What to plant this week in Orlando, FL
With the last frost date already behind us in Orlando, this week marks the peak of the growing season where you can immediately sow heat-loving crops like bush beans and watermelons directly into warm soil. Your garden is now fully active under Florida's subtropical sun, focusing on rapid harvests for vegetables like okra and cucumbers while managing humidity-driven challenges.
The next 7 days
Orlando, FLGrowing in Orlando right now
- Orlando's heavy afternoon thunderstorms often cause splashing that spreads fungal spores; ensure your squash beds have raised rows or wide spacing to improve airflow and dry foliage faster.
- The city sits on limestone bedrock which creates naturally alkaline soil with poor organic matter; incorporate generous amounts of composted pine bark mulch annually to acidify the soil and boost water retention during heatwaves.
- High summer humidity combined with intense UV radiation requires frequent midday misting for transplants, though avoid watering leafy greens like Malabar spinach at noon to prevent scorching.
- Watch for rapid weed germination after every storm; a layer of straw mulch is essential here as Orlando's sandy-loam soil dries out quickly under the relentless sun.
Sow this week
33 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
- 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
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 and pole beans every two weeks to ensure a steady harvest throughout the growing season.
- Pinch back the tips of basil and summer savory regularly to encourage bushier growth and prevent flowering.
- Apply a light layer of mulch around newly transplanted squash and pumpkins to retain moisture as soil warms up.
Pest & disease watch
- Spider mites are exploding in populations on Okra and Summer Squash due to the current dry heat spells between rain showers.
- Aphid colonies are forming rapidly on the new growth of Pole Beans and Zinnias, requiring early intervention before they spread to nearby crops.
- Powdery mildew is visible on young Fennel and Cucumber leaves; spray with a diluted baking soda solution immediately upon spotting white dusting.
Watering this week
Water deeply at the base of plants every 2-3 days during this hot season to keep roots cool and productive.
Harvest young zucchini fruits daily when they are small to signal the plant to continue producing more fruit.
Orlando gardening questions
3Can I start my Bush Bean seeds indoors or should I plant them directly in the ground now?
Do not start Bush Beans indoors; Orlando's warm soil temperatures allow you to sow them directly right where they will grow for a much stronger root system. Simply push the seeds into loose, moist earth after the last frost risk has passed.
My Watermelon plants look wilty despite getting plenty of rain—what is causing this?
In Orlando's sandy-loam soil, rapid drainage often leads to temporary drought stress even when it has rained recently. Check if the water is draining too fast through the profile and add a thick layer of organic mulch to help retain moisture for the deep roots.
How do I protect my Zucchini harvest from the common pests found in Central Florida?
Install row covers over your Yellow Summer Squash immediately after transplanting to physically block squash bugs and cucumber beetles. Hand-pick any large eggs or adults you see on the undersides of leaves every morning before they lay more.
Other cities in zone 10a
6See the full zone 10a guide → · Plan your Orlando garden in SproutGuide →