What to plant this week in Miami, FL
With no frost dates to worry about in Miami, this week marks the peak harvest window for your summer staples like watermelon and zucchini while you continue sowing heat-loving crops. The city's relentless humidity demands constant vigilance against fungal issues as temperatures hover well above 80 degrees.
The next 7 days
Miami, FLGrowing in Miami right now
- Focus on deep watering early morning to combat rapid evaporation from Miami's porous limestone-based soils.
- Mulch heavily around Okra and Malabar Spinach to keep roots cool during daily highs that often exceed 90°F.
- Avoid overhead irrigation after 6 PM to prevent the rapid onset of leaf spot diseases favored by our stagnant air patterns.
Sow this week
13 crops- Basil
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cucumber
- French Marigold
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
24 crops- Basil
- Cantaloupe
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Gourd (Ornamental/Bottle)
- Honeydew Melon
- Loofah (Luffa)
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Roselle (Cranberry Hibiscus)
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Watermelon
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Seasonal tips
- Succession sow Malabar Spinach or Shiso every two weeks for a continuous harvest of tender leaves.
- Pinch back the tops of growing cucumbers and yellow summer squash to encourage bushier plants and more fruit.
- Deadhead spent Zinnia blooms regularly to keep flowers vibrant and promote new bud formation.
Pest & disease watch
- Monitor for spider mites on French Marigolds and Zinnia, which thrive in Miami's dry microclimates despite high humidity overall.
- Check Harvest-ready Sweet Corn and Cucumber for early earworm activity as populations rise with the heat spike.
- Watch for aphid swarms clustering on new growth of Basil and Thai Basil before they overwhelm the plants.
Watering this week
Water deeply in the morning to keep soil moist without promoting fungal issues on warm-season crops.
Harvest sweet corn when the kernels are milky but not yet hard, ensuring maximum sweetness right at the break of dawn.
Miami gardening questions
3Can I still start seeds now even though so much is ready to harvest?
Absolutely; this is the ideal time to sow Cleome, Shiso, and Yellow Summer Squash indoors or directly in the ground. These crops will mature quickly as the intense Miami sun drives rapid growth cycles.
My Zucchini plants are producing fast but seem to be struggling with white powdery spots.
This is likely powdery mildew, a common issue when humidity spikes and airflow is restricted in our dense neighborhoods. Increase space between plants and apply a neem oil solution early morning to stop the spread without harming pollinators.
When should I start thinking about winter crops like Malabar Spinach?
You can continue harvesting this week, but plan to plant your next round of Malabar Spinach in late October when temperatures begin their slow decline. Unlike cool-season greens, this tropical variety handles our extended heat perfectly and will keep producing through the fall.
Other cities in zone 11a
2See the full zone 11a guide → · Plan your Miami garden in SproutGuide →