · Plan your Fort Lauderdale garden in SproutGuide →