What to plant this week in Zone 11a
Welcome to Zone 11a, where the warm temperatures around 40°F mean no frost dates to worry about and your garden is in full swing. This week offers a fantastic opportunity to harvest an abundance of crops while sowing new seeds for continuous production.
The next 7 days
Sample: Miami, FLToday
9/6
89°
76°
💧60%
Mon
9/7
82°
76°
💧27%
Tue
9/8
90°
75°
💧40%
Wed
9/9
89°
85°
💧30%
Thu
9/10
89°
85°
💧25%
Fri
9/11
89°
85°
💧41%
Sat
9/12
89°
84°
💧50%
Avg high 88°F
Rain total 0.7"
Humidity 74%
Wind 7.8 mph
In the ground
Sow this week
18 crops- Basil
- Cantaloupe
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Sweet Corn
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Move out
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Coming ripe
Harvest soon
24 crops- Basil
- Cantaloupe
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Gourd (Ornamental/Bottle)
- Honeydew Melon
- Loofah (Luffa)
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Roselle (Cranberry Hibiscus)
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Watermelon
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Do this now
Seasonal tips
- Succession sow beans or corn now to ensure a steady summer supply.
- Pinch back basil and Thai Basil regularly to encourage bushier growth before harvesting.
- Mulch around young vines like melons and squash to retain soil moisture and suppress weeds.
- Deadhead flowers like Cosmos and Zinnia frequently to promote more blooms throughout the season.
Keep watch
Pest & disease watch
- Monitor for aphids on new seedlings of Cleome and Garden Verbena.
- Watch for cucumber beetles attacking Cucumber, Melon, and Squash plants early in their growth.
- Check soil moisture levels as heavy rains can sometimes lead to fungal issues on leafy greens like Malabar Spinach.
Water
Watering this week
Water deeply at the base of plants in the morning to keep foliage dry and reduce disease risk during this warm season.
One more thing
Don't forget that Okra and Cowpeas love heat, so give them plenty of space for their vigorous vines to spread out.
All year
Zone 11a planting calendar
82 cropsAverage planting and harvest windows for everything that grows in zone 11a — dates shift a week or two with the season, so treat them as a starting point and check the weekly guide above for what's open right now.
- Start indoors
- Sow outdoors
- Transplant
- Harvest
Vegetables 35
| Crop | Start indoors | Sow outdoors | Transplant | Harvest | Maturity | JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anaheim (New Mexico) Pepper | Dec 7 – Dec 21 | — | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | May 1 – May 20 | 78d | |
| Arugula | — | Jan 4 – Feb 15 | — | Feb 3 – Mar 27 | 35d | |
| Banana Pepper | Dec 7 – Dec 21 | — | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | Apr 21 – May 20 | 73d | |
| Beefsteak Tomato | Dec 21 – Jan 4 | — | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | Apr 29 – May 28 | 88d | |
| Bell Pepper | Dec 7 – Dec 21 | — | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | Apr 16 – May 30 | 75d | |
| Carrot | — | Jan 11 – Mar 1 | — | Mar 12 – May 20 | 70d | |
| Cayenne Pepper | Dec 7 – Dec 21 | — | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | Apr 26 – May 20 | 75d | |
| Cherry Tomato | Dec 21 – Jan 4 | — | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | Apr 4 – May 3 | 63d | |
| Collard Greens | — | Jan 18 – Feb 15 | Feb 1 – Feb 15 | Mar 14 – May 1 | 65d | |
| Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea) | — | Feb 15 – Sep 2 | — | Apr 16 – Dec 1 | 75d | |
| Cucumber | — | Feb 15 – Sep 27 | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | Apr 6 – Dec 1 | 58d | |
| Eggplant | Dec 7 – Dec 21 | — | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | Apr 21 – May 25 | 75d | |
| Ghost Pepper (Bhut Jolokia) | Nov 23 – Dec 7 | — | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | May 26 – Jun 29 | 110d | |
| Gourd (Ornamental/Bottle) | — | Feb 15 – Aug 3 | — | May 26 – Dec 1 | 110d | |
| Habanero Pepper | Dec 7 – Dec 21 | — | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | May 16 – Jun 9 | 95d | |
| Jalapeño | Dec 7 – Dec 21 | — | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | Apr 21 – May 25 | 75d | |
| Lettuce | Dec 21 – Jan 4 | Jan 4 – Feb 15 | Jan 18 – Feb 1 | Feb 18 – Apr 16 | 53d | |
| Loofah (Luffa) | — | Feb 15 – Jul 4 | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | May 16 – Dec 1 | 120d | |
| Malabar Spinach | Jan 11 – Jan 18 | Feb 15 – Sep 22 | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | Apr 16 – Dec 1 | 65d | |
| Marconi Pepper | Dec 7 – Dec 21 | — | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | May 1 – May 25 | 80d | |
| Mustard Greens | — | Jan 4 – Feb 15 | — | Feb 8 – Apr 1 | 40d | |
| Okra | — | Feb 22 – Sep 27 | Feb 22 – Mar 8 | Apr 18 – Dec 1 | 60d | |
| Poblano Pepper | Dec 7 – Dec 21 | — | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | Apr 21 – May 20 | 73d | |
| Radish | — | Jan 4 – Mar 1 | — | Jan 26 – Mar 31 | 26d | |
| Roma Tomato | Dec 21 – Jan 4 | — | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | Apr 19 – May 13 | 75d | |
| Roselle (Cranberry Hibiscus) | — | Feb 22 – Jul 4 | Feb 22 – Mar 8 | Jun 2 – Dec 1 | 125d | |
| Scallion (Bunching Onion) | — | Jan 4 – Mar 1 | — | Mar 5 – May 10 | 65d | |
| Serrano Pepper | Dec 7 – Dec 21 | — | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | May 1 – May 20 | 78d | |
| Shishito Pepper | Dec 7 – Dec 21 | — | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | Apr 11 – May 5 | 60d | |
| Sweet Corn | — | Feb 8 – Sep 2 | — | Apr 14 – Dec 1 | 78d | |
| Sweet Potato | — | — | Feb 15 – Mar 15 | May 16 – Jul 13 | 105d | |
| Tomatillo | Dec 21 – Jan 4 | — | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | Apr 24 – Jun 2 | 88d | |
| Tomato | Dec 21 – Jan 4 | — | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | Apr 9 – May 18 | 73d | |
| Yellow Summer Squash | Jan 11 – Jan 18 | Feb 15 – Oct 7 | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | Apr 1 – Dec 1 | 50d | |
| Zucchini | Jan 11 – Jan 18 | Feb 15 – Oct 7 | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | Apr 1 – Dec 1 | 50d |
Herbs 9
| Crop | Start indoors | Sow outdoors | Transplant | Harvest | Maturity | JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basil | Dec 21 – Jan 4 | Feb 15 – Sep 22 | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | Apr 6 – Dec 1 | 60d | |
| Cilantro | — | Jan 18 – Feb 15 | — | Feb 27 – Apr 11 | 48d | |
| Dill | — | Jan 18 – Mar 1 | — | Feb 27 – Apr 25 | 48d | |
| Ginger | — | — | Mar 1 – Mar 29 | — | 270d | |
| Lemongrass | — | — | Feb 1 – Mar 1 | — | 105d | |
| Mint | — | — | Feb 1 – Mar 1 | — | 75d | |
| Rosemary | — | — | Feb 1 – Mar 1 | — | 273d | |
| Shiso (Japanese Basil) | Dec 21 – Jan 4 | Feb 8 – Sep 7 | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | Apr 19 – Dec 1 | 78d | |
| Thai Basil | Dec 21 – Jan 4 | Feb 15 – Sep 17 | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | Apr 16 – Dec 1 | 68d |
