What to plant this week in Chattanooga, TN
With average lows hovering around 10°F and the last frost date well in the past, Chattanooga gardeners are officially deep into their warm-season sprint. This week is prime time to harvest your first cucumbers, okra, and beans while simultaneously sowing heat-loving crops like cantaloupe and sunflowers that need every degree of summer warmth.
The next 7 days
Chattanooga, TNGrowing in Chattanooga right now
- Chattanooga's steep river-valley terrain creates microclimates where north-facing slopes cool faster than the plateau; check your frost history before planting tender transplants on lower elevations.
- Our clay-heavy soils hold moisture well but can become waterlogged during our typical spring rain events, so ensure raised beds or containers have excellent drainage for beans and squash.
- As temperatures climb into the upper 80s common in late March, time your sowings of bush beans and sweet corn to avoid heat stress on young seedlings.
Sow this week
30 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cantaloupe
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Edamame
- Fennel
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Honeydew Melon
- Lima Bean
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Pole Bean
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Summer Savory
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Watermelon
- Winter Squash
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
41 crops- Basil
- Borage
- 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)
- Honeydew Melon
- Lima Bean
- Lisianthus (Prairie Gentian)
- Loofah (Luffa)
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Pole Bean
- Pumpkin
- Roselle (Cranberry Hibiscus)
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Summer Savory
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Sweet Potato
- 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 summer.
- Apply a light layer of mulch around warm-season vegetables to retain soil moisture and keep roots cool.
- Pinch back the tops of basil plants regularly to encourage bushier growth before harvesting leaves.
Pest & disease watch
- Watch for early aphid colonies forming on the new growth of just-planted basil and cosmos; a strong jet of water often clears them before chemical intervention is needed.
- Spider mites can become active quickly in our dry, sunny afternoons, so monitor the undersides of young tomato or pepper plants if you are adding any late transplants.
- Slugs thrive in Chattanooga's damp spring evenings, targeting seedling lettuce and nasturtiums; place beer traps or copper tape barriers around vulnerable beds.
Watering this week
Water deeply in the morning to keep moisture consistent but avoid wetting the foliage to prevent disease.
Harvest beans when pods are young and tender to maximize flavor and encourage further production from each plant.
Chattanooga gardening questions
3When is the best time to plant my cantaloupe seeds directly outside?
Since our last frost date averages March 13, you can sow cantaloupe seeds outdoors now in full sun and warm soil. They thrive in Chattanooga's heat but need consistent watering to prevent cracking as they mature.
My okra plants are growing fast; when should I start harvesting?
You can begin snipping your first okra pods soon if the plants are established, aiming for harvest before they get too large and woody. Regular picking encourages continuous production throughout our long summer season.
Can I plant sunflowers now even though it is still early in the year?
Absolutely; sunflowers listed for sowing now will benefit from Chattanooga's extended growing window before our first frost on November 28. Choose varieties that mature in 60 to 70 days to ensure a good harvest before the cold sets in.
Other cities in zone 8a
11See the full zone 8a guide → · Plan your Chattanooga garden in SproutGuide →