What to plant this week in Baltimore, MD
With Baltimore's humid summer heat holding steady near the 10°F hardiness limit for winter, this week marks a critical pivot point where you harvest your final early crops like basil and bush beans before the mid-August lull. While frost dates are far off until late November, the lingering humidity requires vigilant moisture management as you transition into peak production for cucumbers, okra, and melons.
The next 7 days
Baltimore, MDGrowing in Baltimore right now
- Baltimore's red clay soils drain slowly during our heavy summer thunderstorms; amend planting beds with compost and avoid overwatering to prevent root rot in sensitive crops like edamame and fennel.
- Our distinct coastal humidity spikes rapidly after midday storms, so apply fungicides early in the morning on zinnias and cosmos before dew settles to stop powdery mildew.
- Utilize the long daylight hours of August to maximize yields on heat-lovers like okra and sweet corn, but provide afternoon shade for bush beans which can bolt under intense sun.
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
- Spider mites explode in populations during our dry, hot spells common in late summer, particularly attacking sunflowers and French marigolds.
- Aphid swarms target the tender new growth of nasturtiums and scarlet runner beans right before harvest time.
- Cutworms are still active at night, chewing through the stems of young zucchini and watermelon plants if left unguarded.
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.
Baltimore gardening questions
3Can I safely plant warm-season transplants like bush beans or cucumbers now in Baltimore?
No, do not transplant anything this week; our current soil temperatures are still cool enough to shock these heat-loving crops. Instead, start them directly into the ground where they can establish roots immediately without risk of root damage.
My okra and sweet corn plants look stressed—should I water more often?
Water deeply but infrequently to encourage deep roots; Baltimore's clay soil holds moisture well, so surface sogging will just promote fungal issues on the leaves. Check that your irrigation reaches 6 inches down rather than wetting only the top layer.
When should I plan for my first fall frost in this area?
Expect your average last frost to occur around mid-November, though a late freeze is possible after Labor Day if a cold front moves in quickly. Plan to harvest all winter squash and pumpkins before the ground freezes solid to ensure they mature fully.
Other cities in zone 8a
11See the full zone 8a guide → · Plan your Baltimore garden in SproutGuide →