What to plant this week in Tallahassee, FL
With last frost officially behind us on Feb 6, Tallahassee gardeners are in full swing for spring planting while managing the city's heavy clay soils and frequent afternoon thunderstorms. This week marks a critical time to sow Daikon Radish and Ornamental Allium immediately, but you must also begin harvesting your prolific summer crops like Acorn Squash and Okra before the next heatwave hits.
The next 7 days
Tallahassee, FLGrowing in Tallahassee right now
- Tallahassee's deep clay soil stays wet for days after rain; use raised beds or amend heavily with organic matter to prevent root rot in transplants.
- Afternoon 'squall lines' are common in March, so protect young seedlings like Cosmos and Zinnia with row covers until the wind subsides.
- Bees struggle in our shaded neighborhoods due to urban canopy density; place pollinator favorites like Nasturtium and Scarlet Runner Bean in open, sunny spots.
- Monitor soil moisture closely near Lake Seminole edges where humidity can spike rapidly, causing fungal issues on Malabar Spinach.
Sow this week
2 crops- Daikon Radish
- Ornamental Allium
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
44 crops- Acorn Squash
- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Butternut Squash
- Cantaloupe
- Celosia (Cockscomb)
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Delicata Squash
- Edamame
- Fennel
- Flour Corn
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Garlic
- 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 fast-maturing crops like Daikon Radish or Ornamental Allium to extend your season's variety.
- Mulch around heavy feeders like Okra and Bush Beans to retain moisture as summer heat intensifies.
- Deadhead Zinnias and Cosmos regularly to encourage continuous blooming for pollinators.
Pest & disease watch
- Aphid colonies are exploding on newly sprouted Bush Beans and Pole Beans; treat early with insecticidal soap before they bloom.
- Spider mites are becoming active in the humid microclimates of Lee County, especially on delicate Garden Verbena and Fennel.
- Watch for root maggots attacking transplanted Celosia and Cleome in our heavy clay patches where drainage is poor.
Watering this week
Water deeply in the early morning to reduce evaporation, especially during hot spells.
Harvest Edamame and Green Beans every two days to keep plants producing their best pods.
Tallahassee gardening questions
3When should I start my Garlic now that we are past the last frost?
Garlic is still harvestable this week, meaning your bulbs are ready to pull for storage. If you have unharvested cloves left in the ground, ensure they aren't sprouting prematurely by checking soil moisture daily.
Which of my summer crops should be harvested first this week?
Install drip irrigation or soaker hoses rather than overhead sprinklers to avoid washing away topsoil and promoting foliar diseases on your Sunflowers and Zucchini.
Acorn Squash, Butternut Squash, and Delicata are all listed for harvest; which is most urgent?
Prioritize the Acorn and Delicata varieties now as they can split if left on the vine too long during our fluctuating temperatures, while Butternut can wait another week.
Other cities in zone 9a
9See the full zone 9a guide → · Plan your Tallahassee garden in SproutGuide →