What to plant this week in Asheville, NC
Asheville gardeners are riding the tail end of the frost window, with average last frosts expected around March 28th before temperatures dip to 5°F. This week marks a critical transition where cool-season staples like garlic and leeks are ready for harvest, while warm-annuals such as basil, okra, and summer squash can finally be sown directly into the warming mountain soil.
The next 7 days
Asheville, NCGrowing in Asheville right now
- The Blue Ridge foothills create distinct microclimates; ensure south-facing slopes get enough sun before planting heat-lovers like watermelon or cantaloupe.
- Soil in our valley areas retains moisture well but drains poorly on clay-heavy hillsides, so check for standing water after recent spring rains when sowing bush beans and cowpeas.
- While the forecast calls for warmer days, night lows can still linger near freezing; use row covers to protect tender starts like nasturtiums and scarlet runner beans from unexpected chill.
- Avoid transplanting sensitive crops this week as our local soil is still cold; stick strictly to direct sowing for items on your list like fennel and edamame.
Sow this week
27 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cantaloupe
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Edamame
- Fennel
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Lima Bean
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Pole Bean
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Summer Savory
- Sweet Corn
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Watermelon
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
48 crops- Basil
- 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
- Roselle (Cranberry Hibiscus)
- 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
- Succession sow bush beans and pole beans every two weeks to extend your summer bean harvest.
- Apply a light mulch around newly transplanted squash and watermelons to retain soil moisture as temperatures rise.
- Pinch back the tops of basil plants regularly now that they are established to encourage bushier growth.
- Prepare for a second planting of fast-maturing crops like radishes or lettuce if you missed an earlier window.
Pest & disease watch
- Watch for early aphid colonies forming on the new growth of French marigolds and garden verbena as temperatures rise above 50°F.
- Cutworms may target young seedlings of bush beans and pole bean if soil remains moist after this week's rainfall pattern.
- Spider mites could appear on harvested basil and shiso leaves if a dry spell follows the current humid spring trend.
Watering this week
Water deeply at the base of plants each morning to encourage deep roots while preventing fungal diseases on foliage.
Harvest your okra early in the morning when pods are tender, as they become tough and stringy later in the day.
Asheville gardening questions
3Can I transplant my basil now, or must it stay in pots until later?
Do not plant basil outdoors yet; our average last frost is March 28th, so moving it outside risks killing the tender leaves with a late chill. Instead, sow seeds directly into your garden bed this week to ensure strong roots before summer heat arrives.
My garlic and parsnips are listed for harvest soon—when should I dig them?
Harvest these cool-season crops now while the soil is still manageable, as they mature just before our peak summer heat. Pull them gently on a dry day to keep the bulbs intact and let them cure in a shaded, airy spot for two weeks.
I want to grow watermelon and cantaloupe; are they ready to plant now?
Yes, this is the perfect time to sow watermelon and cantaloupe seeds directly into warm soil since frost danger has officially passed. Give them plenty of space in full sun, as our Asheville summer will be long enough for them to ripen fully.
Other cities in zone 7b
12See the full zone 7b guide → · Plan your Asheville garden in SproutGuide →