What to plant this week in Zone 11b
With no frost dates in Zone 11b and temperatures staying mild, it is the perfect time to sow warm-season favorites like basil, okra, and zucchini while harvesting your abundant melons and squash.
The next 7 days
Sample: Key West, FLToday
9/12
93°
80°
💧29%
Sun
9/13
88°
76°
💧16%
Mon
9/14
85°
79°
💧17%
Tue
9/15
86°
84°
💧58%
Wed
9/16
85°
84°
💧66%
Thu
9/17
85°
83°
💧56%
Fri
9/18
85°
83°
💧45%
Avg high 87°F
Rain total 7.3"
Humidity 74%
Wind 8.6 mph
In the ground
Sow this week
12 crops- Basil
- Cucumber
- French Marigold
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Move out
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Coming ripe
Harvest soon
21 crops- Basil
- Cantaloupe
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- French Marigold
- Gourd (Ornamental/Bottle)
- Honeydew Melon
- Loofah (Luffa)
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Roselle (Cranberry Hibiscus)
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Sunflower
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Watermelon
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Do this now
Seasonal tips
- Start succession sowing cucumbers and yellow summer squash every two weeks for a continuous harvest.
- Pinch back tips on your basil and Thai basil plants to encourage bushier growth and more leaves.
- Divide or reposition Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle) if they become overcrowded, as they thrive in this heat.
- Add compost to planting beds now to keep soil rich for the long growing season ahead.
Keep watch
Pest & disease watch
- Watch for aphids clustering on new basil and nasturtium growth; a strong water spray usually clears them quickly.
- Inspect honeydew melon and loofah vines closely for squash bugs that hide under leaves during the day.
- Keep an eye out for spider mites on sunflowers and zinnias, especially if the weather gets very dry.
Water
Watering this week
Water deeply in the early morning to keep soil moist without encouraging fungal issues on your leafy greens.
One more thing
Harvest okra pods young and tender before they get woody to ensure the best flavor and texture.
All year
Zone 11b planting calendar
74 cropsAverage planting and harvest windows for everything that grows in zone 11b — dates shift a week or two with the season, so treat them as a starting point and check the weekly guide above for what's open right now.
- Start indoors
- Sow outdoors
- Transplant
- Harvest
Vegetables 31
| Crop | Start indoors | Sow outdoors | Transplant | Harvest | Maturity | JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acorn Squash | Jan 11 – Jan 18 | Feb 15 – Aug 23 | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | Apr 26 – Dec 1 | 85d | |
| Anaheim (New Mexico) Pepper | Dec 7 – Dec 21 | — | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | May 1 – May 20 | 78d | |
| Banana Pepper | Dec 7 – Dec 21 | — | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | Apr 21 – May 20 | 73d | |
| Beefsteak Tomato | Dec 21 – Jan 4 | — | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | Apr 29 – May 28 | 88d | |
| Bell Pepper | Dec 7 – Dec 21 | — | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | Apr 16 – May 30 | 75d | |
| Butternut Squash | Jan 11 – Jan 18 | Feb 15 – Aug 18 | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | May 8 – Dec 1 | 94d | |
| Cayenne Pepper | Dec 7 – Dec 21 | — | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | Apr 26 – May 20 | 75d | |
| Cherry Tomato | Dec 21 – Jan 4 | — | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | Apr 4 – May 3 | 63d | |
| Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea) | — | Feb 15 – Sep 2 | — | Apr 16 – Dec 1 | 75d | |
| Cucumber | — | Feb 15 – Sep 27 | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | Apr 6 – Dec 1 | 58d | |
| Delicata Squash | Jan 11 – Jan 18 | Feb 15 – Aug 23 | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | May 6 – Dec 1 | 90d | |
| Eggplant | Dec 7 – Dec 21 | — | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | Apr 21 – May 25 | 75d | |
| Ghost Pepper (Bhut Jolokia) | Nov 23 – Dec 7 | — | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | May 26 – Jun 29 | 110d | |
| Gourd (Ornamental/Bottle) | — | Feb 15 – Aug 3 | — | May 26 – Dec 1 | 110d | |
| Habanero Pepper | Dec 7 – Dec 21 | — | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | May 16 – Jun 9 | 95d | |
| Jalapeño | Dec 7 – Dec 21 | — | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | Apr 21 – May 25 | 75d | |
| Loofah (Luffa) | — | Feb 15 – Jul 4 | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | May 16 – Dec 1 | 120d | |
| Malabar Spinach | Jan 11 – Jan 18 | Feb 15 – Sep 22 | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | Apr 16 – Dec 1 | 65d | |
| Marconi Pepper | Dec 7 – Dec 21 | — | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | May 1 – May 25 | 80d | |
| Okra | — | Feb 22 – Sep 27 | Feb 22 – Mar 8 | Apr 18 – Dec 1 | 60d | |
| Poblano Pepper | Dec 7 – Dec 21 | — | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | Apr 21 – May 20 | 73d | |
| Roma Tomato | Dec 21 – Jan 4 | — | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | Apr 19 – May 13 | 75d | |
