What to plant this week in Fort Lauderdale, FL
In Fort Lauderdale's frost-free Zone 11a climate, this week marks the perfect window to start your summer harvests without a single worry about freezing nights. While you won't be sowing new seeds for cold weather crops, it is an ideal time to pull mature vegetables like okra and zucchini right from the soil. The constant warmth means your garden is in full production mode, focusing entirely on managing heat stress and moisture rather than protecting against frost.
The next 7 days
Fort Lauderdale, FLGrowing in Fort Lauderdale right now
- The sandy soils common in Broward County drain quickly during summer thunderstorms, so be sure to apply mulch heavily around root zones like sweet corn and squash to retain moisture.
- With no last or first frost dates to track, focus your energy on heat-tolerant varieties; plants like Malabar Spinach will thrive where lettuce would wilt under the Florida sun.
- Monitor irrigation closely after our typical afternoon storms, as heavy rain can cause nutrient leaching in our porous local soil and wash away surface fertilizers applied recently.
Sow this week
13 crops- Basil
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cucumber
- French Marigold
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
24 crops- Basil
- Cantaloupe
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Gourd (Ornamental/Bottle)
- Honeydew Melon
- Loofah (Luffa)
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Roselle (Cranberry Hibiscus)
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Watermelon
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Seasonal tips
- Succession sow Malabar Spinach or Shiso every two weeks for a continuous harvest of tender leaves.
- Pinch back the tops of growing cucumbers and yellow summer squash to encourage bushier plants and more fruit.
- Deadhead spent Zinnia blooms regularly to keep flowers vibrant and promote new bud formation.
Pest & disease watch
- Spider mites are becoming a significant issue on leafy greens like nasturtium and shiso during these dry spells between tropical rains.
- Aphid populations often spike rapidly on French marigolds and basil when humidity drops in the late spring heat.
- Watch for melon vine borers attacking your cantaloupe, watermelon, and honeydew vines as they enter their rapid growth phase.
Watering this week
Water deeply in the morning to keep soil moist without promoting fungal issues on warm-season crops.
Harvest sweet corn when the kernels are milky but not yet hard, ensuring maximum sweetness right at the break of dawn.
Fort Lauderdale gardening questions
3Can I still sow seeds this week or should I only transplant?
Since Fort Lauderdale has no frost dates, you can technically sow any of the listed warm-season crops like cucumber and zucchini now if you missed the earlier window. However, for a better stand, it is often more effective to wait until after a good soaking rain or use a starter solution to avoid damping off in our humid soil.
My okra plants are growing fast but seem stunted; what's wrong?
Okra loves the Fort Lauderdale heat, but if your plants look stunted despite looking green, they may be suffering from iron chlorosis common in alkaline sandy soils here. Apply a foliar spray of chelated iron or use an acidifying fertilizer to boost leaf development immediately.
When should I start harvesting my sweet corn and cucumbers?
Your sweet corn is ready to harvest soon if the kernels feel milky when you pinch one, which usually happens within 21 days of pollination. For cucumbers, pick them daily once they reach your preferred size to prevent them from getting tough or bitter in our intense Florida sun.
Other cities in zone 11a
2See the full zone 11a guide → · Plan your Fort Lauderdale garden in SproutGuide →