What to plant this week in Jacksonville, FL
With Jacksonville's latest frost date firmly in the past and average lows holding steady around 25°F, this week marks the official start of your long growing season in Zone 9b. Gardeners can immediately sow heat-loving crops like okra, cucumbers, and melons directly into the warm soil while beginning to harvest early basil and bush beans.
The next 7 days
Jacksonville, FLGrowing in Jacksonville right now
- Focus on water management during our frequent afternoon thunderstorms; use raised beds or slopes to prevent root rot in our heavy clay-loam soils common along the St. Johns River basin.
- Amend heavy garden soil with compost before planting squash and pumpkins, as they struggle for oxygen in Jacksonville's dense native earth without organic matter.
- Take advantage of our mild winter transition by sowing warm-season annuals like zinnias and cosmos now to establish strong roots before peak summer heat arrives.
- Avoid transplanting seedlings this week; everything listed under 'transplant_now' is empty because local microclimates are too hot for cold-hardy crops that haven't been planted yet.
Sow this week
34 crops- Basil
- Black-Eyed Susan
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cantaloupe
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Edamame
- Fennel
- Flour Corn
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Gourd (Ornamental/Bottle)
- Honeydew Melon
- Lima Bean
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Pole Bean
- Pumpkin
- 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
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
- Start succession planting for bush beans and summer squash now to ensure a continuous harvest through the heat of August.
- Pinch back the tops of Basil, Shiso, and Thai Basil regularly today to encourage bushier growth and prevent flowering.
- Divide overcrowded Sunflowers or Zinnias if they are becoming leggy, replanting them for a fresh round of blooms.
Pest & disease watch
- Monitor for early-season aphid colonies forming on the new growth of basil and bean plants as temperatures climb above 70°F.
- Watch for spider mites beginning to cluster on the undersides of cucumber leaves, especially in shaded corners with poor air circulation.
- Be vigilant for root-knot nematodes attacking transplanted squash varieties; practice crop rotation if you see wilting or galled roots.
Watering this week
Water deeply at the base of vegetable plants during the hottest part of the day to keep roots cool and soil moisture consistent.
Interplant fast-maturing Bush Beans with slower-growing Pumpkins or Winter Squash to maximize space in your garden bed.
Jacksonville gardening questions
3Can I plant cold-hardy vegetables like spinach or lettuce now?
No, do not sow these crops yet as Jacksonville's current soil temperature is too warm and will cause them to bolt immediately. Wait until late autumn for your next cycle of cool-season greens.
Which beans grow best in our sandy patches versus the clay areas?
Pole beans and scarlet runner beans thrive equally well across our terrain, but bush beans prefer the slightly better-drained spots away from heavy river clay. Ensure consistent moisture for all varieties to prevent pod drop.
My okra plants are stunted; is this normal for Jacksonville weather?
If your okra looks weak now, it may be suffering from a late winter cold snap that stalled growth before the recent warming trend. Keep soil moist and fertilize lightly with nitrogen once new shoots appear.
Other cities in zone 9b
10See the full zone 9b guide → · Plan your Jacksonville garden in SproutGuide →