What to plant this week in Albany, NY
Albany gardeners in Zone 6a are riding a warm wave as temperatures hover near the average last frost date of April 21, making this the perfect week to plunge those heat-loving starts into your soil. With overnight lows still dipping toward -10°F, focus your energy on sowing quick-growing crops like Bush Beans and Cucumber that can capitalize on these fleeting days before the real spring sets in.
The next 7 days
Albany, NYGrowing in Albany right now
- The Capital Region's heavy clay soils retain moisture well but drain slowly; amend planting holes with compost to prevent waterlogging for newly sown Cucumbers and Zucchini.
- While frost dates suggest late April risk, microclimates around the Hudson River can be deceptive; wait until after the avg last frost date of April 21 before moving any tender starts outside.
- Albany receives significant spring rainfall which boosts growth but invites slugs on emerging seedlings of Nasturtium and Marconi Pepper; deploy copper tape or beer traps proactively.
- Watch for rapid soil warming in south-facing Albany yards where early varieties like Yellow Summer Squash may mature weeks ahead of typical schedules.
Sow this week
7 crops- Bush Bean
- Cucumber
- French Marigold
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zucchini
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
58 crops- Anaheim (New Mexico) Pepper
- Banana Pepper
- Basil
- Beefsteak Tomato
- Beet
- Bell Pepper
- Borage
- Brussels Sprouts
- Bush Bean
- Cantaloupe
- Carrot
- Cayenne Pepper
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Dahlia
- Edamame
- Eggplant
- Fennel
- Flour Corn
- French Marigold
- Garden Geranium (Zonal)
- Garden Verbena
- Garlic
- Honeydew Melon
- Jalapeño
- Lantana
- Lima Bean
- Malabar Spinach
- Marconi Pepper
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Ornamental Sweet Potato Vine
- Parsley
- Parsnip
- Petunia
- Poblano Pepper
- Pole Bean
- Potato
- Roma Tomato
- Rutabaga
- Scallion (Bunching Onion)
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Serrano Pepper
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Snapdragon
- Summer Savory
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Thai Basil
- Tomatillo
- Tomato
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Watermelon
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Seasonal tips
- Succession sow bush beans every two weeks for a continuous harvest throughout summer.
- Mulch around established tomato and pepper plants to retain moisture as soil temperatures rise.
- Prune dead or diseased foliage from Brassicas like Brussels Sprouts and Kale to improve air circulation.
Pest & disease watch
- Cutworms are actively cutting down low-growing seedlings of Pole Beans and Sunflower; check collars nightly at dusk.
- Spring aphid colonies have formed on the undersides of Tomato and Basil leaves as temps stabilize above freezing.
- Late frost events can damage early-flowering plants like Cosmos if a cold snap occurs after April 21, so monitor evening forecasts closely.
Watering this week
Water deeply in the morning to encourage strong root growth while minimizing fungal disease risk.
Pinch back the tips of young Bush Bean plants if they are leggy to encourage bushier, more productive growth.
Albany gardening questions
3When should I stop starting seeds indoors for crops listed in 'harvest_soon'?
You can begin sowing Bush Bean, Cucumber, and Zucchini directly outdoors now as frost danger is low, but wait until mid-May to start Tomato or Pepper seedlings inside if you want them ready by the average last frost date of April 21.
My Garlic bulbs from winter are sprouting early; should I transplant them?
Garlic listed for harvest soon thrives in Albany's cool spring soil, so if your cloves have green shoots, plant them immediately into prepared beds before the ground dries out completely.
Is it safe to put my Summer Squash and Okra outside this week?
Yes, since Albany's current weather aligns with the avg last frost date of April 21, you can safely sow Yellow Summer Squash and plant Okra seeds directly into warm soil without covering them.
Other cities in zone 6a
12See the full zone 6a guide → · Plan your Albany garden in SproutGuide →