What to plant this week in Zone 12a
Welcome to the tropical warmth of Zone 12a, where frost is a thing of the past and you can enjoy year-round gardening. This week is perfect for sowing Malabar Spinach and Okra directly in your beds while they begin their rapid growth.
In the ground
Sow this week
2 crops- Malabar Spinach
- Okra
Move out
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Coming ripe
Harvest soon
2 crops- Malabar Spinach
- Okra
Do this now
Seasonal tips
- Keep soil consistently moist but avoid waterlogging as tropical plants thrive with steady moisture.
- Apply a light mulch layer to retain heat and suppress weeds without blocking the sun.
- Thin seedlings of Malabar Spinach now if they have become too crowded for optimal leaf production.
Keep watch
Pest & disease watch
- Monitor for aphids on new Okra growth, which can appear quickly in warm weather.
- Check for spider mites under Malabar Spinach leaves during dry spells.
- Watch for fruit flies around the base of any developing Okra pods.
Water
Watering this week
Water deeply and frequently to keep soil evenly moist since tropical plants have high water needs.
One more thing
Harvest your first Okra pods when they are young and tender to ensure the best flavor and texture.
All year
Zone 12a planting calendar
3 cropsAverage planting and harvest windows for everything that grows in zone 12a — 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 3
| Crop | Start indoors | Sow outdoors | Transplant | Harvest | Maturity | JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malabar Spinach | Jan 11 – Jan 18 | Feb 15 – Sep 22 | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | Apr 16 – Dec 1 | 65d | |
| Okra | — | Feb 22 – Sep 27 | Feb 22 – Mar 8 | Apr 18 – Dec 1 | 60d | |
| Sweet Potato | — | — | Feb 15 – Mar 15 | May 16 – Jul 13 | 105d |