| Roselle (Cranberry Hibiscus) | — | Feb 22 – Jul 4 | Feb 22 – Mar 8 | Jun 2 – Dec 1 | 125d | |
| Serrano Pepper | Dec 7 – Dec 21 | — | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | May 1 – May 20 | 78d | |
| Shishito Pepper | Dec 7 – Dec 21 | — | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | Apr 11 – May 5 | 60d | |
| Spaghetti Squash | Jan 11 – Jan 18 | Feb 15 – Aug 13 | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | May 1 – Dec 1 | 93d | |
| Sweet Potato | — | — | Feb 15 – Mar 15 | May 16 – Jul 13 | 105d | |
| Tomatillo | Dec 21 – Jan 4 | — | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | Apr 24 – Jun 2 | 88d | |
| Tomato | Dec 21 – Jan 4 | — | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | Apr 9 – May 18 | 73d | |
| Yellow Summer Squash | Jan 11 – Jan 18 | Feb 15 – Oct 7 | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | Apr 1 – Dec 1 | 50d | |
| Zucchini | Jan 11 – Jan 18 | Feb 15 – Oct 7 | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | Apr 1 – Dec 1 | 50d |
Herbs 7
| Crop | Start indoors | Sow outdoors | Transplant | Harvest | Maturity | JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basil | Dec 21 – Jan 4 | Feb 15 – Sep 22 | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | Apr 6 – Dec 1 | 60d | |
| Ginger | — | — | Mar 1 – Mar 29 | — | 270d | |
| Lemongrass | — | — | Feb 1 – Mar 1 | — | 105d | |
| Purslane | — | Feb 8 – Oct 2 | — | Mar 25 – Dec 1 | 53d | |
| Rosemary | — | — | Feb 1 – Mar 1 | — | 273d | |
| Shiso (Japanese Basil) | Dec 21 – Jan 4 | Feb 8 – Sep 7 | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | Apr 19 – Dec 1 | 78d | |
| Thai Basil | Dec 21 – Jan 4 | Feb 15 – Sep 17 | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | Apr 16 – Dec 1 | 68d |
Fruits 14
| Crop | Start indoors | Sow outdoors | Transplant | Harvest | Maturity | JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avocado | — | — | Feb 15 – Mar 15 | — | 4.0 yr | |
| Banana | — | — | Feb 15 – Mar 15 | — | 360d | |
| Cantaloupe | Jan 11 – Jan 18 | Feb 15 – Sep 2 | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | Apr 26 – Dec 1 | 80d | |
| Fig | — | — | Feb 1 – Mar 1 | — | 1.5 yr | |
| Guava | — | — | Feb 15 – Mar 15 | — | 2.5 yr | |
| Honeydew Melon | Jan 11 – Jan 18 | Feb 15 – Aug 23 | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | May 6 – Dec 1 | 90d | |
| Kaffir (Makrut) Lime | — | — | Feb 15 – Mar 15 | — | 2.5 yr | |
| Key Lime | — | — | Feb 15 – Mar 15 | — | 2.5 yr | |
| Kumquat | — | — | Feb 15 – Mar 15 | — | 2.5 yr | |
| Mango | — | — | Feb 15 – Mar 15 | — | 4.0 yr | |
| Meyer Lemon | — | — | Feb 15 – Mar 15 | — | 2.5 yr | |
| Persian (Tahiti) Lime | — | — | Feb 15 – Mar 15 | — | 2.5 yr | |
| Pineapple | — | — | Feb 15 – Mar 15 | — | 1.6 yr | |
| Watermelon | Jan 11 – Jan 18 | Feb 15 – Aug 28 | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | May 1 – Dec 1 | 85d |
Flowers 22
| Crop | Start indoors | Sow outdoors | Transplant | Harvest | Maturity | JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Angelonia (Summer Snapdragon) | Dec 7 – Dec 21 | — | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | Apr 9 – May 23 | 75d | |
| Bottlebrush | — | — | Feb 1 – Mar 1 | — | 2.5 yr | |
| Bougainvillea | — | — | Feb 1 – Mar 1 | — | 2.5 yr | |
| Cat’s Claw Vine | — | — | Feb 1 – Mar 1 | — | 2.5 yr | |
| Celosia (Cockscomb) | Dec 21 – Jan 4 | Feb 8 – Aug 28 | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | Apr 24 – Dec 1 | 85d | |
| Coleus | Dec 7 – Dec 21 | — | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | Apr 9 – May 23 | 75d | |
| Cosmos | — | Feb 8 – Sep 2 | — | Apr 9 – Dec 1 | 75d | |
| French Marigold | Dec 28 – Jan 11 | Feb 8 – Oct 2 | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | Mar 25 – Dec 1 | 53d | |
| Garden Geranium (Zonal) | Nov 23 – Dec 7 | — | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | Apr 19 – May 23 | 80d | |
| Gomphrena (Globe Amaranth) | Dec 21 – Jan 4 | Feb 8 – Aug 23 | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | May 4 – Dec 1 | 93d | |
| Hearts & Flowers (Heartleaf Iceplant) | — | — | Feb 8 – Mar 1 | — | 75d | |
| Lantana | Dec 7 – Dec 21 | — | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | Apr 19 – May 23 | 80d | |
| Morning Glory | Jan 11 – Jan 18 | Feb 8 – Sep 2 | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | Apr 14 – Dec 1 | 78d | |
| Nasturtium | — | Feb 8 – Sep 27 | — | Mar 30 – Dec 1 | 58d | |
| Ornamental Sweet Potato Vine | — | — | Feb 15 – Mar 15 | Apr 16 – Jun 13 | 75d | |
| Pentas (Egyptian Star Flower) | Dec 7 – Dec 21 | — | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | Apr 19 – May 23 | 80d | |
| Petunia | Nov 23 – Dec 7 | — | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | Apr 19 – May 23 | 80d | |
| Queen’s Wreath (Coral Vine) | — | — | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | — | 1.5 yr | |
| Sunflower | — | Feb 8 – Aug 23 | — | Apr 19 – Dec 1 | 85d | |
| Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle) | Jan 4 – Jan 18 | Feb 8 – Sep 17 | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | Apr 9 – Dec 1 | 68d | |
| Yellow Orchid Vine | — | — | Feb 1 – Mar 1 | — | 2.5 yr | |
| Zinnia | Jan 4 – Jan 18 | Feb 8 – Sep 17 | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | Apr 9 – Dec 1 | 68d |
Local pages