What to plant this week in Fargo, ND
Fargo gardeners are pushing hard against the late frost clock as May 12 looms, making this week critical for finalizing spring plantings and harvesting early summer crops before the September 25 freeze. The cold prairie air is still lingering, but it's time to pull your basil, beans, and squash from the soil while the ground stays workable.
The next 7 days
Fargo, NDGrowing in Fargo right now
- Soil here retains moisture well during our wet springs, so avoid overwatering newly transplanted herbs like thyme or oregano once the last rains subside.
- Our clay-heavy loess soils can freeze deeply; ensure your garlic planted now has enough organic matter to help it survive the brutal winter lows down to -30°F.
- Watch for late-season wind damage on tall crops like sunflowers and zinnias, as Fargo gusts often snap stems right before harvest.
- Keep a tarp ready for unexpected cold snaps, as temperatures can still dip near freezing even in mid-May during our erratic prairie weather pattern.
Sow this week
1 crops- Garlic
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
45 crops- Basil
- Bell Pepper
- Borage
- Brussels Sprouts
- 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)
- Habanero Pepper
- Honeydew Melon
- Leek
- Lima Bean
- Lisianthus (Prairie Gentian)
- Loofah (Luffa)
- Nasturtium
- Ornamental Sweet Potato Vine
- Parsnip
- Pole Bean
- Potato
- Pumpkin
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Summer Savory
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Thai Basil
- Tomatillo
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Watermelon
- Winter Squash
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Seasonal tips
- Start planning succession planting schedules so that when your zucchini and squash are done, you can replant in their spots immediately.
- Prepare cold frames or row covers now to protect any tender seedlings from unexpected early frosts before May 12.
- Organize your transplanting tools and labels for the upcoming wave of peppers, beans, and melons that will be ready to move outdoors.
Pest & disease watch
- Cutworms are actively attacking seedlings of beans and tomatoes if you haven't covered your beds with row fabric yet this week.
- Late blight on potatoes and tomatillos is a real risk right now given the cool, damp nights typical for Fargo in May.
- Spider mites may appear on greenhouse basil and peppers as we transition into warmer indoor temperatures.
Watering this week
Water deeply in the morning to encourage deep root growth, especially for thirsty crops like cucumbers and pumpkins.
Garlic planted now will need consistent moisture during its establishment phase, so keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy.
Fargo gardening questions
3Can I still plant garlic in Fargo this week or should I wait?
Yes, sow your garlic now while the soil is workable; it needs to establish roots before our first frost around May 12. Planting later reduces winter hardiness against our severe -30°F lows.
Which of my current crops need immediate harvesting before the season ends?
Pull your basil, bush beans, cucumbers, and yellow summer squash immediately to prevent seed set and rot in our short growing window. Don't forget to harvest garlic soon as well since it's listed for this week.
How do I protect my pumpkins and winter squash from the upcoming frost?
Cover your pumpkin and winter squash varieties with row covers or heavy blankets every night after sunset starting now. These crops are sensitive to our early autumn freezes which typically arrive around September 25.
Other cities in zone 4a
2See the full zone 4a guide → · Plan your Fargo garden in SproutGuide →