What to plant this week in San Jose, CA
San Jose gardeners in Zone 9b are deep into the dry summer heat, with no frost expected until December. This week focuses on harvesting abundant summer crops like cantaloupe and zucchini while sowing warm-season favorites such as okra and bush beans to maximize the long growing season.
The next 7 days
San Jose, CAGrowing in San Jose right now
- The Santa Clara Valley's clay-heavy soil holds moisture poorly in this dry spell; water deeply every 7-10 days rather than frequent light sprinkles to encourage deep roots for squash and melons.
- With zero frost dates until late December, treat your garden as a year-round operation by sowing heat-lovers like fennel and scarlet runner beans directly into the ground now.
- High afternoon temperatures often exceed 95°F; apply a thick layer of organic mulch around transplants to keep root zones cool and retain scarce moisture.
- Since transplant lists are empty, focus entirely on direct seeding for sowable crops like cosmos and zinnia, as these plants struggle when moved after the soil has baked dry.
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 exploding in San Jose's low humidity, particularly damaging the fine foliage of nasturtiums and shiso; spray with strong water jets early morning to knock them off.
- Aphid colonies on sweet corn and beans can turn into a sticky mess quickly; introduce ladybugs or blast infestations with insecticidal soap immediately.
- Squash vine borers are actively attacking zucchini and summer squash stems in the valley heat, causing sudden wilting even when leaves look green.
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.
San Jose gardening questions
4When should I plant my first round of melons in San Jose?
You can sow cantaloupe and watermelon seeds directly into warm soil now, as frost danger has long passed. Ensure you provide strong afternoon shade with a trellis or umbrella to prevent sunscald on the developing fruit.
Can I transplant basil now or must it be started from seed?
This is likely squash vine borer damage, which thrives in our hot San Jose summers by tunneling into the stems. Cut out and discard any affected vines immediately to stop the spread to neighboring healthy plants.
Can I transplant basil now or must it be started from seed?
You cannot transplant basil in San Jose this week; it has a very shallow root system and will suffer severe shock if moved after the soil dries out. Sow your Thai basil, bush bean, and okra seeds directly into their final spots where they will grow to harvest.
How do I handle the clay soil when sowing heavy feeders like squash?
San Jose's native clay becomes hard as concrete during our dry summers, so dig deep holes and mix in generous amounts of compost before planting. Water thoroughly immediately after seeding to help the seeds penetrate the dense subsoil layer.
Other cities in zone 9b
10See the full zone 9b guide → · Plan your San Jose garden in SproutGuide →