Fruits 21
| Crop | Start indoors | Sow outdoors | Transplant | Harvest | Maturity | JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avocado | — | — | Feb 15 – Mar 15 | — | 4.0 yr | |
| Banana | — | — | Feb 15 – Mar 15 | — | 360d | |
| Blood Orange | — | — | Feb 15 – Mar 15 | — | 2.5 yr | |
| Cantaloupe | Jan 11 – Jan 18 | Feb 15 – Sep 2 | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | Apr 26 – Dec 1 | 80d | |
| Fig | — | — | Feb 1 – Mar 1 | — | 1.5 yr | |
| Grapefruit | — | — | Feb 15 – Mar 15 | — | 2.5 yr | |
| Ground Cherry | Dec 21 – Jan 4 | — | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | Apr 14 – May 8 | 70d | |
| Guava | — | — | Feb 15 – Mar 15 | — | 2.5 yr | |
| Honeydew Melon | Jan 11 – Jan 18 | Feb 15 – Aug 23 | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | May 6 – Dec 1 | 90d | |
| Kaffir (Makrut) Lime | — | — | Feb 15 – Mar 15 | — | 2.5 yr | |
| Key Lime | — | — | Feb 15 – Mar 15 | — | 2.5 yr | |
| Kumquat | — | — | Feb 15 – Mar 15 | — | 2.5 yr | |
| Mandarin Orange (Satsuma) | — | — | Feb 15 – Mar 15 | — | 2.5 yr | |
| Mango | — | — | Feb 15 – Mar 15 | — | 4.0 yr | |
| Meyer Lemon | — | — | Feb 15 – Mar 15 | — | 2.5 yr | |
| Navel Orange | — | — | Feb 15 – Mar 15 | — | 2.5 yr | |
| Olive | — | — | Feb 1 – Mar 1 | — | 3.5 yr | |
| Persian (Tahiti) Lime | — | — | Feb 15 – Mar 15 | — | 2.5 yr | |
| Pineapple | — | — | Feb 15 – Mar 15 | — | 1.6 yr | |
| Valencia Orange | — | — | Feb 15 – Mar 15 | — | 2.5 yr | |
| Watermelon | Jan 11 – Jan 18 | Feb 15 – Aug 28 | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | May 1 – Dec 1 | 85d |
Flowers 17
| Crop | Start indoors | Sow outdoors | Transplant | Harvest | Maturity | JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's Button (Cornflower) | — | Jan 4 – Feb 15 | — | Mar 10 – Apr 26 | 68d | |
| Cleome (Spider Flower) | — | Feb 8 – Sep 17 | — | Apr 4 – Dec 1 | 65d | |
| Cosmos | — | Feb 8 – Sep 2 | — | Apr 9 – Dec 1 | 75d | |
| Dahlia | — | — | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | May 9 – Jun 22 | 105d | |
| French Marigold | Dec 28 – Jan 11 | Feb 8 – Oct 2 | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | Mar 25 – Dec 1 | 53d | |
| Garden Geranium (Zonal) | Nov 23 – Dec 7 | — | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | Apr 19 – May 23 | 80d | |
| Garden Verbena | Dec 7 – Dec 21 | Feb 8 – Sep 2 | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | Apr 19 – Dec 1 | 80d | |
| Hearts & Flowers (Heartleaf Iceplant) | — | — | Feb 8 – Mar 1 | — | 75d | |
| Lantana | Dec 7 – Dec 21 | — | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | Apr 19 – May 23 | 80d | |
| Nasturtium | — | Feb 8 – Sep 27 | — | Mar 30 – Dec 1 | 58d | |
| Ornamental Sweet Potato Vine | — | — | Feb 15 – Mar 15 | Apr 16 – Jun 13 | 75d | |
| Petunia | Nov 23 – Dec 7 | — | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | Apr 19 – May 23 | 80d | |
| Snapdragon | Dec 7 – Dec 21 | — | Jan 18 – Feb 1 | Apr 8 – May 12 | 90d | |
| Sunflower | — | Feb 8 – Aug 23 | — | Apr 19 – Dec 1 | 85d | |
| Sweet Alyssum | — | Jan 18 – Feb 15 | Feb 1 – Feb 15 | Mar 9 – Apr 16 | 55d | |
| Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle) | Jan 4 – Jan 18 | Feb 8 – Sep 17 | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | Apr 9 – Dec 1 | 68d | |
| Zinnia | Jan 4 – Jan 18 | Feb 8 – Sep 17 | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | Apr 9 – Dec 1 | 68d |
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