What to plant this week in Montgomery, AL
Montgomery gardeners are well into the long, hot growing season where frost is a distant memory until December. This week marks the perfect time to harvest your early melons and squash while sowing quick-growing radishes for winter interest.
The next 7 days
Montgomery, ALGrowing in Montgomery right now
- With our flat terrain and heavy clay subsoil typical of the Black Belt influence, amend raised beds with compost now to improve drainage as summer rains approach.
- Be mindful of afternoon thunderstorms common in central Alabama; ensure trellises for pole beans are staked securely against wind gusts.
- Since there is no last frost date to worry about this week (March 1 is long past), focus on heat-loving crops like Okra and Malabar Spinach that thrive in our humid summers.
- Take advantage of the current harvest window for Acorn Squash and Butternut types before the peak humidity sets in further.
Sow this week
2 crops- Daikon Radish
- Ornamental Allium
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
44 crops- Acorn Squash
- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Butternut Squash
- Cantaloupe
- Celosia (Cockscomb)
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Delicata Squash
- Edamame
- Fennel
- Flour Corn
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Garlic
- Gomphrena (Globe Amaranth)
- Gourd (Ornamental/Bottle)
- Honeydew Melon
- Lima Bean
- Loofah (Luffa)
- Malabar Spinach
- Morning Glory
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Pole Bean
- Pumpkin
- Purslane
- Roselle (Cranberry Hibiscus)
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Spaghetti Squash
- Summer Savory
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Watermelon
- Winter Squash
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Seasonal tips
- Succession sow bush beans and cowpeas every two weeks for a continuous harvest through late summer.
- Mulch around heavy feeders like corn, squash, and melons to retain moisture and suppress weeds as temperatures rise.
- Pinch back the tops of basil and borage regularly to encourage bushier growth and prevent flowering.
Pest & disease watch
- Watch closely for Southern Corn Borers attacking Sweet Corn and Flowering Dogwoods during this warm period.
- Monitor for spider mites on Fennel and Zinnias as temperatures consistently stay above 85°F.
- Check the undersides of Okra leaves for early signs of beetles, which can become prolific in our local humidity.
Watering this week
Provide deep, consistent watering at the base of plants every 2-3 days to prevent blossom drop on squash and melons.
Harvest acorn and butternut squash when they have fully ripened and developed a hard rind for best winter storage.
Montgomery gardening questions
3Can I still transplant cold-sensitive plants like Basil or Tomato in Montgomery this week?
Yes, absolutely. With the average last frost date already passed on March 1 and current temperatures hovering around 70-85°F, these tropicals thrive immediately outdoors without risk of freezing damage.
What should I do about the heavy clay soil that seems to hold water too long after our recent rains?
In Montgomery's specific zone 8b climate, mix in generous amounts of organic matter or use a sandy loam top-dressing over your existing clay to create a workable root environment for the upcoming harvest.
Is now the right time to plant Garlic for next winter's harvest?
Yes, planting hardneck varieties like those suited for our zone 8b climate is ideal right now; they will establish roots before the first frost in December and send up green shoots just as spring approaches.
Other cities in zone 8b
12See the full zone 8b guide → · Plan your Montgomery garden in SproutGuide →