What to plant this week in San Francisco, CA
San Francisco gardeners in Zone 10b are enjoying a frost-free season where the cool coastal fog often delays soil warming, making this week perfect for sowing heat-loving seeds like Okra and Malabar Spinach that thrive despite the chill. With no risk of frost until spring next year, you can aggressively expand your harvest roster to include early maturing Bush Beans, Cucumber, and Yellow Summer Squash right now.
The next 7 days
San Francisco, CAGrowing in San Francisco right now
- Expect cool, wet soils in late winter months; wait for soil temps to consistently reach 60°F before sowing warm-weather crops like Okra or Bean varieties directly into the ground rather than relying on indoor starts.
- The infamous 'June Gloom' and lingering marine layer can create a microclimate of high humidity that slows growth; ensure excellent air circulation around transplants like Zinnia and Sunflower to prevent damping off.
- San Francisco's fast-draining, often clay-heavy soils benefit from generous mulching with compost or straw to retain moisture during sudden dry spells triggered by Santa Ana winds.
- Since transplanting is rarely needed due to the mild climate, focus your energy this week on direct seeding warm-season crops and thinning crowded harvests of Corn and Bean vines.
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
34 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cantaloupe
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- 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 fast-maturing crops like French marigolds or nasturtiums every two weeks for continuous blooms.
- Thin out crowded seedlings of summer squash and pole beans to ensure strong air circulation.
- Apply a light layer of compost around heavy feeders like okra and melons to boost nitrogen levels.
Pest & disease watch
- Aphids often thrive in the damp foggy mornings; inspect the undersides of Fennel and Nasturtium leaves weekly for colonies that hide during the day.
- Spider mites can explode in populations when the marine layer lifts and temperatures spike, particularly attacking Zinnia and Shiso plants if humidity drops too low.
- Slugs and snails remain active year-round near the coast; check around low-growing Malabar Spinach and Tomato (if grown) for signs of grazing damage after rain events.
Watering this week
Water deeply in the early morning to keep foliage dry and reduce fungal risks on these warm-weather crops.
Harvest your watermelons by checking for a creamy yellow spot underneath where they touch the ground, indicating ripeness.
San Francisco gardening questions
3Can I start my Bush Beans or Okra indoors now?
No, San Francisco's cool soils make it difficult for warm-season crops to establish roots indoors before planting; it is much more successful to sow these seeds directly into the ground once soil temperatures are consistently above 60°F.
How does the coastal fog affect my Zinnia and Sunflower growth?
The persistent marine layer increases humidity which can slow plant metabolism and lead to fungal issues; ensure your plants have strong airflow by spacing them generously and watering in the late afternoon when the sun breaks through.
What should I do about harvesting Corn and Beans while growing new crops?
Since frost is non-existent here, you can maintain a continuous harvest cycle by picking Bush Beans and Sweet Corn every 3-4 days to encourage further production while simultaneously sowing your next round of seeds in the same beds.
Other cities in zone 10b
4See the full zone 10b guide → · Plan your San Francisco garden in SproutGuide →