What to plant this week in Long Beach, CA
Long Beach gardeners are in full summer swing with no frost worries, allowing you to sow warm-weather staples like okra and bush beans directly into our sandy coastal soil. This week is critical for harvesting your zucchini and sweet corn before the afternoon heat peaks, while young seedlings need consistent moisture from our typical dry summers.
The next 7 days
Long Beach, CAGrowing in Long Beach right now
- Amend your native sandy soil with compost immediately as it dries out quickly and lacks nutrients; this is essential for heavy feeders like squash and melons to thrive.
- Protect delicate starts like French marigolds and nasturtiums from the intense afternoon sun by providing temporary shade cloth or moving them to lighter spots in the yard.
- Rely on your irrigation system rather than rain, as Long Beach averages very little precipitation this time of year, and mulch heavily to retain soil moisture.
Sow this week
25 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cantaloupe
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- 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
34 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cantaloupe
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Fennel
- Flour Corn
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- 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
- Succession sow bush beans every two weeks to extend your harvest window through the summer heat.
- Mulch around newly planted squash and cucumbers to retain moisture and keep soil temperatures stable.
- Pinch back the tops of basil and okra plants regularly to encourage bushier growth and more flowers.
Pest & disease watch
- Monitor for aphids clustering on the undersides of basil and shiso leaves, which thrive in our mild coastal humidity.
- Watch closely for cucumber beetles attacking your bush beans and yellow summer squash vines right now when flowers are opening.
- Check for spider mites on zinnias and cosmos in the drier microclimates around rooftops or near the beach.
Watering this week
Water deeply but less frequently to encourage deep root growth and prevent fungal issues on crowded crops.
Harvest basil in the morning when essential oils are at their peak for the most flavorful leaves.
Long Beach gardening questions
3Can I start tomatoes indoors right now for Long Beach?
No, you should not sow tomatoes inside this week; they grow too quickly outdoors and will become leggy before you can transplant them. Instead, wait until late summer to plant your tomato starts or focus on the warm-weather crops listed for sowing now.
How do I deal with our sandy soil in Long Beach?
Mix generous amounts of organic compost into your planting beds every few weeks to improve water retention and nutrient holding capacity. Without this amendment, plants like okra and malabar spinach will struggle to establish deep roots in the native sand.
When should I harvest my cantaloupe and honeydew melons?
Harvest your melons soon if they develop a distinct aroma at the blossom end or if the ground beneath them begins to yellow. Avoid pulling them too early, as the sweet flavor fully develops only when the rind is hard and slightly softens under pressure.
Other cities in zone 10b
4See the full zone 10b guide → · Plan your Long Beach garden in SproutGuide →