What to plant this week in Bakersfield, CA
Bakersfield gardeners are deep in the heart of summer heat, where this week marks the peak harvest window for melons and squash while sowing warm-season favorites like okra and pole beans. With frost dates long past, focus entirely on providing shade during the midday sun to protect your young plants from scorching.
The next 7 days
Bakersfield, CAGrowing in Bakersfield right now
- The valley's hardpan clay soil tends to drain poorly in heavy rains; add generous amounts of compost now to improve aeration before summer storms arrive.
- Create micro-shade structures using lace curtains or temporary umbrellas for newly sown bush beans and cucumbers to prevent leaf burn during afternoon highs.
- Mulch heavily around watermelons and cantaloupes with straw to keep fruit clean and cool, preventing rot in the hot, dry soil.
- Monitor irrigation closely; while rainfall is low this season, ensure drip systems run frequently enough to penetrate the hardpan without creating surface crusting.
Sow this week
18 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cucumber
- French Marigold
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Pole Bean
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- 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 fast-maturing varieties like bush beans to extend your harvest window before the first frost in mid-December.
- Mulch around summer squash and pumpkin plants now to retain soil moisture as temperatures begin their annual dip.
- Prune back any leggy tomato or pepper vines if they are still growing, but be gentle with heavy harvest crops.
Pest & disease watch
- Spider mites thrive in the high heat and dry air, often attacking bean plants; spray with a strong jet of water or insecticidal soap early in the morning.
- Cutworms are currently damaging seedlings at night; hand-pick them before dawn when they are most visible on plant stems.
- Powdery mildew is spreading on squash varieties due to high humidity from evening irrigation; prune leaves for airflow and apply sulfur-based treatments.
Watering this week
Water deeply in the late afternoon to keep soil cool, ensuring consistent moisture for your heavy feeders like okra and cucumbers.
Save seeds from your zinnias and sunflowers now while they are still green to ensure a fresh batch for next year's bloom.
Bakersfield gardening questions
3When should I start harvesting my watermelons and cantaloupes this week?
Check your vines daily for a 'field spot' that turns creamy yellow or deep orange, which indicates full ripeness in Bakersfield's heat. Gently tap the fruit; a hollow sound confirms it is ready to pick before the sun softens the flesh.
Can I still transplant seedlings into the garden now?
No, there are no recommended transplants for this week in Zone 9b due to intense afternoon heat that will shock young roots. Instead, direct sow warm-season crops like bush beans and okra directly into prepared soil with adequate moisture.
How do I protect my zinnias from the summer sun?
Zinnias love the Bakersfield climate but can wilt quickly in peak afternoon heat; provide temporary shade cloth during the hottest hours of the day. Deadhead spent blooms regularly to encourage more flowers and reduce stress on the plant.
Other cities in zone 9b
10See the full zone 9b guide → · Plan your Bakersfield garden in SproutGuide →