What to plant this week in St. Petersburg, FL
In St. Petersburg's frost-free Zone 10b, this week marks the height of summer heat where gardeners are fully immersed in sowing and harvesting warm-season giants like melons and okra without a single worry about freezing. With no last or first frost dates to track, your focus shifts entirely to managing intense humidity, preventing fungal issues on dense canopies, and maximizing yields before the occasional late-summer rain surge.
The next 7 days
St. Petersburg, FLGrowing in St. Petersburg right now
- St. Petersburg's sandy coastal soil drains quickly, so water deeply but infrequently to encourage deep roots rather than shallow surface growth common in this region.
- The city's high summer humidity creates a perfect environment for powdery mildew on squash and zinnias; space plants wide apart and consider organic fungicides if spots appear.
- Avoid planting heavy clay amendments in local gardens as they can become waterlogged during the brief but intense afternoon thunderstorms typical of Pinellas County.
- Take advantage of the permanent green season by rotating crops like sweet corn and bush beans now to keep pests off next year's plantings.
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
- Aphids and spider mites are exploding on French marigolds and garden verbena due to the current heat and lack of wind in low-lying neighborhoods.
- Melon fruitworms and squash bugs are actively hunting young cantaloupe, honeydew, and zucchini vines; inspect undersides of leaves daily for eggs.
- Slugs thrive in St. Petersburg's rainy microclimates and will devour basil and nasturtium seedlings overnight if the soil remains damp.
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.
St. Petersburg gardening questions
3When is the best time to plant bush beans and pole beans in St. Petersburg?
You can sow these warm-season legons anytime now through late August since there are no frost dates to worry about in our Zone 10b climate.
How do I protect my watermelons and cantaloupes from birds and squirrels?
Cover young vines with floating row covers until flowers open, then switch to netting or cages once fruits begin to swell.
Should I harvest my okra and summer squash every day?
Yes, picking okra pods daily when they are young encourages more production from your St. Petersburg plants.
Other cities in zone 10b
4See the full zone 10b guide → · Plan your St. Petersburg garden in SproutGuide →