What to plant this week in Oakland, CA
Oakland's mild 10a climate means frost is a distant memory, allowing you to aggressively sow warm-season crops like Bush Beans and Sweet Corn this week. With temperatures hovering near the 30°F minimum only during rare cold snaps, your focus should shift entirely to managing intense afternoon sun and heavy summer rainfall.
The next 7 days
Oakland, CAGrowing in Oakland right now
- Embrace Oakland's unique 'bay fog' by planting taller windbreaks like Fennel or Sunflowers on western slopes to protect delicate seedlings from chilling winds.
- Address the city's notoriously clay-heavy soils by mixing in generous compost before sowing Okra or Zucchini to ensure proper drainage and root expansion.
- Plan for significant summer rain events typical of East Bay microclimates; install drip irrigation now so you can shut off overhead watering once storms begin.
- Take advantage of the long growing window to start Malabar Spinach and Cleome (Spider Flower) indoors if you missed your outdoor sow date, as they thrive in our extended mild weather.
Sow this week
26 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cantaloupe
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Edamame
- Fennel
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Lima Bean
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Pole Bean
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Summer Savory
- Sweet Corn
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
35 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cantaloupe
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Edamame
- 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 summer supply.
- Thin emerging seedlings now so they can develop strong root systems before heat sets in.
- Mulch around heat-sensitive plants like fennel and nasturtium to keep soil temperatures stable.
Pest & disease watch
- Watch for aphids colonizing French Marigolds and Garden Verbena during warm, stagnant air days common in valley pockets.
- Monitor Black-Eyed Peas and Lima Beans for spider mites, which proliferate quickly when fog lifts and temperatures climb above 75°F.
- Inspect Zinnias and Cosmos for Japanese beetles, whose populations surge rapidly once the June heat fully arrives.
Watering this week
Water deeply in the morning to reduce evaporation while keeping foliage dry to prevent fungal issues.
Pinch off spent flowers from zinnias regularly to encourage a second wave of blooms later this season.
Oakland gardening questions
3Is it safe to transplant tender crops like Bush Beans directly into my Oakland garden this week?
Yes, you can sow seeds or transplant seedlings of Bush Beans immediately since our last frost date was January 15 and soil is consistently warm. Avoid hardening off plants that are currently indoors unless they have been kept in a very cool environment.
What specific soil amendments work best for growing Zucchini and Okra in Oakland's heavy clay?
Mix abundant compost and coarse sand into the planting beds to improve drainage, which is critical as these crops hate 'wet feet' during our rainy season. Raised beds are also an excellent solution if your yard has severe compaction issues.
How do I protect my Harvest-ready Cantaloupe and Watermelon from late spring rains?
Cover developing fruit with breathable fabric row covers or construct simple cages to keep rainwater off the rinds, which can cause splitting. Ensure good air circulation under these covers to prevent fungal diseases common in our humid microclimates.
Other cities in zone 10a
6See the full zone 10a guide → · Plan your Oakland garden in SproutGuide →