What to plant this week in Birmingham, AL
With average last frost in mid-March, Birmingham's gardeners are already deep into the growing season as we approach early November. This week marks a critical window for harvesting your summer staples like butternut and acorn squash before the first freeze on Nov 28 hits.
The next 7 days
Birmingham, ALGrowing in Birmingham right now
- Birmingham's heavy clay loam tends to stay wet after rains, so ensure drainage holes are clear when you harvest large squashes to prevent rotting.
- The city's distinct heat islands keep okra and malabar spinach productive late into November; do not pull these plants until the ground chills significantly.
- As temperatures drop toward the 50s, cut back watering for sunflowers and zinnias now to help them store energy for winter seeds or seedlings indoors.
Sow this week
2 crops- Garlic
- 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
- Harvest acorn, butternut, and spaghetti squash while they are still tender before the skins toughen up.
- Succession sow bush beans, cowpeas, and pole beans now to extend your bean harvest into late summer.
- Pinch back basil and borage regularly to encourage lush growth and prevent bolting as heat increases.
Pest & disease watch
- Late-season spider mites often surge on stressed zinnias and cosmos as humidity drops in Birmingham's fall weather.
- Cutworms remain active on young bean plants near the edge of fields where soil temperatures stay warm enough for egg hatching.
- Powdery mildew can appear on basil and borage during cooler, cloudy days typical of late November mornings.
Watering this week
Water deeply at the base of squash and melons every 2-3 days to keep fruits from cracking and foliage from rotting.
Don't forget to harvest garlic that is listed for both sowing now and harvesting soon, as it may be a late spring crop or early fall storage bulb depending on your specific microclimate.
Birmingham gardening questions
3When exactly should I stop harvesting my winter squash varieties in Birmingham?
You must finish pulling butternut, acorn, and delicata squash before the average first frost date of Nov 28 to avoid cold damage to the rind. If a late storm hits early, bring any harvested gourds into the house immediately.
Can I still plant garlic this week given my hardiness zone is 8a?
Yes, now is the ideal time to sow garlic cloves as long as you can get them in before the soil freezes solid. Choose a spot with good drainage since Birmingham clay holds moisture that can rot cloves if left too wet.
My okra plants are still producing; should I pull them up now?
Not yet, as late frosts in zone 8a often occur later than the average Nov 28 date. Continue harvesting pods weekly to encourage production until a hard freeze is confirmed for your specific neighborhood.
Other cities in zone 8a
11See the full zone 8a guide → · Plan your Birmingham garden in SproutGuide →