What to plant this week in Atlanta, GA
With average last frost in mid-March and current minimums hitting 10°F, Atlanta gardeners are already well into the warm-weather harvest window for staples like okra, sweet corn, and zucchini. This week marks a critical time to pick your early bush beans, cantaloupes, and cucumbers before the heat peaks later in May.
The next 7 days
Atlanta, GAGrowing in Atlanta right now
- Atlanta's acidic clay soils can stunt young roots; incorporate generous amounts of compost or aged manure before transplanting any late-spring crops not already established.
- Monitor drainage closely during this week’s frequent afternoon thunderstorms, as heavy runoff is common and waterlogged roots on newly sown sunflowers or melons may rot quickly.
- Since the list shows no plants to transplant now, focus entirely on thinning thinned seedlings of pole beans and sweet corn and harvesting ripe harvests rather than moving container plants.
Sow this week
30 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cantaloupe
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Edamame
- Fennel
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Honeydew Melon
- Lima Bean
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Pole Bean
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Summer Savory
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Watermelon
- Winter Squash
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
41 crops- Basil
- Borage
- 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)
- Honeydew Melon
- Lima Bean
- Lisianthus (Prairie Gentian)
- Loofah (Luffa)
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Pole Bean
- Pumpkin
- Roselle (Cranberry Hibiscus)
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Summer Savory
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Sweet Potato
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Watermelon
- Winter Squash
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Seasonal tips
- Succession sow bush beans and pole beans every two weeks for a continuous harvest throughout the summer.
- Apply a light layer of mulch around warm-season vegetables to retain soil moisture and keep roots cool.
- Pinch back the tops of basil plants regularly to encourage bushier growth before harvesting leaves.
Pest & disease watch
- Watch for aphids clustering on the undersides of basil and Thai basil leaves as temperatures climb above 80°F.
- Spider mites often explode in Atlanta's humid summers, particularly on fennel and French marigolds during dry spells between rainstorms.
- Cutworms frequently attack the stems of newly emerged okra and cucumber plants right now; check base of seedlings every morning for damage.
Watering this week
Water deeply in the morning to keep moisture consistent but avoid wetting the foliage to prevent disease.
Harvest beans when pods are young and tender to maximize flavor and encourage further production from each plant.
Atlanta gardening questions
3Can I still start my summer squash seeds indoors this week in Atlanta?
No, it is too late to start summer squash or zucchini indoors for this season's transplanting since the list indicates nothing should be moved out now. Start these warm-weather crops directly in the garden once soil temperatures are consistently above 65°F.
My okra plants look stunted and yellow; is this normal for Atlanta clay?
Yes, this often happens when roots struggle to penetrate our dense clay soils without sufficient organic matter. Apply a slow-release fertilizer and ensure the drainage holes in your pots are large enough if growing in containers.
When should I harvest my first sweet corn ears?
Harvest sweet corn as soon as the kernels are milky and the husks have just started to silk, which is typically when they appear ready for eating. Do not wait too long, or the sugar content will convert to starch and the flavor will decline significantly.
Other cities in zone 8a
11See the full zone 8a guide → · Plan your Atlanta garden in SproutGuide →