What to plant this week in Durham, NC
With average last frost now in mid-March and soil temps warming up for Durham, this week is the final push to get your spring cool-season crops like Garlic and Ornamental Allium into the ground. You are currently at peak season for harvesting a massive variety of warm-weather staples, from Acorn Squash and Watermelon to Okra and Bush Beans.
The next 7 days
Durham, NCGrowing in Durham right now
- Durham's clay-heavy Piedmont soil dries out quickly during our hot springs; water deeply in the early morning before afternoon heat sets in.
- Take advantage of current harvests like Zucchini, Cucumbers, and Summer Squash while they are tender, as Durham's humidity accelerates rot if left on the vine too long.
- As you finish harvesting Bush Beans and Cowpeas this week, remember that these legumes will stop producing once nights drop below 65°F later in summer.
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
- Aphids are exploding on new growth of Basil, Okra, and Malabar Spinach due to the warm Durham weather; rinse plants with a strong water spray or apply insecticidal soap.
- Watch for Southern Corn Borer larvae feeding on Sweet Corn and Flour Corn tassels right now before they bore into the stalks.
- Monitor squash vines for Squash Vine Borers, which are active in our clay soils and can quickly collapse heavy Acorn and Butternut Squash plants.
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.
Durham gardening questions
3How do I tell if my harvested Acorn or Delicata Squash is ready to store?
Check that the rinds are hard enough to be tapped with your fingernail without leaving a mark; once cured in a warm, dry spot for two weeks, they will last months in Durham's cool cellar.
My Basil and Thai Basil leaves are curling and stunted—what is wrong?
This is classic damage from thrips or flea beetles common in Durham this time of year; hand-pick visible bugs and spray the undersides of leaves with neem oil every three days.
Can I still plant Garlic now, or is it too late for a fall crop?
Yes, you should sow your Garlic cloves immediately as they need to establish roots in Durham's soil before the first frost date of November 28th to produce a good bulb next year.
Other cities in zone 8a
11See the full zone 8a guide → · Plan your Durham garden in SproutGuide →