What to plant this week in Baltimore, MD
With average last frost dates in mid-March and current lows hovering near 10°F, Baltimore gardeners this week are shifting from cold-weather hardening to aggressive summer sowing. While your soil may still be cool in low spots of the Inner Harbor or upland ridges of Hampden, now is the perfect time to direct-sow heat-loving crops like cucumbers and bush beans that will thrive as our humid summers set in.
The next 7 days
Baltimore, MDGrowing in Baltimore right now
- Baltimore's clay-loam soils can stay cold longer than sandy patches; wait until soil temps hit 60°F before planting okra or zucchini directly, especially in low-lying areas near the Patapsco River.
- Take advantage of this week's window to sow bush beans and yellow summer squash outdoors now; they tolerate light frosts better than their winter squash cousins but need warmth to germinate quickly.
- If you have gardens on exposed ridges like near Fort McHenry, protect young transplants with row covers tonight as overnight lows may dip below 40°F despite the 'last frost' average being March 13th.
- Focus harvest efforts this week on basil and garlic scapes; Baltimore's variable spring weather often stunts early growth, so check for bolting or damage before cutting.
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
36 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cantaloupe
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Edamame
- Fennel
- Flour Corn
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Garlic
- Gourd (Ornamental/Bottle)
- Honeydew Melon
- Lima Bean
- Loofah (Luffa)
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Pole Bean
- Pumpkin
- Roselle (Cranberry Hibiscus)
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Summer Savory
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- 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 growing season.
- Apply a layer of organic mulch around young squash and melons to keep soil cool and retain moisture as temperatures rise.
- Pinch back the tops of basil and borage regularly to encourage bushier growth before the heat sets in.
Pest & disease watch
- Watch closely for squash vine borers attacking your zucchini and yellow summer squash as temperatures climb above 70°F during the day.
- Aphid populations are exploding on newly emerged nasturtiums and French marigolds due to the city's increasing humidity and lack of spring rain washout.
- Spider mites may appear on sunflower leaves if a dry spell hits, so monitor undersides of foliage in full-sun spots near residential neighborhoods.
Watering this week
Water deeply at the base of plants in the morning to reduce evaporation and prevent fungal issues on leafy greens.
Plant garlic now if you missed the fall window, as it is listed for harvest soon, indicating late planting opportunities remain viable.
Baltimore gardening questions
3Can I transplant my basil seedlings outside this week despite the frost risk?
Avoid moving tender basil outdoors until after March 13th unless you provide heavy row cover protection at night. It is safer to wait another week or start new seeds indoors right now for a stronger, later crop.
Is it too early to plant okra in Baltimore's clay soil?
Okra is listed as sowable this week only if your specific plot has already warmed up; in cold, wet low spots of the city, wait another 10 days or use black plastic mulch to heat the ground first.
My cantaloupe and watermelon are stunted—should I feed them now?
Hold off on heavy fertilizer until you see new growth resuming after any late frost damage; Baltimore's erratic spring temps often cause temporary shock that looks like nutrient deficiency. Focus on consistent watering instead of feeding.
Other cities in zone 8a
11See the full zone 8a guide → · Plan your Baltimore garden in SproutGuide →