What to plant this week in San Diego, CA
San Diego gardeners in Zone 11a have no frost worries this week, allowing you to sow heat-loving crops like watermelon and okra directly into the soil or harvest your early summer squash. With average minimums hovering around 40°F, focus on managing the intense afternoon sun rather than protecting plants from freezing temperatures.
The next 7 days
San Diego, CAGrowing in San Diego right now
- Soil in coastal areas often stays damp longer; ensure excellent drainage when planting heavy feeders like sweet corn and zucchini to prevent root rot.
- The inland valleys can run hotter than the coast this week, so provide shade cloth for young sunflowers and cosmos if daytime highs exceed 95°F.
- Native Malabar spinach thrives in our mild climate but requires consistent moisture; water deeply every few days rather than frequent light sprinkles.
- French marigolds planted now will act as a living mulch to suppress weeds around your basil and nasturtium crops.
Sow this week
22 crops- Basil
- Cantaloupe
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Gourd (Ornamental/Bottle)
- Honeydew Melon
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Watermelon
- 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 quick-maturing beans or lettuce between heavy harvests of corn and squash.
- Pinch back the tips of basil and marigolds regularly to encourage bushier growth.
- Add a light layer of organic mulch around young plants to retain moisture as heat increases.
Pest & disease watch
- Aphid populations are spiking on the new growth of zinnias and cosmos, so inspect leaves daily and treat with insecticidal soap immediately.
- Spider mites can explode in San Diego's dry heat on sunflowers; mist the undersides of leaves early morning to deter them.
- Slugs and snails remain active despite warmer nights, targeting low-growing nasturtiums and young okra plants near coastal fog zones.
Watering this week
Provide deep watering in the early morning, especially during midday heat spikes to prevent wilting.
Harvest basil leaves just before they flower to keep the plant producing fragrant greens longer.
San Diego gardening questions
3When is the best time to plant cantaloupe in San Diego?
You can sow melon seeds directly right now as there are no frost dates; just wait until your transplants reach 4-6 inches before thinning or harvesting, which should happen soon.
Does San Diego's soil need special preparation for zucchini?
Since local clay soils can compact easily, mix in generous amounts of compost and ensure raised beds if you plan to grow zucchini this week to improve drainage.
Can I harvest basil immediately after sowing it now?
No, basil needs a few weeks to establish before yielding; however, plants currently growing in the ground will be ready for harvest soon as listed in your current crop schedule.
Other cities in zone 11a
2See the full zone 11a guide → · Plan your San Diego garden in SproutGuide →