What to plant this week in Charlotte, NC
Charlotte gardeners in zone 8a are currently navigating the delicate window between late winter dormancy and spring's rapid warm-up, with an average last frost date hovering around March 13. This week marks a critical time to focus on cold-hardy starts like garlic and ornamental alliums before the soil fully warms up for summer crops.
The next 7 days
Charlotte, NCGrowing in Charlotte right now
- Charlotte's sandy-loam soils drain quickly during our frequent spring showers, so avoid overwatering newly sown garlic until the ground firms up.
- With last frost often occurring mid-March, delay transplanting heat-loving squash and melons by a week or two to prevent root shock from sudden temperature swings.
- Take advantage of this week's harvest window for early winter squashes like butternut and acorn varieties that mature before the autumn chill sets in later this fall.
Sow this week
2 crops- Garlic
- Ornamental Allium
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
44 crops- Acorn Squash
- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Butternut Squash
- Cantaloupe
- Celosia (Cockscomb)
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Delicata Squash
- Edamame
- Fennel
- Flour Corn
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Garlic
- Gomphrena (Globe Amaranth)
- Gourd (Ornamental/Bottle)
- Honeydew Melon
- Lima Bean
- Loofah (Luffa)
- Malabar Spinach
- Morning Glory
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Pole Bean
- Pumpkin
- Purslane
- Roselle (Cranberry Hibiscus)
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Spaghetti Squash
- Summer Savory
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Watermelon
- Winter Squash
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Seasonal tips
- Harvest acorn, butternut, and spaghetti squash while they are still tender before the skins toughen up.
- Succession sow bush beans, cowpeas, and pole beans now to extend your bean harvest into late summer.
- Pinch back basil and borage regularly to encourage lush growth and prevent bolting as heat increases.
Pest & disease watch
- Watch for spider mites on garlic leaves as temperatures rise, especially if you have had a dry spell following recent rains.
- Monitor black-eyed peas and cowpeas closely for bean leaf beetles which often emerge from overwintering sites around Charlotte now.
Watering this week
Water deeply at the base of squash and melons every 2-3 days to keep fruits from cracking and foliage from rotting.
Don't forget to harvest garlic that is listed for both sowing now and harvesting soon, as it may be a late spring crop or early fall storage bulb depending on your specific microclimate.
Charlotte gardening questions
3Can I start my zucchini seeds indoors this week in Charlotte?
No, wait until after the March 13 average last frost date to plant zucchini outdoors. Starting them too early risks cold damage since zone 8a nights can still drop near freezing before spring truly arrives.
What should I do with my harvested pumpkins if I want to keep them?
Once cured, store these hardy squashes at 50-55°F with good air circulation to extend their shelf life through the Charlotte winter.
Is it safe to plant summer corn now given the frost dates?
Not yet; sweet corn is extremely sensitive to cold and should only be sown after all danger of frost has passed, which typically happens late in this week or early next week depending on daily fluctuations.
Other cities in zone 8a
11See the full zone 8a guide → · Plan your Charlotte garden in SproutGuide →