What to plant this week in Santa Barbara, CA
Santa Barbara gardeners, this week marks the height of our Mediterranean summer, where the cool 35°F minimum is a distant memory and heatwaves define the landscape. With no frost dates to worry about, it's time to focus on harvesting your ripening melons and squashes while managing intense sun exposure.
The next 7 days
Santa Barbara, CAGrowing in Santa Barbara right now
- The Santa Barbara Channel creates a microclimate that delays fall frosts by weeks, allowing late sowings of Daikon radish now for harvest in November or December.
- Our coastal fog often burns off quickly, leaving plants vulnerable to rapid afternoon heating; ensure all summer vegetables like Okra and Malabar Spinach have deep shade cloth ready if temps spike above 95°F.
- Soil here is frequently clay-heavy near the coast due to river deposits; amend planting beds with coarse sand or organic matter before transplanting any new crops this week.
- Watch for erratic rainfall patterns typical of our dry summers; water deeply in the early morning to prevent evaporation loss during our long, sunny afternoons.
Sow this week
1 crops- Daikon Radish
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
42 crops- Acorn Squash
- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Butternut Squash
- Cantaloupe
- Celosia (Cockscomb)
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Delicata Squash
- Fennel
- Flour Corn
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- 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 or pole beans now to maintain a steady supply of fresh pods throughout the summer.
- Mulch around newly planted okra and melons to retain moisture and keep roots cool in the heat.
- Thin out dense seedlings of sweet corn and zucchini to ensure proper air circulation and maximum yield.
Pest & disease watch
- Spider mites can explode on heat-stressed Zinnias and Celosia under that intense Santa Barbara sun; mist leaves weekly or use neem oil if populations rise.
- Cucurbit beetles are actively damaging Acorn Squash and Pumpkin vines right now; apply row covers immediately since these pests lack natural predators in our local ecosystem.
- Aphids frequently cluster on the undersides of Basil and Thai Basil leaves during hot, dry spells; prune heavily infested stems rather than relying solely on sprays.
Watering this week
Water deeply at the base of plants early in the morning to reduce evaporation and prevent leaf burn during the heat.
Harvest cucumbers daily when they are young and crisp to encourage the plant to produce more fruit.
Santa Barbara gardening questions
3Can I still plant Daikon radish now in Santa Barbara's heat?
Yes, our unique maritime climate allows you to sow Daikon radish immediately for a fall harvest that arrives right as autumn cooling begins. These take longer to mature than spring crops, so plant them this week to beat the early November chill.
Which summer squashes are ready to pick from my Santa Barbara garden?
You can start harvesting Acorn Squash and Butternut Squash when their rinds harden and turn deep orange or green. Leave Delicata and Spaghetti Squash on the vine longer until they show distinct color changes, as our dry air helps them sweeten further.
How do I protect my Zinnias from the intense afternoon sun in Santa Barbara?
While Zinnias love full sun, our coastal heatwaves can scorch new growth; provide temporary afternoon shade cloth if temperatures exceed 95°F. Mulch heavily around the base to keep roots cool during those long, dry summer afternoons.
Other cities in zone 10b
4See the full zone 10b guide → · Plan your Santa Barbara garden in SproutGuide →