What to plant this week in Cincinnati, OH
Cincinnati gardeners are officially in the garlic zone this week, with late spring frosts still possible until mid-April. While most beds should remain bare or dormant until after April 21st, now is the critical time to push your garlic cloves into the cool Ohio soil.
The next 7 days
Cincinnati, OHGrowing in Cincinnati right now
- The Rolling Hills terrain of Hamilton County creates microclimates where low-lying areas freeze out sooner; ensure you are not transplanting anything before Memorial Day unless covered.
- Our heavy clay soils in neighborhoods like Mount Adams and Westwood hold moisture well but drain poorly during our frequent April showers, so amend planting holes with compost to prevent rotting garlic bulbs.
- With temperatures hovering near our -5°F zone minimum, protect young perennials in the Northside by using row covers if an unexpected early freeze threatens.
Sow this week
1 crops- Garlic
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
2 crops- Daikon Radish
- Garlic
Seasonal tips
- Plant hardy garlic cloves immediately in well-drained soil with tips pointing upward.
- Prepare garden beds by loosening compacted soil to encourage healthy root development for next year's crops.
- Apply a layer of compost around existing perennials to protect emerging plants from late frosts.
Pest & disease watch
- Watch for onion maggot larvae as temperatures stabilize above 40°F next week; they will target your soon-to-emerge garlic and spring onions.
- Powdery mildew can hit hard on emerging garlic leaves if we get a wet, cool spell followed by sunny days, so plan to spray sulfur-based treatments early.
Watering this week
Water garlic cloves lightly after planting, then wait until the soil is moist but not soggy before watering again.
Since Daikon radish will be ready soon, mark those spots now so you can plant a quick succession crop like lettuce once they are harvested.
Cincinnati gardening questions
3Can I plant any vegetables now besides garlic in Cincinnati zone 6b?
No, our frost date averages April 21st and can linger into May for valley areas. Stick strictly to hardy garlic now; everything else must wait until the soil warms up significantly.
When will I see my Daikon radishes ready to harvest soon?
Your Daikon radishes are listed as harvest-ready this week, so check their size and snap test them gently. If they feel firm and reach 3-4 inches in diameter, pull the whole roots before a hard freeze damages the flavor.
Is it safe to put transplants outside on my porch right now?
While our last frost averages April 21st, Cincinnati weather is unpredictable with cold snaps possible through mid-April. Hardening off any seedlings indoors until after May 1st is the safest bet for our specific microclimate.
Other cities in zone 6b
12See the full zone 6b guide → · Plan your Cincinnati garden in SproutGuide →