What to plant this week in Augusta, GA
Augusta gardeners are deep in the heart of summer heat, where this week marks a critical harvest window for all your melons, squash varieties, and beans before the mid-July humidity peaks. With the last frost date safely behind us since early March, focus entirely on bringing in crops like watermelon and zucchini while preparing to sow cool-weather radishes now to break up the heat cycle.
The next 7 days
Augusta, GAGrowing in Augusta right now
- Augusta's heavy clay soils retain moisture well but demand consistent mulching to prevent rapid evaporation during our hot summers; add organic matter before transplanting if you plan to move anything later this month.
- Our region experiences intense afternoon thunderstorms that can wash away topsoil or cause root rot, so ensure drainage holes are clear in containers and avoid overwatering established squash beds.
- The flat terrain around the city lacks natural slopes for drainage, making raised beds an excellent strategy for improving air circulation for your tall sunflowers and corn.
Sow this week
2 crops- Daikon Radish
- Ornamental Allium
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
44 crops- Acorn Squash
- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Butternut Squash
- Cantaloupe
- Celosia (Cockscomb)
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Delicata Squash
- Edamame
- Fennel
- Flour Corn
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Garlic
- Gomphrena (Globe Amaranth)
- Gourd (Ornamental/Bottle)
- Honeydew Melon
- Lima Bean
- Loofah (Luffa)
- Malabar Spinach
- Morning Glory
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Pole Bean
- Pumpkin
- Purslane
- Roselle (Cranberry Hibiscus)
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Spaghetti Squash
- 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 cowpeas every two weeks for a continuous harvest through late summer.
- Mulch around heavy feeders like corn, squash, and melons to retain moisture and suppress weeds as temperatures rise.
- Pinch back the tops of basil and borage regularly to encourage bushier growth and prevent flowering.
Pest & disease watch
- Squash vine borers are actively attacking butternut and acorn squash vines; check stems weekly for sawdust-like frass at the base of the plant.
- Spider mites thrive in our dry, hot August afternoons, especially on borage and zinnias, so inspect undersides of leaves daily before populations explode.
- Cutworms often emerge after night rains to sever young bean stalks; apply a thin layer of diatomaceous earth around the base of pole beans and okra this week.
Watering this week
Provide deep, consistent watering at the base of plants every 2-3 days to prevent blossom drop on squash and melons.
Harvest acorn and butternut squash when they have fully ripened and developed a hard rind for best winter storage.
Augusta gardening questions
3When should I start sowing Daikon radish in Augusta's heat?
Now is actually an excellent time to sow Daikon radishes because they grow quickly and can be harvested before the peak summer stress sets in later in July.
My butternut squash plants look wilted; how do I tell if it's a vine borer infestation?
Look for small holes at the base of the stem surrounded by sawdust-like frass and a yellow, worm-like larva inside the plant tissue, which is definitive proof of a vine borer attack.
Can I still harvest my okra and black-eyed peas if it's too hot this week?
Absolutely; these crops thrive in Augusta's heat and should be harvested every two to three days to encourage continued production before the extreme July temperatures hit.
Other cities in zone 8b
12See the full zone 8b guide → · Plan your Augusta garden in SproutGuide →