What to plant this week in St. Petersburg, FL
In St. Petersburg, the lack of frost dates means your garden is in full swing this week with no cold worries to pause growth. It's the perfect time to sow heat-loving crops like cantaloupe and okra while enjoying a bumper harvest from your established squash and bean vines.
The next 7 days
St. Petersburg, FLGrowing in St. Petersburg right now
- St. Petersburg's high humidity accelerates fungal issues, so ensure good air circulation around dense plantings of zinnias and marigolds this week.
- The region's sandy, well-draining soil is ideal for pumpkins and watermelons, but add compost to retain moisture during occasional dry spells between tropical rains.
- Watch for erratic afternoon thunderstorms that can knock over tall sunflowers; stake them early in the season or use heavy guages like galvanized wire cages.
- Saltwater intrusion from nearby Tampa Bay can affect coastal soil salinity; avoid over-watering near the Intracoastal Waterway and rinse roots if flooding occurs.
Sow this week
32 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
- 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
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 bush beans every two weeks to ensure a continuous harvest throughout the summer heat.
- Pinch back the tops of zucchini and yellow summer squash to encourage more fruit production rather than large vines.
- Add compost or aged manure around the base of okra and tomatoes to retain moisture in the dry air.
- Deadhead spent flowers on sunflowers and cosmos to keep them blooming for pollinators all season long.
Pest & disease watch
- Spider mites thrive in St. Petersburg's dry, hot windows; inspect the undersides of basil and shiso leaves weekly for webbing.
- Aphids colonize fast on the new growth of sweet corn and pole beans; blast them off with a strong jet of water or apply insecticidal soap immediately.
- Citrus leafminer is prevalent in this zone; check your ornamental Gouds and Vinca for silvery trails under leaves and prune heavily infested branches.
Watering this week
Water deeply at the base of plants every 2-3 days to maintain consistent soil moisture during this hot weather.
Harvest basil and leafy greens like Malabar spinach in the cool morning hours for the crispest flavor and best texture.
St. Petersburg gardening questions
3When should I plant my winter squash and zucchini now that the last frost date has passed?
You can sow these directly into the ground this week as there is no risk of freezing damage in zone 10b. Start them immediately to take full advantage of the long growing season before summer heat peaks.
My okra and pole beans are growing fast, but I'm worried about birds eating the pods; what should I do?
Install netting over your trellised pole beans as soon as flowers appear to protect developing fruit from local bird populations. For okra, use row covers early in the morning when birds are most active to prevent damage before the heat of the day.
How do I handle the sudden heavy rains common in St. Petersburg during the summer?
Ensure your garden beds have raised centers or mounded soil so water drains away from plant stems and prevents root rot. After a storm, check for compacted soil around sunflowers and fluff it up to restore oxygen flow to the roots.
Other cities in zone 10b
4See the full zone 10b guide → · Plan your St. Petersburg garden in SproutGuide →