What to plant this week in Burlington, VT
Burlington gardeners are in the thick of late spring harvest, with cool-weather staples like cabbage and collard greens ready to pull alongside warm-season crops like zucchini and bush beans. With an average last frost date around May 1 and overnight lows still dipping near -15°F at times, keep your early transplants protected from any unexpected chill snaps before the soil fully warms up.
The next 7 days
Burlington, VTGrowing in Burlington right now
- Burlington's shallow soils on many lakefront lots drain quickly in spring; amend heavy clay patches with compost to improve aeration for carrots and potatoes.
- The city's microclimates vary wildly by just 20 yards, so utilize south-facing slopes or the warm stone of older houses to start tomatoes earlier than recommended dates.
- Late May cold snaps are common despite the 'May 1' average; use floating row covers over young squash and beans if a hard freeze is forecasted.
- Beetroot greens in Burlington often bolt quickly due to fluctuating temperatures, so harvest leaves frequently for salads before seeds form.
Sow this week
6 crops- Bush Bean
- Cucumber
- French Marigold
- Nasturtium
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zucchini
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
55 crops- Banana Pepper
- Basil
- Beefsteak Tomato
- Beet
- Bell Pepper
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cabbage
- Cantaloupe
- Carrot
- Cauliflower
- Cayenne Pepper
- Cherry Tomato
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Collard Greens
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Eggplant
- Fennel
- French Marigold
- Garden Geranium (Zonal)
- Garden Verbena
- Garlic
- Ground Cherry
- Jalapeño
- Lantana
- Lima Bean
- Nasturtium
- Onion
- Ornamental Sweet Potato Vine
- Parsley
- Parsnip
- Petunia
- Poblano Pepper
- Pole Bean
- Potato
- Roma Tomato
- Rutabaga
- Scallion (Bunching Onion)
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shishito Pepper
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Snapdragon
- Summer Savory
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Swiss Chard
- Thai Basil
- Tomatillo
- Tomato
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Seasonal tips
- Succession sow bush beans and pole beans every two weeks for a continuous supply of fresh pods.
- Mulch around heavy feeders like tomatoes and peppers to retain moisture as summer heat sets in.
- Pinch back the tops of young squash plants to encourage bushy growth before they get too large.
Pest & disease watch
- Cabbage loopers are currently devastating local kale and collard crops; monitor undersides of leaves and apply organic insecticidal soap immediately upon sighting larvae.
- Late-season powdery mildew is appearing on zucchini and yellow summer squash as humidity rises near Lake Champlain; prune for airflow and dust with sulfur or neem oil weekly.
- Cutworms are still active in the damp spring soil, curling around young tomato and pepper seedlings at night; hand-pick them early morning before they re-emerge.
Watering this week
Water deeply in the morning to keep soil moist but avoid wetting foliage which invites disease on your leafy greens.
Harvest Banana Peppers and Cayenne Peppers now while they are still small for a spicier, more compact fruit.
Burlington gardening questions
3Can I now plant my zucchini seeds directly into the ground?
Yes, Burlington's soil has warmed enough for bush beans, cucumbers, and yellow summer squash to be sown outdoors this week. Ensure you wait until all danger of frost is truly gone since these warm-season crops cannot tolerate even brief drops below 50°F.
My tomato plants have small holes in the leaves; what should I do?
This damage is likely from cabbage loopers, which are a major pest for Burlington gardens right now. Spray affected plants with insecticidal soap or spinosad every three days until you see no new feeding damage.
Should I stop watering my tomatoes if the rain forecast says showers?
In Burlington's unpredictable spring weather, water deeply in the early morning only when the top inch of soil feels dry to prevent root rot. Overwatering is a bigger risk than underwatering during these variable May days.
Other cities in zone 5b
8See the full zone 5b guide → · Plan your Burlington garden in SproutGuide →