What to plant this week in Allentown, PA
Allentown gardeners are in the final stretch of late summer harvest, with frost arriving around November 6th. This week is critical for pulling mature crops like winter squash and potatoes before temperatures dip near zero.
The next 7 days
Allentown, PAGrowing in Allentown right now
- Protect low-lying pockets on the Lehigh River floodplain where cold air settles early this fall.
- Watch soil moisture closely; Allentown's clay-heavy subsoil retains water but drains poorly during heavy autumn rains.
- Begin rotating your summer Brassicas out of heavy beds to prevent clubroot issues in next year's rotation.
- Use row covers immediately on young transplants if a late chill forecast occurs after the first of November.
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
49 crops- Basil
- Beefsteak Tomato
- Bell Pepper
- Borage
- Brussels Sprouts
- Bush Bean
- Cantaloupe
- Celery
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Dahlia
- Edamame
- Fennel
- Flour Corn
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Garlic
- Ghost Pepper (Bhut Jolokia)
- Gourd (Ornamental/Bottle)
- Habanero Pepper
- Honeydew Melon
- Leek
- Lima Bean
- Lisianthus (Prairie Gentian)
- Loofah (Luffa)
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Ornamental Sweet Potato Vine
- Parsnip
- Pole Bean
- Potato
- Pumpkin
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Summer Savory
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Sweet Potato
- Thai Basil
- Tomatillo
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Watermelon
- Winter Squash
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Seasonal tips
- Start succession planting bush beans and pole beans every two weeks for a continuous harvest throughout summer.
- Apply a light layer of compost around heavy feeders like okra and squash to boost nutrient availability.
- Pinch back the tips of young zinnias and marigolds to encourage branching and fuller blooms.
Pest & disease watch
- Late-season aphids are still clustering on the undersides of tomato and pepper leaves, readying for overwintering.
- Watch for slugs eating down at the base of remaining zucchini and squash plants during damp nights.
- Spider mites may be appearing on heat-stressed summer basil as humidity drops.
Watering this week
Provide deep watering every 2-3 days to keep soil consistently moist but not soggy during this active growth phase.
Harvest your basil frequently by snipping off flower buds now to prevent seeding, which ensures continued leaf production and stronger flavor.
Allentown gardening questions
3When should I start bringing my winter squash indoors in Allentown?
Since frost can hit by November 6th, you must harvest pumpkins and winter squash when the vine dies back and they are fully colored. Leave them in a sunny spot to harden off for a week before storing them in a cool, dry basement.
My beans are still producing late in the season; can I leave them out?
You can let pole beans continue setting pods until a hard freeze occurs, but bush varieties should be pulled if they haven't finished by now. Leaving them too long invites rot from our frequent fall showers and makes cleanup difficult.
What is the best way to prepare soil for next year's vegetable beds here?
While working soil is possible in late autumn, it is better to lay down a thick layer of straw or compost now to protect your topsoil from erosion. Wait until early spring after the ground thaws completely to till, as wet clay in Allentown can become compacted by heavy machinery.
Other cities in zone 7a
12See the full zone 7a guide → · Plan your Allentown garden in SproutGuide →