What to plant this week in Charlotte, NC
With average last frost dates around March 13, Charlotte's Zone 8a warmth has officially arrived for the week, signaling that cool-season crops like garlic and early beans are ready to be sown or harvested. The subtropical air is pushing temperatures up quickly, so gardeners must move transplants indoors if they haven't already but focus heavily on starting heat-loving staples now.
The next 7 days
Charlotte, NCGrowing in Charlotte right now
- Charlotte's sandy-loam soils drain fast during our heavy spring rainfalls; amend raised beds with compost and ensure seedlings aren't sitting in water to prevent root rot.
- The Piedmont region experiences rapid temperature swings between night and day this week; cover sensitive starts like cosmos with floating row covers if a late chill is forecasted after the March 13 average.
- Since transplant lists are currently empty, focus energy on direct sowing heat lovers like okra, zucchini, and bush beans which thrive in our local clay-sand mix once soil warms past 60°F.
- Monitor nitrogen levels closely; rapid growth of corn and squash can deplete local nutrient reserves quickly without supplemental feeding.
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
- Spider mites are returning to Charlotte's dry patches as humidity fluctuates, particularly attacking young tomato seedlings if any were held over indoors.
- Aphid populations on bean varieties like scarlet runners and pole beans have spiked with the recent warmth; inspect undersides of leaves weekly for early intervention.
- Late-season squash vine borers may begin probing zucchini and summer squash stems this week in our humid low-country-adjacent microclimates.
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.
Charlotte gardening questions
3Can I finally start my okra and bush beans outdoors in Charlotte this week?
Yes, the soil temperature has likely warmed enough by now to handle these heat-loving crops directly. Sow them right into the ground rather than starting indoors, as they prefer warm soil over cool seedling trays.
What should I do about harvesting garlic before the first frost in late November?
You can begin pulling and curing your garlic crop soon, aiming to finish the process by mid-November before our average first frost date hits.
Are there any specific pests I should watch for on my zucchini plants right now?
Keep an eye out for squash vine borers and aphids, which love the warmth of our Piedmont summers.
Other cities in zone 8a
11See the full zone 8a guide → · Plan your Charlotte garden in SproutGuide →