What to plant this week in Long Beach, CA
Long Beach gardeners are in full summer swing this week with no frost worries, meaning you can aggressively sow warm-season crops like watermelon and okra directly into the ground. The coastal microclimate keeps temperatures mild even as inland areas heat up, but watch for sudden marine layer fog that might chill young seedlings overnight.
The next 7 days
Long Beach, CAGrowing in Long Beach right now
- The flat terrain of Long Beach offers little drainage; amend heavy clay pockets with compost before planting squash or melons to prevent root rot during our rainy season's tail end.
- Coastal salt air can scorch tender leaves on new sowings like basil and shiso; rinse foliage with fresh water after a windy day if you notice crisp edges.
- Our urban soil often lacks organic matter due to past industrial use, so test pH before adding fertilizer to zinnia or cosmos beds this week.
Sow this week
32 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cantaloupe
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- 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
34 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cantaloupe
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Fennel
- Flour Corn
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- 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 bush beans every two weeks to ensure a continuous harvest throughout the summer heat.
- Pinch back the tops of zucchini and yellow summer squash to encourage more fruit production rather than large vines.
- Add compost or aged manure around the base of okra and tomatoes to retain moisture in the dry air.
- Deadhead spent flowers on sunflowers and cosmos to keep them blooming for pollinators all season long.
Pest & disease watch
- Spider mites are exploding on dense plantings of marigolds and verbena as humidity drops during the hot afternoons.
- Aphids frequently attack the new growth of pole beans and sweet corn, requiring a strong water spray for control.
- Cutworms love to ambush tomato seedlings (if started indoors) or young bean plants right at soil line in our sandy-loam patches.
Watering this week
Water deeply at the base of plants every 2-3 days to maintain consistent soil moisture during this hot weather.
Harvest basil and leafy greens like Malabar spinach in the cool morning hours for the crispest flavor and best texture.
Long Beach gardening questions
3When should I start planning my fall harvest schedule?
Since we have no frost date here, you can plant cool-season crops like lettuce and spinach anytime now that the intense midday sun isn't scorching them yet. However, aim to sow these by late August so they mature before the October heat wave hits.
Can I transplant any of my seedlings this week?
Instead, focus on staking your pole beans and sweet corn now before the winds pick up from the ocean.
What's the best way to manage watering for my watermelons?
Water deeply at the base of the vines early in the morning to avoid evaporative loss during our long summer afternoons. Avoid wetting the leaves, which can lead to fungal issues common in our humid coastal evenings.
Other cities in zone 10b
4See the full zone 10b guide → · Plan your Long Beach garden in SproutGuide →