What to plant this week in Jacksonville, FL
With the last frost officially behind us on January 30, Jacksonville gardeners are in full swing, able to sow heat-loving crops like Malabar Spinach and Thai Basil directly into the warm, sandy soil. The absence of a winter chill means your current harvest window is already wide open for Okra, Bush Beans, and Cucumber varieties that have been ripening since early spring.
The next 7 days
Jacksonville, FLGrowing in Jacksonville right now
- The region's distinctively sandy soil drains quickly, so be sure to water newly sown beans and cucumbers deeply but less frequently than you would in the clay-rich South. Avoid heavy mulching this week unless protecting young seedlings from the occasional afternoon wind burn common on coastal sites. Watch for salt spray accumulation if your plot is within a mile of the Intracoastal Waterway, as it can stunt sensitive leafy greens like Nasturtium.
- Planting schedules here are dictated by heat rather than cold; while you can still start tomatoes indoors now, focus outdoor energy on direct sowing warm-season crops listed for this week. The transition from winter to summer is gradual, allowing you to extend the harvest of early maturing Bush Beans and Sweet Corn well into July.
- Local water management is key due to our frequent summer thunderstorms; ensure your raised beds or container setups have excellent drainage holes to prevent root rot in moisture-sensitive Zinnias and Marigolds.
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
- Spider mites are becoming active as humidity drops slightly during dry spells, often targeting the undersides of French Marigold and Cleome leaves. Aphids frequently infest the new growth of Pole Beans and Scarlet Runner Beans, requiring regular inspection and rinsing with a strong water spray.
- Whiteflies can appear on Summer Squash and Watermelon plants when temperatures climb above 85°F, so monitor your crop for stippling damage early.
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.
Jacksonville gardening questions
3Can I still plant tomatoes this week in Jacksonville's sandy soil?
Yes, you can transplant tomato seedlings now that the risk of a late frost has passed after January 30. Be sure to harden them off gradually and water deeply to help their roots establish quickly in our fast-draining native sand.
What is the best time to harvest my current Okra crop?
Pick your Okra pods every two days while they are still young, roughly 2 to 3 inches long, for the most tender texture. Leaving them too long on the plant will toughen the fibers and stop new pods from forming rapidly.
My Cucumber plants look wilted after a heavy rainstorm; is this normal?
Wilt after heavy rains in our sandy soil often indicates root stress or compaction, so gently water around the base rather than soaking them again immediately. You can also prune any yellowing lower leaves to improve airflow and reduce the risk of fungal issues.
Other cities in zone 9b
10See the full zone 9b guide → · Plan your Jacksonville garden in SproutGuide →