What to plant this week in Mobile, AL
With average minimum temperatures holding steady at 20°F and the last frost officially behind us on Feb 6, Mobile gardeners can aggressively start their spring season. This week marks the critical window to sow heat-loving staples like okra and bush beans directly into the warming soil while finishing off early garlic crops.
The next 7 days
Mobile, ALGrowing in Mobile right now
- Mobile's heavy clay subsoil retains moisture well but compacts easily; amend raised beds with generous amounts of organic compost to ensure proper drainage for seedlings.
- With average first frost not arriving until Dec 15, you have a long growing season ahead, but the rapid onset of summer heat means establishing shade structures early for delicate transplants if needed later.
- Local rainfall patterns often bring intense downpours rather than steady drizzles; check drainage in low-lying areas near the Mobile River to prevent root rot in newly sown squash and cucumbers.
- Don't transplant anything this week as per local conditions; instead, focus on direct seeding warm-season crops that thrive immediately after our last frost date.
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 bush beans every two weeks for a continuous harvest throughout the summer heat.
- Mulch around newly transplanted squash and pumpkins to retain moisture and suppress weeds as temperatures rise.
- Pinch back the tops of basil plants regularly to encourage bushier growth and prevent flowering.
Pest & disease watch
- Watch for early-season aphids clustering on the new growth of basil and nasturtiums as temperatures climb above 60°F.
- Fungal leaf spots can appear quickly in Mobile's humid climate, especially on Malabar spinach and zinnias; ensure good airflow between plants.
- Monitor for cutworms at night when they attack young bean stems just after soil contact.
Watering this week
Water deeply in the early morning to help plants withstand afternoon heat while minimizing evaporation losses.
Harvest watermelon and cantaloupe regularly to signal the plant to continue producing fruit rather than stopping growth.
Mobile gardening questions
3Can I transplant my seedlings into the ground now in Mobile?
No, you should not transplant anything this week; wait to sow crops like okra and bush beans directly into the garden bed once soil is consistently warm.
Which vegetables are ready for harvest soon around Mobile?
Expect a bounty from your early garlic crop and any overwintering greens, while summer varieties like watermelon and cantaloupe will begin ripening later this month.
What specific plants should I sow directly in Mobile soil right now?
Focus on heat lovers listed for direct sowing such as pole beans, cucumbers, and Malabar spinach, which thrive immediately after our Feb 6 frost date.
Other cities in zone 9a
9See the full zone 9a guide → · Plan your Mobile garden in SproutGuide →