What to plant this week in Fresno, CA
Fresno gardeners in Zone 9b are in the thick of summer heat, with frost dates long behind us since late January. This week is prime time for harvesting a massive list of warm-season crops like cantaloupe, watermelon, and okra that thrive in our valley's intense sun.
The next 7 days
Fresno, CAGrowing in Fresno right now
- Our valley floor often bakes under high-pressure ridges, so mulch heavily around squash and melons to keep roots cool and reduce evaporation from our dry summers.
- Fresno soil tends to be heavy clay; break up compacted areas before planting pole beans or zucchini to ensure good drainage during rare but intense rain events.
- While frost is impossible now, afternoon shade cloth may still help delicate crops like nasturtiums and French marigolds survive the peak July heatwaves.
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
- Watch for squash vine borers attacking your yellow summer squash and zucchini as temperatures climb above 90°F.
- Aphids often cluster on the new growth of basil, Thai basil, and shiso plants in our dense urban pockets; check stems daily.
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.
Fresno gardening questions
3Can I finally plant my cold-season garlic now?
No, garlic is actually listed for harvest soon this week, meaning your bulbs should be coming out of the ground rather than going back into it. Wait until next autumn to sow new cloves in our valley soil.
Which beans are ready to pull from the garden right now?
You can harvest bush beans, pole beans, and scarlet runner beans this week, but keep picking them regularly to encourage more production from your plants.
What about planting transplants like tomatoes or peppers?
The current list shows no transplants to start now, so focus your energy on sowing seeds directly into the ground or harvesting existing crops.
Other cities in zone 9b
10See the full zone 9b guide → · Plan your Fresno garden in SproutGuide →