What to plant this week in Savannah, GA
With Savannah's last frost officially past on Feb 6, your garden is ready to explode into full summer vigor as we head toward the first heatwave. This week marks the perfect window to sow warm-season giants like watermelon and sweet corn while harvesting quick crops like basil that are already thriving in our humid clay soil.
The next 7 days
Savannah, GAGrowing in Savannah right now
- Our heavy Georgia clay holds moisture well but drains poorly; amend beds with compost before sowing cucumbers or squash to prevent root rot during our rainy spells.
- Watch for late-season cold snaps if a front moves in after mid-December, as plants like Malabar Spinach can't tolerate freezing temperatures despite zone 9a ratings.
- Savannah's intense afternoon sun requires shade cloth for young zinnias and cosmos, which often scorch before they establish deep roots in our sandy-loam transitions.
Sow this week
34 crops- Basil
- Black-Eyed Susan
- 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
36 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cantaloupe
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Edamame
- Fennel
- Flour Corn
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Garlic
- 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 now for a continuous summer supply.
- Mulch around newly transplanted Warm-Season crops like Zucchini to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
- Pinch back the tips of young Sunflowers to encourage bushier growth before they start flowering.
- Prepare soil beds with compost if you plan to sow Pumpkin or Winter Squash soon.
Pest & disease watch
- Thrips are currently feasting on the petals of sown Cleome (Spider Flower) and French Marigolds; spray with insecticidal soap early morning.
- Aphid colonies have been spotted climbing up newly transplanted okra and pole beans, requiring immediate neem oil treatment to stop honeydew buildup.
- Savannah's humidity has triggered a surge in powdery mildew on harvested basil leaves; prune heavily infected stems to protect the remaining crop.
Watering this week
Water deeply in the early morning to minimize evaporation, especially as temperatures rise past 85°F.
Harvest Basil regularly by snipping leafy stems from the top to keep the plant producing new growth all summer long.
Savannah gardening questions
3Can I plant my cantaloupe seeds indoors now or should they go directly in the ground?
Plant cantaloupe seeds directly into the warm soil this week, as our Savannah clay stays cool enough to stunt germination if transplanted at this stage. Wait until seedlings are sturdy and nights consistently stay above 50 degrees before moving anything sensitive.
My bush beans are blooming but producing few pods; is this normal for this time of year?
Yes, high heat in late spring can cause flowers to drop without setting fruit if soil moisture fluctuates wildly. Keep the base of your bean plants consistently moist with deep watering every other day during our dry spells.
When should I start harvesting my winter squash versus yellow summer squash?
Begin picking yellow summer squash when they are small and tender, roughly 6 inches long, while wait until winter squash skins harden for harvest. Harvesting winter squash too early in this season can delay the plant's maturity window before our first frost arrives.
Other cities in zone 9a
9See the full zone 9a guide → · Plan your Savannah garden in SproutGuide →