What to plant this week in Key West, FL
In Key West's subtropical heat, this week marks the peak for sowing warm-weather staples like watermelon and okra that thrive year-round without a single frost. Gardeners should focus on managing rapid growth in our sandy soils while harvesting early crops like basil and yellow summer squash before the midday sun scorches them.
The next 7 days
Key West, FLGrowing in Key West right now
- Key West's porous, sandy soil drains instantly; amend heavy beds with compost or use containers lined with moisture-retaining mulch to prevent quick drying during dry spells.
- Our intense afternoon glare can scorch young seedlings quickly; provide temporary shade cloth for newly sown cantaloupe and cucumbers until they establish deep roots in the native sand.
- High humidity combined with our constant warmth creates ideal conditions for fungal issues, so space out your zinnia and cosmos plantings to ensure maximum air circulation.
- Watch for sudden tropical showers that can wash away topsoil; install rain barrels near your vegetable plots to capture runoff from frequent summer thunderstorms.
Sow this week
19 crops- Basil
- Cantaloupe
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- French Marigold
- Gourd (Ornamental/Bottle)
- Honeydew Melon
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Sunflower
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Watermelon
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
21 crops- Basil
- Cantaloupe
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- French Marigold
- Gourd (Ornamental/Bottle)
- Honeydew Melon
- Loofah (Luffa)
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Roselle (Cranberry Hibiscus)
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Sunflower
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Watermelon
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Seasonal tips
- Succession sow beans or peppers every two weeks to ensure a continuous harvest throughout the season.
- Mulch around heat-loving crops like tomatoes and peppers to retain soil moisture during hot spells.
- Pinch back the tops of basil, zinnias, and marigolds regularly to encourage bushier growth and more flowers.
Pest & disease watch
- Aphids are currently exploding on young sunflower and nasturtium shoots, requiring immediate hand-picking or insecticidal soap applications.
- Spider mites thrive in our dry, hot microclimates and often attack French marigolds; spray water early morning to knock them off leaves.
- Cutworms frequently target low-growing cowpeas and squash seedlings at night, necessitating the placement of cardboard collars around each plant stem.
Watering this week
Water deeply in the early morning to reduce evaporation and keep foliage dry to prevent fungal issues.
Harvest basil leaves frequently before flowering to keep the plant producing new growth all summer long.
Key West gardening questions
3Can I still start tomatoes in Key West this week?
While our zone 11b climate technically allows year-round growing, late-planted tomatoes often struggle with excessive heat and fruit cracking. It is better to wait for a cooler spell or focus on the warm-weather harvest list like Malabar spinach provided in your weekly schedule.
Is it safe to put bare-root shrubs or transplants in my garden right now?
The list of plants you can transplant now is currently empty because our extreme heat stresses most non-native species upon root exposure. Stick to sowing seeds directly into the ground as listed, which encourages deeper, more resilient root systems before the next dry spell.
My zucchini leaves are turning yellow and wilting—what's happening?
This is likely a combination of our sandy soil lacking organic matter and potential damage from spider mites or overwatering. Add compost to improve water retention and inspect undersides of leaves for webbing, then adjust your watering schedule to the early morning.
See the full zone 11b guide → · Plan your Key West garden in SproutGuide →