What to plant this week in Tallahassee, FL
With last frost officially behind us on Feb 6, Tallahassee gardeners can move everything from the seedling trays directly into your beds this week. The heat is already building toward those humid afternoons typical of our zone 9a climate, so focus on sowing warm-season staples like okra and summer squash to beat the peak humidity.
The next 7 days
Tallahassee, FLGrowing in Tallahassee right now
- Our sandy loam soils in East Florida drain quickly during heavy rains, so add compost heavily before planting annuals to retain moisture for your French marigolds and basil.
- Watch for late frost pockets in low-lying areas of Leon County; while the average date is Feb 6, a sudden dip below 20°F can still threaten early transplants if a cold front hits.
- Plant pole beans and cucumbers right now to take advantage of our long growing season before the intense summer heat stresses the plants too early.
- Avoid disturbing deep clay pockets in older garden beds near the Apalachicola River, as they stay wet much longer than your native sandy patches.
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
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 every two weeks for a continuous harvest throughout the summer heat.
- Mulch around newly transplanted squash and pumpkins to retain moisture and suppress weeds as temperatures rise.
- Pinch back the tops of basil plants regularly to encourage bushier growth and prevent flowering.
Pest & disease watch
- Aphids are currently exploding on new growth of Malabar spinach and nasturtiums due to our mild winter temperatures allowing them to overwinter easily.
- Spider mites are becoming active in our dry microclimates; check the undersides of zinnia leaves for webbing as humidity spikes.
- Boll weevils may be lingering from last season on ornamental gourds, so inspect bottle gourd vines before they start blooming.
Watering this week
Water deeply in the early morning to help plants withstand afternoon heat while minimizing evaporation losses.
Harvest watermelon and cantaloupe regularly to signal the plant to continue producing fruit rather than stopping growth.
Tallahassee gardening questions
3Should I wait to plant my okra or can it go in the ground today?
You can absolutely plant your okra seedlings outdoors this week; our soil has warmed up past the 60°F threshold required for germination. Just water deeply immediately after planting since our sandy soil dries out fast.
My basil is bolting early—is that normal for Tallahassee?
Yes, in zone 9a, basil often bolts quickly once temperatures consistently hit the mid-80s, which happens frequently by late winter here. Harvest any leaves you need now and pinch off the flower buds to encourage a second flush of growth.
Can I harvest my garlic before the official first frost date in December?
Absolutely; most garlic varieties are ready for harvest well before Dec 15, often when the lower leaves begin to yellow and fall over. Check your specific bulbs now as our mild winters sometimes accelerate maturation.
Other cities in zone 9a
9See the full zone 9a guide → · Plan your Tallahassee garden in SproutGuide →