What to plant this week in Fredericton, NB
Fredericton gardeners in Zone 5a are finally celebrating the first true warmth of late spring, with average frost risks receding after May 8. This week marks a pivotal moment where you can immediately sow heat-loving summer squash and zucchini seeds directly into the soil to catch the brief growing window before October 8.
The next 7 days
Fredericton, NBGrowing in Fredericton right now
- The heavy clay-loam soils common in the Saint John River valley benefit from a deep watering after any rain to prevent compaction before sowing warm-weather crops.
- With potential late spring frosts still possible until mid-May, cover newly transplanted heat-loving peppers and tomatoes with floating row covers for extra protection.
- Take advantage of the current harvest window to pull your first rounds of carrots, beets, and Swiss chard while the days are long enough for rapid growth.
- Monitor moisture levels closely; Fredericton's spring rainfall can fluctuate wildly, so check soil depth before watering to avoid over-saturating clay-heavy garden beds.
Sow this week
2 crops- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zucchini
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
55 crops- Bachelor's Button (Cornflower)
- Banana Pepper
- Basil
- Beet
- Bell Pepper
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cabbage
- Carrot
- Cauliflower
- Cherry Tomato
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Collard Greens
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Dill
- Eggplant
- Fava (Broad) Bean
- Fennel
- French Marigold
- Garden Geranium (Zonal)
- Garden Verbena
- Garlic
- Ground Cherry
- Jalapeño
- Lantana
- Lima Bean
- Napa Cabbage
- Nasturtium
- Onion
- Ornamental Sweet Potato Vine
- Parsley
- Petunia
- Poblano Pepper
- Pole Bean
- Potato
- Roma Tomato
- Rutabaga
- Scallion (Bunching Onion)
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shallot
- Shishito Pepper
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Snapdragon
- Summer Savory
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Swiss Chard
- Thai Basil
- Tomato
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Seasonal tips
- Start succession sowing bush beans and snapdragons every two weeks for a continuous harvest.
- Deadhead Cosmos and Cleome regularly to encourage more blooms throughout the summer.
- Thin out carrot and beet seedlings now to give remaining plants enough room to mature.
Pest & disease watch
- Watch for early-season flea beetles attacking your Brassicas like cabbage and collard greens just as they emerge.
- Keep an eye out for aphids clustering on the tender new growth of snapdragons, cosmos, and basil plants.
- Check tomato and pepper starts for early whitefly or spider mites if you brought them indoors earlier in the season.
Watering this week
Water deeply in the morning to keep roots cool and reduce evaporation during this hot season.
Harvest your first ripe cherry tomatoes today to enjoy their peak flavor while they are young and tender.
Fredericton gardening questions
3Can I start my peppers and eggplants now?
You can sow Yellow Summer Squash and Zucchini seeds directly in the ground this week, but do not transplant peppers or eggplants yet. Wait until after May 8 when the soil has fully warmed up to avoid shock from cold snaps.
When should I harvest my early greens like carrots and beets?
Start pulling your carrots, beets, collard greens, and Swiss chard now as they are listed for harvest soon. These crops grow quickly in the current weather and will continue to produce well through June.
How do I protect my seedlings from a late frost?
Since the average last frost date is May 8, be ready with row covers or old sheets if temperatures drop below freezing overnight. Cover all tender plants like basil and tomatoes immediately to prevent damage from unexpected cold snaps.
Other cities in zone 5a
6See the full zone 5a guide → · Plan your Fredericton garden in SproutGuide →