What to plant this week in Birmingham, AL
Birmingham gardeners are currently in full swing during this week, with the last frost officially behind us on March 13. It is harvest time for early basil and beans while you simultaneously sow heat-lovers like okra and summer squash to capitalize on our long growing season.
The next 7 days
Birmingham, ALGrowing in Birmingham right now
- Our red clay soil tends to be heavy and slow-draining; amend planting holes generously with compost or sand before sowing water-intensive crops like cantaloupe and cucumbers.
- Be mindful of the afternoon 'dog days' heat that hits hard in Birmingham by May; provide temporary shade cloth for transplanted seedlings to prevent scorching.
- Take advantage of our reliable spring rains now, but be ready to irrigate supplemental water as soon as the forecast shifts to dry spells common in late March.
- While we are Zone 8a, remember that our specific humidity levels can accelerate fungal issues faster than drier zones in Alabama.
Sow this week
30 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cantaloupe
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Edamame
- Fennel
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Honeydew Melon
- Lima Bean
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Pole Bean
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Summer Savory
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Watermelon
- Winter Squash
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
41 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cantaloupe
- Celery
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Dahlia
- Edamame
- Fennel
- Flour Corn
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Garlic
- Ghost Pepper (Bhut Jolokia)
- Gourd (Ornamental/Bottle)
- Honeydew Melon
- Lima Bean
- Lisianthus (Prairie Gentian)
- Loofah (Luffa)
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Pole Bean
- Pumpkin
- Roselle (Cranberry Hibiscus)
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Summer Savory
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Sweet Potato
- 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 summer.
- Apply a light layer of mulch around warm-season vegetables to retain soil moisture and keep roots cool.
- Pinch back the tops of basil plants regularly to encourage bushier growth before harvesting leaves.
Pest & disease watch
- Aphids and spider mites often explode on new growth this week due to rising temperatures; inspect the undersides of French Marigold and Zinnia leaves daily.
- Watch for early-season squash bugs targeting your newly planted Yellow Summer Squash and watermelon vines before they defoliate the plants.
- Slugs thrive in our damp Birmingham springs, so check low-growing Nasturtiums and Malabar Spinach at dawn for signs of grazing.
Watering this week
Water deeply in the morning to keep moisture consistent but avoid wetting the foliage to prevent disease.
Harvest beans when pods are young and tender to maximize flavor and encourage further production from each plant.
Birmingham gardening questions
3Can I plant my okra seeds directly into the ground this week?
Yes, you can sow okra outdoors now since the soil has warmed past our last frost date. Ensure you dig deep holes because these roots need to go 4-6 inches down to thrive in our clay.
My basil is ready for harvest soon, but I'm worried about cold snaps.
While Birmingham rarely freezes until late November, bring your potted basil indoors at night if temperatures dip near the 10°F minimum threshold. Snip leaves off the bottom of the plant to encourage bushier growth before bringing it inside.
How do I fix my heavy clay soil for planting summer squash?
Mix in a high volume of compost or peat moss directly into your planting trench rather than trying to till the whole yard at once. This improves drainage significantly, which is critical for keeping squash roots from rotting in Birmingham's red clay.
Other cities in zone 8a
11See the full zone 8a guide → · Plan your Birmingham garden in SproutGuide →