What to plant this week in Boston, MA
With Boston hovering near the 0°F threshold this week, your primary goal is protecting cold-sensitive starts like basil and tomatoes from unexpected late frosts until April 3rd passes. While you cannot transplant anything yet due to lingering chill risks, it is prime time to sow warm-season seeds directly into the damp soil for beans, squash, and zinnias.
The next 7 days
Boston, MAGrowing in Boston right now
- Boston's clay-heavy soils retain moisture well but drain poorly during our typical spring rain surges; amend heavy spots with compost or use raised beds for root crops like parsnips and potatoes currently ready to harvest.
- Take advantage of Boston's narrow urban spaces by utilizing vertical trellises immediately for pole beans and cucumbers, as ground space is often at a premium in neighborhoods like the South End or Jamaica Plain.
- Watch soil temperature closely before sowing okra and Malabar spinach; even though seeds can go in now, they require consistent warmth to germinate successfully in our fluctuating spring temps.
- Plan to shift focus from protection to propagation next week as we move past the average last frost date of April 3rd, allowing you to expand your vegetable plots safely.
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
- Slugs and snails are highly active on emerging seedlings in Boston's damp springs; use copper tape or beer traps around newly sown bean and squash seeds.
- Early-season aphids often target the undersides of young tomato and pepper foliage, so inspect plants daily during this transition period into warmer weather.
- Watch for fungal leaf spots on brassicas like Brussels sprouts if rains continue, ensuring good air circulation in dense Boston backyards.
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.
Boston gardening questions
3Can I plant my basil starts now even though the list says 'transplant_now' is empty?
No, Boston's current temperatures near freezing and wet clay soil will shock basil roots; wait until after April 3rd when the frost danger has officially passed to move them outside.
I have parsnips and potatoes ready for harvest—what's the best way to dig them up without damaging the tubers?
Gently loosen the soil around these root crops with a garden fork rather than digging directly over them, then lift carefully by hand to avoid bruising the skins in Boston's compacted urban soil.
Should I cover my newly sown zucchini and squash seeds if rain is forecast for the next few days?
Yes, place a light row cover or clear plastic cloche over the seeds immediately after planting to keep them dry and warm until they germinate through our unpredictable spring showers.
Other cities in zone 7a
12See the full zone 7a guide → · Plan your Boston garden in SproutGuide →