What to plant this week in Huntsville, AL
With temperatures hovering near 10°F and the average last frost still lingering until March 13, Huntsville gardeners must hold tight as winter lingers in our hilly terrain. While your warm-season crops like okra, watermelon, and bush beans are listed for sowing now, the cold ground means seeds won't germinate successfully yet.
The next 7 days
Huntsville, ALGrowing in Huntsville right now
- Wait to plant cool-season transplants until after March 13, as our North Alabama chill can stunt young roots in this zone 8a climate.
- Take advantage of our rolling hills by planting watermelons and cantaloupes on south-facing slopes where the sun warms the soil faster than valley flats.
- Our clay-heavy soils retain moisture well during dry spells, but add compost to improve drainage for okra and cucumbers before spring warming begins.
- Start indoor seedlings now for tomatoes and peppers, using grow lights since our days are short until late March.
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
- Watch for early season slugs on any tender starts placed outdoors after mid-March, as Huntsville's damp springs encourage their activity.
- Monitor garlic plants in the ground for winter heaving caused by our fluctuating freeze-thaw cycles before the deep cold sets in.
- Check ornamental vinca and periwinkle beds for snail damage if you have had recent rain, as they are particularly active near our woodlands.
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.
Huntsville gardening questions
3Can I plant okra seeds now in Huntsville even though it's still cold?
Although okra is on your sowing list for this week, the soil temperature remains too low to germinate successfully until after March 13. Wait a few more weeks or start them indoors under heat lamps if you want an early harvest.
My watermelon seeds aren't sprouting; should I keep trying?
Watermelons in Zone 8a need soil temperatures above 65°F to germinate, which our clay soils usually hit only after mid-March. If they haven't cracked open by next week, the cold is likely holding them back, so start fresh seeds soon.
When can I stop using row covers for my garlic and sweet potatoes?
Keep protective row covers on your garlic until the danger of a hard freeze passes completely after March 13, as our nights can still drop near freezing. Sweet potato slips are more forgiving but benefit from the extra warmth until the soil stabilizes in late spring.
Other cities in zone 8a
11See the full zone 8a guide → · Plan your Huntsville garden in SproutGuide →