What to plant this week in Birmingham, AL
In Birmingham, the week of late March marks a critical transition as you move from frost-warning caution to active spring planting. With average last frosts expected around March 13 and minimums hovering near 10°F this time of year, many hardy warm-season crops like okra and bush beans are ready for immediate sowing in your clay-heavy soil.
The next 7 days
Birmingham, ALGrowing in Birmingham right now
- Birmingham's distinctive red clay is heavy and slow to warm; break up large clods before sowing seeds like cucumber and yellow summer squash to ensure good root penetration.
- Timing is vital now as the window to get frost-tender crops like French marigolds started indoors or in the ground is narrow before the March 13 average frost date passes.
- While rainfall can be unpredictable, the current season often sees early spring showers; check drainage for low-lying garden spots where water sits too long on your loamy mix.
- Transplanting is generally not advised this week as per local hardiness data; wait until soil temperatures consistently rise above 60°F before moving sensitive seedlings.
Sow this week
7 crops- Bush Bean
- Cucumber
- French Marigold
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Yellow Summer Squash
- 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 bush beans and pole beans every two weeks for a continuous harvest throughout the growing season.
- Apply a layer of organic mulch around young squash and melons to keep soil cool and retain moisture as temperatures rise.
- Pinch back the tops of basil and borage regularly to encourage bushier growth before the heat sets in.
Pest & disease watch
- Watch for early season aphids clustering on new growth of nasturtiums and French marigolds as the air warms up.
- Monitor soil moisture closely to prevent root rot in slow-draining clay pockets where okra and zucchini are being planted this week.
- Prepare for slugs to target tender seedlings like bush beans if recent rains have saturated your garden beds.
Watering this week
Water deeply at the base of plants in the morning to reduce evaporation and prevent fungal issues on leafy greens.
Plant garlic now if you missed the fall window, as it is listed for harvest soon, indicating late planting opportunities remain viable.
Birmingham gardening questions
3Can I plant my garlic now or should I wait?
Garlic is listed as a crop to harvest soon, meaning you likely missed the fall planting window or are checking on overwintering bulbs. Since it appears in the 'harvest_soon' list for this zone and week, check your plants for signs of bolting; if they show green tops, they may be ready for scallion harvesting, but do not plant new garlic now.
When is safe to transplant my tomato starts from home?
According to local frost data, avoid transplanting until after the average last frost of March 13 and when nights stay consistently above 50°F.
Should I start French marigolds indoors now for my spring border?
Since French Marigold is on the 'sow_now' list, you can direct sow these seeds right into the garden today rather than waiting to transplant seedlings later.
Other cities in zone 8a
11See the full zone 8a guide → · Plan your Birmingham garden in SproutGuide →