What to plant this week in Montgomery, AL
With Montgomery's last frost officially behind us on March 1 and temperatures holding steady above the 15°F threshold, your week is all about aggressive sowing for summer heat crops. The long growing season here means you can immediately start Okra, Malabar Spinach, and Bush Beans to capitalize on the early warmth before mid-July's peak heat arrives.
The next 7 days
Montgomery, ALGrowing in Montgomery right now
- Montgomery's clay-heavy soils retain moisture well but require thorough working in organic matter to ensure good drainage for roots like those of Pole Beans and Cucumbers.
- Expect erratic thunderstorms typical of Alabama summers; install rain barrels now to capture runoff from your roof, as heavy downpours can easily wash away freshly sown seeds.
- Take advantage of the mild winter transition by planting Vinca and Zinnia in sunnier spots where they will bloom continuously through the hot months ahead.
- Be mindful that garlic is still listed for harvest soon; if you have stored bulbs, now is the time to check for sprouting before the humidity spikes.
Sow this week
17 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cucumber
- French Marigold
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Pole Bean
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Summer Savory
- 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
- Succession sow bush beans and pole beans every two weeks for a continuous harvest through summer.
- Thin out dense seedlings of zucchini and yellow summer squash to prevent overcrowding.
- Apply a light layer of mulch around established crops to retain soil moisture as summer heat builds.
Pest & disease watch
- Watch for early-season aphid colonies forming on the new growth of French Marigolds and Cleome as temperatures rise above 80°F.
- Monitor Malabar Spinach and Bush Beans for leaf miners, which can become problematic quickly in Montgomery's humid climate.
- Keep an eye out for squash vine borers appearing on Yellow Summer Squash and Zucchini plants once the vines begin to rapidly expand.
Watering this week
Water deeply at the base of plants in the morning to keep foliage dry and reduce disease risk during hot days.
Harvest watermelons when they produce a hollow sound upon tapping, indicating full ripeness.
Montgomery gardening questions
3Can I directly sow Okra and Malabar Spinach now, or should I start them indoors first?
Yes, you can absolutely direct sow both Okra and Malabar Spinach right into your Montgomery garden beds today. Since the last frost date is March 1 and current soil temperatures are warm enough, there is no need for indoor starts for these heat-loving crops.
My Zucchini plants look healthy but aren't producing fruit yet; is this normal?
It is very common for Zucchini to delay flowering until the plant establishes a strong root system in Montgomery's clay soil. Avoid over-fertilizing with high-nitrogen fertilizer now, as this promotes leaves rather than the blooms needed for fruiting.
Are there any specific varieties of beans that perform better than others in our local climate?
Pole Beans and Scarlet Runner Beans are excellent choices for Montgomery because they thrive in the long growing season and require less trellising support than bush varieties. Both listed options will produce well through July if you provide consistent moisture.
Other cities in zone 8b
12See the full zone 8b guide → · Plan your Montgomery garden in SproutGuide →