What to plant this week in Jacksonville, FL
Jacksonville gardeners are deep in the heart of the growing season with no risk of frost until mid-December, allowing you to focus entirely on maximizing yields from your summer crops. This week is critical for harvesting your watermelons and squash while simultaneously sowing fast-maturing beans and warm-season greens like okra before the peak heat intensifies.
The next 7 days
Jacksonville, FLGrowing in Jacksonville right now
- Jacksonville's flat terrain and heavy clay-loam soils drain poorly during our frequent afternoon thunderstorms, so ensure raised beds or mounded rows are used for bush beans and corn to prevent root rot.
- The city's subtropical humidity creates a perfect microclimate year-round, meaning you can sow heat-loving crops like Malabar Spinach and Shiso indoors now for immediate outdoor transplanting once they germinate.
- Watch soil moisture levels closely; while rainfall is common, our intense summer sun evaporates moisture quickly, requiring consistent watering for sweet corn to ensure proper kernel development.
Sow this week
26 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cantaloupe
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Edamame
- Fennel
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Lima Bean
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Pole Bean
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Summer Savory
- 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
36 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cantaloupe
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Edamame
- Fennel
- Flour Corn
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Garlic
- Gourd (Ornamental/Bottle)
- Honeydew Melon
- Lima Bean
- Loofah (Luffa)
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Pole Bean
- Pumpkin
- Roselle (Cranberry Hibiscus)
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Summer Savory
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Watermelon
- Winter Squash
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Seasonal tips
- Sow heat-loving seeds directly into warm soil after the last frost date passes.
- Thin out dense seedlings like beans and corn to ensure proper air circulation.
- Apply a light layer of mulch around established plants to retain moisture as temperatures rise.
Pest & disease watch
- Spider mites are currently exploding in Jacksonville's humid heat, particularly attacking the undersides of cucumber and squash leaves, so inspect foliage daily.
- Aphid populations on Okra and Pole Beans have surged this week due to warm temperatures, often leading to sticky honeydew that promotes black sooty mold.
- Root-knot nematodes are a persistent local issue in our sandy-loam transitions, causing stunted growth in tomatoes and peppers if you plan to rotate crops next month.
Watering this week
Provide deep, consistent watering at the soil line to encourage strong root development in these heat-loving annuals.
Succession sow bush beans every two weeks throughout this spring window to ensure a continuous harvest all summer long.
Jacksonville gardening questions
3Can I plant cool-season crops like peas or lettuce now in Jacksonville?
No, the current heat is too intense for these plants; they will bolt immediately. Wait until after our first frost in mid-December or early January to sow them outdoors.
My zucchini plants are stunted and have yellowing lower leaves—what is wrong?
This is a classic symptom of root-knot nematodes, which thrive in Jacksonville's warm soil. You may need to rotate out cucurbits next season and plant marigolds nearby this year to help suppress the population.
When should I start harvesting my cantaloupe and honeydew melons?
Harvest now if the rinds have lost their green sheen and smell sweet at the stem; leave any that are still hard on the vine to mature fully in this favorable zone 9b climate.
Other cities in zone 9b
10See the full zone 9b guide → · Plan your Jacksonville garden in SproutGuide →